masthead
In This Issue
Sponsors
2016 CEUs
Field Test Standards Voting
Award Nominations Open
Call for Abstracts
PATH Intl. Region Conferences
Interactive Vaulting Certification Updates
Equine Tips
Online Courses Available
PAC in the News
Workshops and Certifications
Quick Links
Stay Connected 
Join our list
Donate to PATH Intl.
PATH Intl. Sponsors
If you have questions about sponsoring PATH Intl. or exhibiting at the 2017 PATH Intl. Conference and Annual Meeting, please contact Kaye Marks
 
Title Sponsor - $20,000+ 
 
the official feed of PATH Intl.
 

Platinum Sponsor - $15,000+  

Virginia Horse Industry Board
, presenting sponsor of the 2016 PATH Intl. Horse Expo

Gold Sponsor - $10,000+  
 
Silver - $7,500+   
Adequan  
Equisure 
Strides to Success

Bronze - $5,000+   
Pewter - $2,500+   
WESA     
  
Copper - $1,000+
  
In Kind Donors and Media Partners
Equicizer  
CEUs From 2016 PATH Intl. Conference
Wondering which sessions at the 2016 PATH Intl. Conference in Williamsburg apply to which continuing education categories? Refer to this sheet for quick reference. If you have questions, please email Bret Maceyak.
From the MOC
You may have received a region newsletter from PATH Intl. and we would love to have our membership participate. Please submit your center, instructor or client/participant news through your region rep via email by March 31, 2017, to have a chance to be featured in the upcoming Region Quarterly Newsletter.

Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International

Title Sponsor: Purina, the official feed of PATH Intl.

February 21, 2017 

Field Test Standards Electronic Voting
As a reminder, again this year field test standards will be voted on electronically rather than at the PATH Intl. Conference and Annual Meeting. As PATH Intl. continues to grow, the association wants to take advantage of every opportunity, including social media and other electronic means, to listen to and keep in touch with our members. An electronic vote gives every member a chance to participate.

These standards have been in field test since January 2016:
FTS 1 through 4 are proposing to replace a part of the current PATH Intl. Core Standard A32. These will separate the helmet requirement for volunteers and personnel and adds acceptance of international equivalent helmets. If passed, they will respectively be placed in the core, mounted activity, driving activity and vaulting activity sections of the manual. 

FTS 5 concerns the minimum safe age for participants in equine-assisted activities and follows the age recommendation found in the precautions and contraindications section of the PATH Intl. Standards for Certification and Accreditation. This standard was proposed by the PATH Intl. Health and Education Advisory to emphasize the need to closely evaluate young participants before placing them on an equine.

The electronic vote will take place this summer (dates to be determined). Until the vote, members can give input on the field test standards at region conferences or by calling PATH Intl.

Members unable to vote electronically will be given options in the near future.
PATH Intl. Award Nominations Open
Dancer_ equine
Dancer, the 2016 PATH Intl. and Region 8 Equine of the Year winner
Nominations for awards to be announced at this year's conference are due no later than May 15, 2017, 11:59 p.m. MDT, but it is not too soon to start filling out your nomination forms to avoid a last minute rush!

The nomination forms make the nomination process easier than ever. All forms must now be filled out online directly. Simply fill out the online form and your response is automatically submitted!

Veterinarian Award Nominations -- New Process
To nominate your center's outstanding veterinarian, simply fill out the short nomination form confirming he or she meets the criteria. Regional winners will be randomly selected from the nominations received by the deadline. If your center's veterinarian is chosen as the regional winner, you will then be asked to submit two reference forms for judging to determine the 2017 PATH Intl. Veterinarian of the year. This award is sponsored by Luitpold - makers of Adequan. They will award the regional winners five boxes of Adequan to be prescribed for the equines at their respective nominating centers, and the international winner will receive 20 boxes.

Click here for information and for the links to the fillable forms.

If you have any questions, please email Karen Province or call her at (800) 369-7433, ext. 103.
PATH Intl. Conference and Annual Meeting Call for Abstracts
The 2017 PATH Intl. Conference is November 8-11, 2017, in San Antonio, TX. At this time PATH Intl. is conducting a call for abstracts. You are invited to submit an abstract highlighting your organization's innovations or personal research and how they may benefit the equine-assisted activities and therapies field. 

The conference will also include a poster session. Presenters may submit an abstract for the poster session by following the same directions as for the traditional classroom presentation. 

Abstract submission will be handled electronically only:

Click here to download abstract information.

Click here to begin the abstract submission process. 

Abstracts must be submitted to PATH Intl. by March 10, 2017. No submissions will be accepted after March 10.
PATH Intl. Region Conferences
Registration is open for the following region conferences:

Region 1
April 21-23, 2017
Portland and Windham, ME
Hosted by: NESAR/Region I and
Riding To The Top Therapeutic Riding Center

Region 2
March 31 - April 1, 2017
Crowne Plaza Hotel Monroe/South Brunswick
Monroe, NJ
Hosted by: HRH of New Jersey (Health and Recreation through Horses)

Region 6
March 9-12, 2017
River Falls, WI
Hosted by: University of Wisconsin-River Falls,
Animal Science Dept
Walk On Therapeutic Riding Programs, Inc.

Region 7
March 30 - April 2, 2017
Poplar Grove, IL
Hosted by: BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center

Exhibiting at Region Conferences
Do you have a product equine professionals would be interested in purchasing? Educational materials, books and videos are all great possibilities for selling to the therapeutic horsemanship professionals at the PATH Intl. region conferences. For information, email Kimberly Price or download the region exhibitor flier.
Interactive Vaulting Certification Program Updates
As part of the 2016 goals of the PATH Intl. Interactive Vaulting Certification Subcommittee, a new interactive vaulting instructor online exam has been launched for 2017. Mirroring PATH Intl. Advanced Instructor Certification procedures, the interactive vaulting exam will be closed book, timed and proctored. Candidates MUST complete the exam prior to attending an on-site certification in 2017 and forward. The exam includes topics covered in the on-site PATH Intl. Interactive Vaulting workshop, so candidates are advised to take the exam AFTER completing an on-site workshop to ensure success.

Also for 2017, the PATH Intl. Interactive Vaulting Certification Subcommittee and Certification Oversight Committee have increased the time allowed for candidate teaching demonstrations at certification. In order to allow candidates to more comprehensively demonstrate their interactive vaulting teaching skills, the demonstration duration has been increased from 20 to 30 minutes.
Equine Tips From the PATH Intl. Equine Welfare Committee 
Please Pass the Salt!
Are the horses in your care getting enough of this core nutrient? 
By Jessica Normand, Member of the PATH Intl. Equine Welfare Committee

Every horse needs a daily serving of sodium chloride to meet his requirements of this important mineral. In addition to salt's important role in nerve and muscle function, feeding salt encourages horses to drink and thus stay properly hydrated, lowering the risk of impaction colic and other health issues.  Read more .

The PATH Intl. Equine Welfare Committee is committed to refining and deepening our perspective of equine well-being to include the physical, mental and emotional well-being of our wonderful four-legged partners. Join us on this journey. Please add your thoughts on the PATH Intl. Community Connections page. It is our desire that these tips start a further discussion on Community Connections. Any thoughts? We appreciate hearing from you!
Online Courses Available
PATH Intl. Mentor Training Course
This four-week mentor training course meets the requirements to become an official PATH Intl. Mentor. Quality mentorship is a key component to achieving any level or discipline of certification. This skill development program has been created in response to the need for a formalized education process to enhance the skills of those who mentor. The objective is to increase the number of qualified mentors available to instructors in training and to provide current PATH Intl. Certified Professionals with a continuing education opportunity while enhancing personal observation, evaluation and feedback skills.



Questions? Email Stefani Viktora-Anderson.

Instructor Training for PATH International Equine Services for Heroes® 
This course will offer instructors an understanding of basic military culture, terminology and common reasons that veterans and service members seek out EAAT. Learners will develop mindful communication skills, center policies and processes for participant assessment, planning and identifying precautions and contraindications.
 
The next sections of the Instructor Training for PATH International Equine Services for Heroes® online course will begin March 1, April 1, May 1 and June 1. In addition, this course is eligible for six hours of disability education and six hours of continuing education hours on your annual certification compliance. This is 12 hours total of continuing education hours.

Click here for information and registration.

PATH Intl. Spinal Cord Injuries, Paralysis & EAAT
This course will offer instructors an understanding of SCI conditions and how to apply this knowledge to the development of safe and effective EAAT lesson plans. Course curriculum will focus on integrating new ideas for offering a participant-centered approach to planning and facilitating EAAT.

The next section of the PATH Intl. Spinal Cord Injuries, Paralysis and EAAT online course will begin April 1 and June 1. In addition, this course is eligible for six hours of disability education and six hours of continuing education hours on your annual certification compliance. This is 12 hours total of continuing education hours.

Click here for information and registration.
PAC in the News
New Heights Therapy Center, Inc., a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center in Folsom, LA, was featured in The New Orleans Advocate and on WWLTV in stories last summer about rescuing horses when flood waters rose in Baton Rouge ("Tammany Times: Folsom center makes way for four-legged evacuees"). New Heights helped fellow PATH Intl. Center GaitWay Therapeutic Horsemanship find places for their 10 horses. According to Krista Carpenter, executive director at New Heights, it was a good way to show support for therapeutic horsemanship. "Knowing everything these horses do for clients, we're honored." The Advocate ran a story earlier in the summer on New Heights, Little miracles daily: Therapy horses help riders gain confidence, ability.
PATH Intl. Events Calendar

Unless otherwise noted, contact Bret Maceyak at (800) 369-7433, ext. 114, with questions. All dates are subject to change. To register for an event, please contact the host site directly. You can locate contact information under Find a Center on the PATH Intl. homepage or on the PATH Intl. events calendar.

For a full list of events, including onsite workshops and certifications, visit the PATH Intl. events calendar.  

Advanced Instructor
April 8-10, 2017
April 27-29, 2017

May 22-24, 2017
June 6-8, 2017
Riverwood Therapeutic Riding Center, Inc.
Heartland Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
*Advanced Prep Workshop Only*
Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center
Reins of Life, Inc.
Tobaccoville, NC
Bucyrus, KS

Augusta, MI
Michigan City, IN

Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning  Workshop and Skills Test  
Feb. 23-26, 2017 
Mar. 22-25, 2017
Mar. 23-26, 2017
April 5-8, 2017 

April 20-23, 2017
June 15-18, 2017
July 8-11, 2017
Nov. 3-6, 2017
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
Healing Reins Therapeutic Riding Center
Ride On Therapeutic Horsemanship 
Dream Catchers at the Cori Sikich Riding Center
Calvin Center Therapeutic Riding Program
GAIT Therapeutic Riding Center
Wings of Hope Equitherapy
Touchstone Farm
Old Lyme, CT 
Bend, OR
Chatsworth, CA 
Toano, VA

Hampton, GA
Milford, PA
Cleburne, TX
Temple, NH

Driving
Oct. 10-14, 2017
Touchstone Farm - Home of Horse Power
Temple, NH

Interactive Vaulting
July 6-9, 2017
Oct. 8-11, 2017
Forward Stride
Ivey Ranch Park
Beaverton, OR
Oceanside, CA

Mentor Training 
March 9-10, 2017
Mar. 24-25, 2017
April 2-3, 2017
April 10-11, 2017
May 15-16, 2017
May 19-20, 2017 
June 14-15, 2017
Three Gaits, Inc. - Region 6 Conference
UpReach Therapeutic Riding Center, Inc.
Ivey Ranch Park
Calvin Center Therapeutic Riding Program
Healing Strides of VA
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
 
Potter's Ranch
Stoughton, WI
Goffstown, NH
Oceanside, CA
Hampton, GA
Boones Mill, VA
Old Lyme, CT 
Union, KY

Please direct correspondence about this newsletter to PATH Intl. eNews coordinator. PATH Intl. eNews is a benefit of Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International membership. No portion of this publication may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, scanned or electronic process without written permission from PATH Intl. PATH Intl. reserves the right to reject, accept and edit submitted material. PATH Intl. eNews is intended as an information exchange and an opportunity for communication for members in the field of equine assisted activities. The opinions, practices or products presented in PATH Intl. eNews do not necessarily reflect PATH Intl. policy, imply PATH Intl. endorsement, or comply with PATH Intl. standards.

 

If you prefer not to hear from us, just click on the "safe unsubscribe" below and we will remove you from our mailing list. Removing your email address from the PATH Intl. member database will prevent you from receiving all email correspondence including event notices and other time-sensitive correspondence.