About PATH Intl.

Name Change

The Board of Trustees and staff announced in June 2011 that the association's name NARHA officially became the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.). The association tagline is "Ensuring excellence and changing lives through equine-assisted activities and therapies." This name change will open doors to a myriad of inclusive possibilities and matches the growth of the equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) industry. PATH International vows to continue to provide its membership with an ever-evolving and progressive level of quality. The association promises that the service members receive will be positive, knowledgeable and friendly. The educational opportunities offered will continue to challenge and enlighten. Click here for more about the name change.

Community Building Initiative

Robert Putnam’s ground-breaking research in his book Bowling Alone (Simon and Schuster, 2000) warned that the very fabric of our connections with each other has plummeted, resulting in impoverished lives and communities. An example of this phenomenon exists within PATH Int’l as out of the approximately 8,000 members, a small percentage at any given time are active volunteers who directly influence the direction of the association. This finding, in collaboration with the forward thinking vision of the PATH Intl. Board of Trustees and staff has galvanized PATH Intl. to take a lead in creating a platform with processes that support the development of communities.

Disaster Relief Fund

Distribution Guidelines

Purpose of Fund: To assist Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) centers (with an immediate need) in funding expenses after natural or manmade catastrophic disasters. Disasters within the scope of the PATH Intl. Disaster Relief Fund are those natural occurrences (e.g., hurricane, earthquake, tornado, flood, fire, drought) or negligent, intentional or criminal acts of man, that cause catastrophic loss having a direct and substantial adverse financial impact on a PATH Intl. Center in good standing. A federal or state disaster declaration is dispositive proof that a disaster has occurred within a defined geographic area.

Benefits of Membership

There are many benefits to being a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) member or to a center being a PATH Intl. center. Members receive access to several publications that keep them abreast of news, trends, information and events at PATH Intl. and in the EAAT field, including the quarterly PATH Intl. Strides magazine and the bi-monthly PATH Intl. eNews. Members also receive access to the Member Directory, which allows members to search for colleagues by name, city or state. Instructors can search for mentors who have taken the PATH Intl. mentor training workshop or by an individual's professional credentials. Individuals also receive a 10% discount to EquestrianProfessional.com, a horse business resource.

As a PATH Intl. member center, members have access to Equestrian Professional. Centers also have online learning opportunities including the Standards Course and the volunteer training course. Further, PATH Intl. underwrites the application for one registered instructor applicant annually for each PATH Intl. center member. Be sure to take advantage of this benefit to encourage individuals affiliated with your center to gain their instructor certification.

Click here for a full listing of PATH Intl. membership and center membership benefits.