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
Centers
across the country offering equine assisted activities and
therapies can gain access to the support, promotion and
education offered through NARHA by becoming a NARHA Center.
All
centers must have on staff either a NARHA Certified Therapeutic
Riding Instructor or a NARHA Instructor in Training (IT) PRIOR
to joining NARHA as a Center Member.
After joining NARHA the center
is required to follow certain membership requirements (listed
below) and adhere to NARHA’s high standards for safety and
professionalism.
Center
Membership benefits include:
o
One FREE
NARHA Instructor Certification Application Fee
o
FREE
access to the “NARHA Volunteer Self-Study Program” on
CourseWebs
o
Three copies of
the NARHA’s Strides Magazine per issue
o
Listing and
referral service from the NARHA website
o
Access to
low-cost liability and event insurance benefits
o
Annual updates
to the NARHA Standards & Accreditation Manual when new
editions published
o
Ability to
participate in the NARHA Awards Program
o
Opportunity to achieve Premier
Accredited Status
o
Discounted
education materials and events
o
Discounted
merchandise
o
Discounted
office supplies through Corporate Express
o
Access to grant
information through the Foundation Directory online
(available in the Member’s Only section of NARHA website)
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 the date they
joined. New Centers Members that join after the first
quarter will pay a pro-rated dues amount for the first year of
membership. Renewal dues are listed above and are not pro-rated
after the first year.
o
After one year of
membership, Center Members are eligible to participate in the
accreditation program. Centers are not required to participate
upon eligibility. Accreditation fees are not included in the
fees shown; they are in addition to center dues.
Dues
(new
center dues, renewal fees are not prorated, dues are based
on total operating budget)
|
Budget Size |
Joined in Quarter 1 |
Joined in
Quarter 2 |
Joined in Quarter
3 |
Joined in
Quarter 4 |
Central Renewal
Dues |
|
$0–$24,999 |
$355 |
$266.25 |
$177.50 |
$88.75 |
$355 |
|
$25,000–$149,999 |
$555 |
$416.25 |
$277.50 |
$138.75 |
$555 |
|
$150,000–$299,999 |
$825 |
$618.75 |
$412.50 |
$206.25 |
$825 |
|
$300,000–$1,000,000 |
$1200 |
$900 |
$600 |
$300 |
$1200 |
|
Greater than $1,000,000 |
$2000 |
$1500 |
$1000 |
$500 |
$2000 |
| |
|
| 1st Quarter
=Jan, Feb, Mar |
3rd
Quarter=Jul, Aug, Sept |
| 2nd
Quarter =Apr, May, Jun |
4th Quarter
=Oct, Nov, Dec |
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.
1.
Every NARHA Center must be a center member in good
standing.
2.
All instructors at NARHA Centers must be Instructors in
Training (IT) or hold current NARHA Instructor Certification.
(For more information refer to the NARHA Standards &
Accreditation Manual.)
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.
