Equest Instructor Training

Have you ever considered a career in equine assisted therapy? Equest offers a PATH International approved instructor training course that is designed for experienced horse people, with a variety of riding backgrounds, who wish to pursue careers as therapeutic riding instructors or current instructors seeking continuing education and/or preparation for certification.

Fall 2011 / Spring 2012 Application

Schedule:
The Equest Instructor Training Course is a 7-8 week program designed to follow a Tuesday through Saturday format with classes scheduled between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. for the first four weeks and 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. the last three weeks. Classes meet additional Mondays and evenings as needed. Student instructors should plan for study and preparation time during the evening and weekend hours. A detailed course calendar will be provided on the first day of the course. Vacancies for the course are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. A maximum of ten students are accepted into the course.

Curriculum:

• Human Anatomy and Kinesiology
• Human Psychology
• Teaching Methodology
• Disabilities
• Mounting Techniques
• The Therapy Horse
• Adaptive Equipment
• Volunteer Recruitment and Management
• Hippotherapy
• Practical Teaching Experience

Requirements:
To accomplish the demands of this course and to qualify for certification upon completion, those candidates entering the course must meet certain competency requirements. To be accepted into the course, a candidate must complete and submit two proficiency exams.  These are included in the packet and must be returned as specificed in the course information.

Horse Management
The written exam includes questions on conformation, blemishes and unsoundness’s, general feeding requirements, ailments and diseases and their treatments, worming and vaccination requirements, stable maintenance, grooming, breeds, first-aid treatment and movement analysis.  This must be submitted with the application.

Riding Skills
a mounted test of riding skills. Candidates of varying riding backgrounds are accepted into the course; however a solid knowledge of walk-trot-canter with correct leads and diagonals, simple lead changes, leg yielding, turns on the forehand and haunches and suppling exercises is needed. We welcome candidates with diverse riding experience. The riding skills test may be taken in either Engligh or Western tack, but all students must be familiar with the English discipline as this is the style most of our clients ride and will be the style you will be teaching. The riding skills pattern is included in the application packet.  This should be submitted either as a DVD with your application or posted with a link on youtube.com

Entrance Test Suggested References:
Horse, J. Warren Evans, et. al.
The United States Pony Club Manual (level D, C, A/B)
Horse, Gaits, Balance and Movement, Susan Harris
101 Arena Exercises, Cherry Hil
Becoming an Effective Rider, Cherry Hill

Certification:
Candidates who successfully complete all training course requirements will take the PATH Intl Registered exam at the end of the course. Upon passing the exam, candidates will be recommended to PATH Intl for registered level of certification. With approval of the course director, candidates will also have the option of taking the Advanced level exam at the end of the course as well. These candidates must meet the Advanced level criteria before taking the exam.

For more information on instructor training, contact our registrar at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Fees:
Application fee (non-refundable) - $150.00 must be included with application and completed exams.

1st payment - $2,000 due upon notification that you have been accepted into the course.

Final tuition payment - $1,050 due the first day of the course.

Fees include: housing, textbooks, all printed materials and the PATH International Registered Instructor Certification fee.

Additional Fees:

• PATH Intl membership fee:
  $50 (if not current)
  $90 for international memberships
• First Aid/CPR $50 (if not already certified)
• PATH Intl Advanced Instructor fee (if eligible) $85

Housing information is included in the application packet at the top of this page.
For more information, please contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .