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 Sexy Bee Yacht
Posts: 5849
   
Location: WA | I am looking for anyone who may be certified as a therapeutic riding instructor or who has worked with one. I have given riding lessons for over 10 years on my own mare and people's own horses. I teach everything from beginning riding, to low level English, problem solving, gaming and barrels. I also do showmanship for 4H competing. I also have a Masters in Counseling. I worked in an elementary school (where you actually get a chance to "counsel", at least more than in middle and high school), but my masters program was the same as any other counselor (agency, pastoral) aside from our practicums. I had wanted to do agency counseling as well but it was just financial holding me back.
I have had a lot of people ask me about doing lessons for autism spectrum and sensory integration/anxiety kids. I would also love to work with veterans. I would want to focus more on the psychological disabilities than physical. I can't imagine always needing the help with one rider, 3 adults, etc. for physical disabilities. I can google with the best of them and see where to get certified, but I want to talk to actual people who do it. Is it worth the piece of paper (as in, I have plenty of riding lesson clients without a certification or advertising)? Pros and cons? Instruction covered under my regular Ranch and Training Insurance (I can just ask my insurance guy but others may have firsthand experience as well).... Any additional info would be great to hear!
I love my regular ridind lesson kids but to be able to help someone better their lives with the horses? That would be awesome. I know I have made a difference to the kids I have helped with their competing, but this would be a whole new facet to the passion. | |
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 Mouhahaha
Posts: 1786
Location: British Columbia | I'm a certified Therapeutic Riding instructor...Can't say it taught me much more than just the hands on experience of volunteering for years...It lowers the insurance considerab;y though(Or did for me). | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1037
| You do not have to have a certification from NARHA to run a theraputic riding center, although if you want to advertise that you are certified, you will have to have at least one instrutor who is. The other instructors can work under that persons certification. I worked as a lead instructor, program director, and special olympics coach and LOVED it. Your insurance will probably cover it, as it is liability, but the number of horses you are using will affect it.
You NEED to look into the EAGALA website. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. I worked at Refuge Services (www.refugeservices.org) for 5 years and have been through the EAGALA method of training. They are always looking for people who have a background in counseling and since you have a horse background too, you would be a perfect "instrutor." I can answer any questions you have, and get you in touch with some great people who are founding members of EAGALA.
Most rewarding job I will probably ever have and learned so much from working at that facility. | |
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Sexy Bee Yacht
Posts: 5849
Location: WA | kboltwkreations - 2014-08-20 11:43 AM
You do not have to have a certification from NARHA to run a theraputic riding center, although if you want to advertise that you are certified, you will have to have at least one instrutor who is. The other instructors can work under that persons certification. I worked as a lead instructor, program director, and special olympics coach and LOVED it. Your insurance will probably cover it, as it is liability, but the number of horses you are using will affect it.
You NEED to look into the EAGALA website. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. I worked at Refuge Services (www.refugeservices.org) for 5 years and have been through the EAGALA method of training. They are always looking for people who have a background in counseling and since you have a horse background too, you would be a perfect "instrutor." I can answer any questions you have, and get you in touch with some great people who are founding members of EAGALA.
Most rewarding job I will probably ever have and learned so much from working at that facility.
Encouraging! Can you pm me the names please? | |
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