Therapeutic Equine Assisted
Activities
Interacting
with an equine is an enjoyable experience for many people, but
for an individual with special needs it can signify much more -
a road to recovery. Each year people with physical, cognitive
and/or emotional disabilities are discovering the benefits of
equine assisted activities. Whether it’s a five-year-old with
Downs Syndrome, or a 45-year-old recovering from a spinal cord
injury, equine assisted activities provide challenges and
rewards for many.
The benefits of equine
assisted activities are as numerous as the types of disabilities
and conditions that participants present. Research shows that
students who participate in equine assisted activities can
experience physical, emotional and mental rewards. The sense of
independence found while working with equines benefit all who
participate. Many medical professionals, including the American
Physical Therapy Association and the American Occupational
Therapy Association, recognize the therapeutic qualities of
equine assisted activities. Individuals of all ages with varying
conditions utilize equine assisted activities. The types of
conditions that participants present include: Amputations,
Autism, Brain Injuries, Cardiovascular impairments, Stroke,
Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Emotional Disabilities, Hearing
Impairments, Learning Disabilities, Mental Retardation, Multiple
Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Post Polio, Speech Impairments,
Spina Bifida, Spinal Cord Injuries, Visual Impairments and other
physical, emotional, and cognitive disabilities.
About NARHA
NARHA was founded in 1969 to promote and
support equine assisted activities in the U.S. and Canada. At
over 600 NARHA Centers, more than 36,000 individuals with
special needs find a sense of independence through equine
assisted activities. These centers range from small, one-person
programs to large operations with a dozen or more instructors
and therapists. Centers may offer any number of equine
activities such as driving, vaulting, trail riding, competition,
groundwork, and stable management.
NARHA assists its centers in
several ways for the benefit of individuals with special needs.
NARHA provides Accreditation to help ensure the highest safety
standards at centers and Instructor Certification, which brings
knowledge of disabilities and equines together to best serve
participants' needs. NARHA's standards for centers provide
guidelines for maintaining a safe environment and selecting
participants who are suitable and appropriate for equine
assisted activities. Other educational resources include
regional workshops, annual and regional conferences.
NARHA is the accrediting
organization for Easter Seals' camps with equine activities.
Other organizations participating in NARHA riding programs
include the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Multiple Sclerosis
Society, Special Olympics, Spina Bifida Association and United
Cerebral Palsy.
NARHA Centers
utilize more than 35,000 volunteers, 2,600 instructors, 5,000
therapy equines and 600 therapists.
NARHA Center Membership Program
Center Membership - $225*
Centers across the country
offering equine assisted activities can gain access to the
support, promotion and education offered through NARHA by
becoming a NARHA Center.
All centers must have either
a NARHA Certified Instructor or an Instructor in Training (IT)
PRIOR to joining NARHA as a Center Member. (See page 4 of this
document for more information)
Once a center has joined
NARHA they are required to follow certain membership
requirements (listed below) and adhere to NARHA’s high standards
for safety and excellence.
*An additional national fee of $3 per
participant, volunteer, and employee are also to be paid to
NARHA at the end of each membership year.
Center
Membership benefits include:
o
1 (one) FREE
NARHA Instructor Certification Application
o FREE
access to the “NARHA Volunteer Self-Study Program”
o 3
(three) copies of the NARHA Strides Magazine per edition
o Listing
and referral service from the NARHA website
o Complimentary
copy of the NARHA Standards & Accreditation Manual and
annual updates to the manual upon renewal of center membership
o Ability
to participate in the NARHA Awards Program
o Accreditation
possibilities
o Discount
education materials and events
o Discount
merchandise offers
And much more!
Facts about NARHA Center Membership:
o Center
Membership runs January 1st to December 31st.
All centers are required to renew their center membership by
December 31st each year regardless of their joined
date. Centers that join on or after October 1st
must pay full price to join but will pay a pro-rated amount for
the following membership year.
o Upon
purchasing a new center membership, a center’s status is listed
as "Center Member."
After 1 year of membership, Center Members are eligible to
participate in the accreditation program—centers
are not required to participate upon eligibility.
o At
the end of a Center Member’s 3rd year of membership,
a choice must be made either to participate in the accreditation
program or become an ‘Affiliate Center Member’. Affiliate
Centers have fewer benefits and higher dues than Center Members
and NARHA Premier Accredited Centers. Accreditation
opportunities are still available to Affiliate Centers.
NARHA Center Membership Requirements:
These requirements apply to
all NARHA Centers regardless of accreditation status. Failure
to follow these membership requirements may result in loss of
center membership and its benefits.
|
1.
|
All NARHA
Centers must have a current center membership in good
standing. |
|
2. |
All
instructors at NARHA Centers must be Instructors in
Training (IT) or hold current NARHA Instructor
Certification.* |
|
3. |
All NARHA
Centers must have current insurance coverage in effect
at all times that meets or exceeds NARHA’s recommended
limits. |
|
4.
|
All NARHA
Centers must follow all mandatory and applicable
standards. All NARHA Centers are required to be in
compliance with all NARHA Standards that apply to their
program activities. |
|
5.
|
All NARHA
Centers must have a signed Annual Statement of
Compliance form on file with NARHA each year. |
*New Center Members have 12
months from the time of membership purchase to acquire at least
1 (one) NARHA Certified Instructor. All centers must have
either a NARHA Certified Instructor or and Instructor in
Training (IT) prior to joining NARHA as a Center Member.
NARHA Center Membership is
$225*
Important Note:
Center Membership runs January 1st
to December 31st. All centers are required to renew
their center membership by December 31st each year
regardless of their joined date. Centers that join on or after
October 1st must pay full price to join but will pay
a pro-rated amount for the following membership year.
*An
additional National Fee of $3 per participant, volunteer, and
employee is also to be paid to NARHA with membership renewal.
