Sample Weekly Topics
The following are examples of the lecture and presentation topics taught during the HPITS:
- Teaching: lesson planning, developing skill progression in your lessons, setting goals and objectives for the riders, learning styles of riders, qualities of a good instructor, adaptive equipment for riders and horses, mounting and dismounting, precautions and contraindications
- Stable & equine management: barn chores, clipping, mane pulling, horse assessment, soundness/unsoundness & blemishes, confirmation, horse behavior & senses, vices, bandages, blanketing, equine first aid, equine records (vaccines, teeth, farrier), saddle fit, bits, bridles and other equipment, horse sickness and health, trailering
- Horse selection: how to assess if the horse is right for a TR program, what qualities are good for rider needs, horse movement
- Administration/business: risk management, emergency procedures, follow up paperwork, starting a non-profit vs. for profit, Board of Directors, insurance, advertising, marketing, public relations
- Physical disabilities and mental health: treatment plans and lesson plans, IEPs, working with OTs, PTs, therapists, family members/guardians and teachers and their perspectives, ADA and OSHA resources, DSM-IV, Hippotherapy vs TR, diagnoses (i.e. Fragile X Syndrome, Mental Retardation, Down Syndrome, Amputations, Cystic Fibrosis, Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, Asthma, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Reactive Attachment Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, Eating Disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, Schizophrenia, Substance Abuse/Dependence, trauma or abuse history, Veterans), human behavior and psychology
The following are helpful resources:
- PATH Intl. Standards for Certification & Accreditation Manual (SAM)
- PATH Intl. Instructor Educational Guide (IEG)
- Certified Horsemanship Association Manual (CHA)
- United States Pony Club Manuals, D & C Levels (USPC)
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Disorders (DSM-IV)
- In addition, a variety of handouts will be provided weekly