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Region Conference Updates
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Region 1:The "Money and Message" session has
been canceled. NARHA CEO Kay Green will be offering a
presentation in its place: "Strategic Planning: Explore the
Components of a Good Strategic Plan That Allows the
Organization to Move Forward With Clear Goals and Objectives."
The Region 10 conference in Tucson, AZ, has
been canceled.
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Member-Get-A-Member Drive
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NARHA knows its current members are the best possible source
for new members who could benefit from all NARHA has to offer.
With our special Member-Get-A-Member drive, we've made
referring colleagues to NARHA easier than ever!
Click here to learn program details!
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Limited-Time Special Offer for Conference Registration
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We
are very excited to be able to offer our members a
limited-time special registration fee for the 2011 NARHA
National Conference and Annual Meeting. The
limited-time online registration fee is $475 for NARHA
members.
You won't be able to pick sessions yet, but we know that this
conference will be an extraordinary experience that will
include enhanced educational content, the annual awards
banquet and the horse expo, which will be held at the
beautiful Kentucky Horse Park. You will have the opportunity
to select specific sessions once they become available.
This offer is only available via online registration. No phone
or fax orders will be accepted. Official online conference
registration will begin in the summer of 2011. The 2011 summer
issue of NARHA's Strides magazine will also include
the hard-copy registration booklet for those preferring to
register via fax or mail.
This limited-time offer cannot be combined with any other
discount offers (including the discount for Premier Accredited
Centers). The offer
expires July 5, 2011.
Click here to take advantage of the best savings for
conference registration!
Book a
room at the Hyatt Regency Lexington: (859) 253-1234 or
click here to reserve a room online. Use code g-NARH.
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Attention NARHA Membership! Board Nominations Needed
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In an effort to
provide diversity and to maximize the effectiveness of the
NARHA Board of Trustees, the Governance Committee is
requesting NARHA members' help. The committee reviewed the
current board matrix and came up with the areas that we need
to strengthen or in which we are lacking expertise on our
board. The Governance Committee is charged with providing
nominations of candidates that have skill sets in the
following areas:
1. Financial
experience, ideally CPA's with nonprofit experience,
2. Strong
connections and networking in the corporate sector,
3. Business
owners or corporate executives who have an interest in the
NARHA mission,
4. Strong
experience in national and/or international fundraising or
development work,
5.
Professionals in the medical, pharmaceutical or rehabilitation
industries.
Please help by
submitting names of prospective board members who you believe
would be an asset to NARHA.
Click here for the board job description and an
application. Candidates should also include their resume.
Names should be submitted to the
Governance Committee by May 15, 2011.
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Final Days for Region 9 Early Conference Registration
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Friday, April 22, is the last day to register early for the
NARHA Region 9 Conference and receive a $25 discount. The
Region 9 Conference is May 20-22 in Haily, ID. After this
Friday, online registration is open through May 6.
Click here to register.
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Check Into Becoming a NARHA Premier Accredited Center
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Is your
center interested in becoming a NARHA Premier Accredited
center? Is your center's accreditation due for renewal?
Click here to read the benefits of becoming a NARHA
accredited center.
Click here for the accreditation application.
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EFP/L Updates - The EFMHA Yahoo Group
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Greetings EFP/L Members!
With the NARHA/EFMHA integration, the EFP/L Membership Task Force
took over many initiatives that impact EFP/L members. One such
example is the existing EFMHA Yahoo Group. Our task force asked
for the expert advice of Brad Lewis, the "owner" of the group and
one of the moderators, to help guide us in making important
decisions about the Yahoo group. With the integration, the name "EFMHA"
no longer exists; thus the "EFMHA" Yahoo group needs to be
revisited as to its purpose, function and its name. Brad has been
hard at work considering the responses from the Yahoo Group
members, and he will be submitting a recommendation to the EFP/L
Membership task force soon. We will let you know as soon as the
task force has reviewed and voted upon the recommendations.
As our task force continues to tackle many exciting initiatives
that address the needs and interests of those providing EFP/L, we
want to remind you that if you have ideas, needs, concerns or
comments for NARHA regarding EFP/L, please contact us directly. We
can't make change without you! Contact
Leif Hallberg, Chair of the EFP/L Membership Task Force.
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Support NARHA on eBay
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You
can now support NARHA on eBay! Donate 10 to 100 percent of any
item up for sale and choose NARHA as your cause. Click
here for more information.
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NARHA Store Items Discounted at Equestrian Collections
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Many NARHA
items are being offered at closeout prices at Equestrian
Collections, including Polo shirts, sweatshirts, window decals,
and padfolios. Discounts of 30% are offered at the retail and
wholesale level.
Visit the store to see all the items!
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Equine Welfare Tip From the Equine Welfare Committee
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Retraining
the "Girthy" or "Cinchy" Horse
By Heidi J.
Potter, Equine Welfare Committee Member
Many of us have owned, ridden or worked around a "girthy/cinchy"
horse. The behaviors can vary from an unfriendly expression to a
dangerous reaction. These horses, on the whole, are often valuable
in our programs. However, their behavior on the ground can make
them a liability.
Horses are 100 percent honest and have very good memories. If they
are reacting negatively, then the problem is real to them. It is
either due to physical discomfort or the memory of such. Even when
we are able to rid the horse of the cause, the memory can keep the
behavior alive.
Here are some things to consider when trying to rebuild their
trust and improve their behavior.
Whenever dealing with a behavior issue, first consider that it
could be the result of a physical issue. Therefore, have your
horse screened for back or wither pain. A veterinarian, equine
chiropractor or equine massage therapist should be able to help
you out.
Secondly, have a knowledgeable person evaluate the fit of your
saddle. Ill-fitting saddles are often the culprit of many behavior
issues.
Once you have treated or ruled out any physical causes, you are
ready to tackle the behavior. We need to use positive motivation
to reprogram his mind. Reprimanding him for his behavior will not
fix the problem and very well may exacerbate it. He needs to
realize that good things can and will happen during the
grooming/tacking up process. Here are a few things to try:
� Rub your horse's "sweet" spot while you slowly begin to bring
the girth/cinch up under the belly. Continue rubbing throughout
the very slow and gentle process of attaching or tying to the
saddle. Your rubbing touch can help lead his mind to that area
versus the place that he is worried about.
� Clicker train your horse. "Click and treat" while he is
demonstrating a good expression and attitude. If he pins his ears,
swishes his tail or offers any negative behavior, stop the process
right where you are. Do not release the pressure or position of
your hand, brush, girth/cinch or whatever was causing the
behavior. Just hold that "pose" and wait for the behavior to stop,
his expression to soften, ears to prick forward, etc., and then
click and reward him.*
We want him to associate the grooming/tacking up process with
something positive. This way we have a chance of replacing his
negative reaction with the anticipation of something good. The
horse who used to swing his head around to bite often becomes the
horse who looks around with ears pricked, anticipating a reward.
Treats are a great motivator! There has to be something good in it
for the horse in order for him to want to change his behavior.
Although we cannot delete the memory, we stand a good chance of
replacing his behavior. As you work through this process be sure
to follow the procedures listed in the last NARHA News, "The 'Girthy'
or 'Cinchy' Horse and How Not to Create One."
* Correct timing of the cue (click) and the reward during this
training phase is imperative. If you are unskilled at this type of
training, please enlist the help of a knowledgeable trainer to
help get you both on the right track.
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NARHA
Horses for Heroes Committee Membership Applications |
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NARHA is now accepting membership applications for the newly
established NARHA Horses for Heroes (NH4H) Committee. The
development and sustainment of NH4H as a premier program leading
equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) on behalf of
America's wounded military and veterans is greatly influenced by
the quality of its committee membership. NARHA seeks members
having a diversity of backgrounds and experiences and a strong
dedication to the mission of the EAAT industry. Willingness and
ability to volunteer individual time to NH4H matters over the
period of committee membership is essential. Expertise in the
areas of strategic planning and execution, development, veteran's
affairs and/or experience with an existing NH4H Center program is
very helpful but not mandatory. The key is to identify the right
individuals to help lead NARHA Horses for Heroes to future
successes.
Historically, NARHA membership has been a great resource for
helping to identify future NARHA leaders, either by pulling from
our own ranks or from our broad network of professional
acquaintances. Committee commitment is for two years, and
attendance at monthly conference calls is essential. Motivated
applicants may apply by May 3rd. Please send your resume to
Nicole Pepper.
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NARHA
Horses for Heroes Invited to Participate in NSBA Heroes on Horses
Event |
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Riders
in NARHA Horses for Heroes programs are invited to participate in
the 2011 NSBA World Championship Show Very Special Event "Heroes
On Horses" competition. Riders must be disabled veterans or active
duty "wounded warriors" who are participating in NARHA Horses For
Heroes programs.
Click here for information. |
HETRA
Receives Grant Funding Through AIM Institute |
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Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy (HETRA), a NARHA
Premier Accredited Center, has received a grant in the amount of
$20,000 from the AIM Institute. The grant is a capacity/technology
grant that will allow HETRA to work with a developer to develop a
volunteer/student scheduling program that is compatible with
Salesforce (HETRA's data management) system. Some of the exciting
things this program will eventually do is allow volunteers to log
in and sign up for shifts, mark absences and update their
information. The staff at HETRA will also be able to automatically
populate daily schedules, send out weekly reminders, match up
volunteer qualifications with volunteer scheduling needs and
automatically calculate volunteer hours. These are all things that
will save many hours each week for the volunteer coordinator and
allow this person to focus on other volunteer areas.
"We are very excited about this grant and not only the impact it
will have on our program but the ability to offer it to other
programs such as ours that are using Salesforce," said Jodi Teal,
Development Director. "We believe this is an area that is lacking
in the TR world and will help a lot of programs." |
Workshops and Certifications |
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Unless otherwise noted, contact
Tara McChesney at (800) 369-7433, ext. 114 for further
information. All dates are subject to change. To register for
an event, please contact the host site directly.
NARHA Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning
Workshop and Practical Skills Testing
April 29-May 2
Marion Therapeutic Riding Association in Ocala, FL
There is still room available. If you are interested in
attending, please call the center immediately! May 12-15
North Carolina Therapeutic Riding Center in Mebane, NC
If you are interested in attending, please call the center
immediately as they need more people to sign up in order to
hold this event.
May 26-29
Ride On Center for Kids in Georgetown, TX
June 18-21
Windrush Farm Therapeutic Equitation, Inc., in Boxford, MA
October 19-22
Hearts and Horses in Loveland, CO
NARHA Advanced Level Certifications
April 29-May 1
Brave Hearts Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center in
Harvard, IL
May 20-22
Three Gaits, INC in Oregon, WI
June 1-3
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center Inc in Old Lyme, CT
July 15-16
Ride On Center for Kids in Georgetown, Texas
NARHA Driving Workshop and Certification combination
event
Workshop is held the first 3 days; certification is held
the last 2 days
November 5-9
Gayla Driving Center/U.S. Driving for the Disabled, Inc., in
Lexington, KY
This
certification is almost full. If you wish to attend, please
call the center and get your spot paid for!
NARHA Driving Workshop only June 2-4
Horse Power in Temple, NH
If you are interested in attending, please call the center
immediately as they need more people to sign up in order to
hold this event. June 20-22
Brave Hearts Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center in
Harvard, ILIf you are interested in attending, please call the
center immediately as they need more people to sign up in
order to hold this event.
NARHA Vaulting Workshop and Certification
Workshop is held first 3 days, and certification is held
on the last day
August 25-28
Riding to the Top in Windham, ME
Mentor Training Workshop
May 19-20
Sagebrush Equine Training Center for the Handicapped in
Hailey, ID
We
have a FREE registered on-site workshop and certification
approaching quickly in CO on May 12 in Fort Collins (see the
events calendar for details). Please call the center
immediately if you wish to attend, as they are in need of more
candidates.
Please visit the
NARHA calendar for a list of 2011 Registered On-Site
Workshops and Certifications.
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Please direct
correspondence about this newsletter to
NARHA News coordinator.
NARHA
News is a benefit of NARHA membership. No portion of this
publication may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic,
scanned or electronic process without written permission from
NARHA. NARHA reserves the right to reject, accept and edit
submitted material. NARHA News is intended as an
information exchange and an opportunity for communication for
members in the field of equine assisted activities. The
opinions, practices or products presented in NARHA News do
not necessarily reflect NARHA policy, imply NARHA endorsementor
comply with NARHA standards.
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