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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. |
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! Deadline is June 30!
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Sponsors/Exhibitors
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NARHA wants to thank its 2011 sponsors and exhibitors who have
committed thus far. If you have any questions about sponsoring
NARHA or exhibiting at the 2011 NARHA National Conference and
Annual Meeting in Lexington, KY, please contact
Megan Ream.
Title Sponsor
Purina
Gold Sponsors
Markel
Equisure
Silver
AQHA
Breyer
Bronze
WESA
Pewter
Racing Unified Network
Conference Exhibitors
Equuspeak
LisaWysocky.com
Ohio
University Southern
Stop Equine
Colic
The Educated
Equine
US Pony Club |
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Big Awards Announcement!
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Thank
you to our friend and national conference title sponsor,
Purina Mills, for providing travel scholarships for the
equestrian award winners. The national award winner for each
equestrian category: Independent Adult Equestrian, Adult
Equestrian, Youth Equestrian, Child Equestrian and the NARHA
Horses for Heroes Equestrian will receive travel scholarship
reimbursement funds in the amount of $1,500 per winner.
The funds may be used to cover the price of round trip flights
or car rental and mileage to and from Lexington, KY, and the
winner's hometown, hotel, taxi, shuttle or meals for the
winner and his/her family or friends up to $1,500 for the
purpose of attending the 2011 awards banquet, Friday, November
11, 2011. Receipts must be submitted with a NARHA
reimbursement form to NARHA by the winner's center or
nominator for reimbursement.
A couple of
regions asked for a few more days to finalize their
nominations. We would love to see every region represented at
the National Conference, so NARHA is extending our awards
submission deadline to allow everyone a chance to take
advantage of this wonderful offer from Purina Mills.
Submit your awards nominations to the NARHA office by May 23,
2011 at midnight. After this all award nominations will close
and any regions missing nominations will not be represented at
National Conference in KY.
The nomination forms are on our website in Word format to make
it easier to type the information directly into the form.
(Please be sure you save the form to your personal computer
before you begin typing.)
Click here to visit the NARHA Award Nominations page.
Brant Gilbert, the Marketing Director of the Horse Business
Group at Purina Mills, attended last year's awards banquet in
Denver. He was so impressed by what he saw that he wanted to
make a special contribution to help alleviate a hardship that
travel to the banquet might cause. Thank you Brant and Purina
Mills for your ongoing support of the NARHA mission. |
Update on New Association Name
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As previously
communicated, NARHA is proceeding with great enthusiasm and
plans to announce a new association name in late June. In the
meantime, we have received a few calls in the office regarding
what will be expected of centers. Hopefully we can answer a
question or two here.
Centers will be encouraged to update their websites and
printed materials to include the new association logo. Centers
will receive new electronic versions of the logo on their
"2011 Standards for Certification and Accreditation Manual"
CDs, and logos will be available online for download. Centers
have the freedom to update their materials as current supplies
are exhausted and capacity allows. Centers are definitely NOT
required to implement the change immediately.
Announcing to the world the new, contemporary and accurately
reflective name for your association should be great fun. It
is not intended to create hardships for any centers or
members, instead it will hopefully help you better explain the
wonderful services your center offers. In fact, as we plan
comprehensive media outreach to announce the launch, we
encourage the centers to start thinking about the same thing.
We plan to capitalize on this newsworthy moment, and by doing
so reach targeted markets we may previously have missed.
Centers will receive a press release template that can be
customized and sent to their local media contacts.
All we ask is that you do what you can to include the new name
and logo, whenever you can. Watch your mailbox for surprises
and more launch information coming soon! This is an
exhilarating time to be part of an amazing industry. Thank you
to everyone who has played a roll in making this association
what it is and for helping with the naming process. Stay
tuned! |
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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EFP/L Membership Task Force Update
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Greetings EFP/L Community,
As promised, Brad Lewis submitted his recommendation for the
existing EFMHA Yahoo Group. His recommendation originated from a
3-week poll of the 1,200+ members of the group. The outcome of
this poll and of discussions outside of the actual polling was
that the majority of those involved feel the group should become
independent of NARHA, thereby allowing all to join regardless of
NARHA membership.
This recommendation has been brought before the Membership
Oversight Committee for their approval.
The EFP/L Membership Task Force is hard at work evaluating new and
exciting possibilities for online communities that will target the
needs of NARHA members interested in EFP/L. We welcome your ideas
and feedback, and we will keep you posted throughout the process!
It's not too soon to start thinking about the NARHA National
Conference. There are going to be some great EFP/L presentations,
a lot of continuing education hours and a really exciting
pre-conference event. Consider registering early, as the savings
are really worth it!
Finally, in order to elicit the widest response possible,
especially for NARHA's new EFP/EFL Award, NARHA has extended the
awards nominations deadline to May 23, 2011. Be sure to get your
nominations in for our exciting new award.
Stay in touch and let us know if there is anything our task force
can do for you!
Leif Hallberg, M.A., LCPC
Chair of the EFP/L Membership Task Force |
NARHA Welcomes Two New Employees
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Abigail
Hendren is the Credentialing Programs Representative for NARHA. A
graduate of Webster University in St. Louis, MO, Abby studied film
and creative writing. After graduating, she moved to the Denver
area to work for a production company on a TV show for Food
Network. While working in TV sounded glamorous, Abby decided to
leave the media industry to join NARHA. Abby has experience
volunteering with a therapeutic riding center in Missouri and is
excited to be working to support the therapeutic riding community.
Jeff
Kelling is the Programs and Education Manager for NARHA. Jeff
brings to the organization a broad and varied background in higher
education and volunteer development. Prior to joining NARHA he has
worked in field of community organization in Yukon Territory,
Canada, as well as Colorado. He continues to teach as an adjunct
professor at Regis University in Denver.
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Important Update for All Instructors in Training or
Potential Certification Candidates
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Effective June 1, 2011:
NARHA has long had a procedure that all certification candidates
must perform 25 hours of practice teaching under a current NARHA
certified instructor in order to complete the certification
process. These hours can be started at any point and are good for
two years within your certification date. They need to be group
lessons taught to students with disabilities under the direct
supervision of a current NARHA certified instructor acting as the
mentor who is giving feedback to the certification candidate.
These practice hours should include instruction of a riding skill.
It has come to our attention that many potential certification
candidates or instructors in training are not confirming their
mentor is a NARHA certified instructor. The office highly
recommends calling to verify their certification; look online in
the NARHA membership directory or ask for a current NARHA
certification/membership card from your mentor.
Effective June 1, 2011, if any candidate attends certification and
tests without having 25 group hours of practice teaching under a
current NARHA certified instructor, he or she will be invoiced an
additional processing fee of $150 to be paid to the NARHA office
prior to his or her certification results being released. A
certification candidate cannot act as an instructor until this fee
is paid and the hours are completed within 90 days of notification
from the NARHA office. If the hours are not completed within 90
days, you will begin your certification process from the
beginning.
Ultimately, it is every candidate's responsibility to ensure all
requirements have been met by the appropriate deadlines and that
his or her mentor is a current instructor with NARHA. Be sure to
review all policies and procedures in the
NARHA registered booklet, updated frequently on the NARHA
website.
In addition to this update, please be aware that any certification
candidate who tests at a certification after June 1, 2011, needs
to demonstrate a proper posting diagonal for their riding pattern.
This is a criteria in the certification booklet. In the past
western riders did not need to show a proper posting diagonal;
this policy has been changed. All riders, no matter the
discipline, must show a proper posting diagonal. If you need
assistance, please consider taking lessons from a qualified
instructor to learn proper posting diagonals.
If you have any questions, please call (800) 369-7433. Abby
Hendren (ext. 104) and Jared Smith (ext. 126) are happy to assist
you in your certification process.
Good luck in achieving NARHA certification! |
NARHA
Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning Certification FAQ
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Wow, what a
response we have had from our membership! So many NARHA members
are interested in the new certification, NARHA Equine Specialist
in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL). The news of the new
certification is traveling quickly, but we are hearing a number of
common questions. In order to help clarify, we have provided
answers to some
frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the website.
1. Who should take the Equine Specialist for Mental Health and
Learning workshop?
2. How do I get
this certification?
3. What is the
practical skills test?
4. How do I sign up
for a workshop and practical skills test?
5. How do I locate
a workshop and practical skills test?
6. What does this
certification certify me to do?
7. What is the
NARHA certified instructor option (previously known as the fast
track option)?
8. Will the Equine
Specialist in Mental Health and Learning certification be required
in the future for all existing NARHA programs that offer EFP and
EFL sessions?
Visit the NARHA website for a copy of the certification
booklet and complete details on the requirements of the ESMHL
certification.
Please feel free to email
Tara McChesney or call (800) 369-RIDE (7433) with any
questions you may have regarding the Equine Specialist for Mental
Health and Learning certification or the workshop. |
Seeking Region Representative Nominations
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NARHA's annual
nomination process for region representatives is under way. This
year nominations are being accepted for odd-numbered regions: 1,
3, 5, 7, 9 and 11.
Click here for a nomination form. Please have all nominations
to your current region representative no later than June 1. The
ballot for voting will be available in July. |
Equine Welfare Tip From the Equine Welfare Committee
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Horse
Handling Mindfully
By Heidi J.
Potter, Equine Welfare Committee Member
It's grooming time, and occasionally this process is hurried so
that we can get to the fun part: the riding! However, as we work
around our horses, it is important to remember that they are not
in a hurry. They live in the moment and aren't thinking about
what's to come. If you are doing your job well, they are most
likely enjoying the massaging and caressing that they are
receiving.
Along with enjoying each other's company, grooming serves as a
great opportunity to check out the overall health and condition of
your horse. Here are some tips to help ensure that the grooming
process is enjoyable and productive.
1. Be mindful of brushing dirt and hair away from the eyes when
grooming the face. You can even cup your hand over the eye to
protect it while working the forehead area.
2. Be sure to avoid boney places such as the lower legs and face
when currying, unless you are using a soft, flexible rubber curry.
Then you can just go slow and be careful.
3. Watch the horse's reaction to how much pressure you are using
on his body. If he is acting relaxed then it is a good sign that
what you are doing is okay. If he is flinching or moving away, it
is a sign that you may be going in too hard. Horses have different
levels of skin sensitivity and tolerate pressure differently. You
may notice that this can even be breed-specific. It's important to
develop an understanding for each horse's level of sensitivity and
share that with all who groom him.
4. Be aware when your horse flinches or collapses his body away
from pressure while you are grooming. For example, when you are
currying the back and he drops his back away from your touch. He
could be telling you that his back is sore. There could be a
variety of causes for such a reaction. However, ill-fitting tack
is one of the most common causes. You should not ride this horse
until you have the horse assessed by your veterinarian or other
health care provider. It is also very important to figure out the
reason for the soreness. Include in that process an assessment of
your tack fit by a knowledgeable saddle-fitter.
5. Use a conditioner and/or go slowly when grooming the mane and
tail. They really do feel when you pull their hair out.
6. Look for the "sweet spot." The horse will clearly tell you when
you have hit it. They will often raise and twist their head, make
faces and even move into the pressure. It's nice to spend a little
extra time in those areas.
7. And lastly, when cleaning their hooves please be sure to gently
set the hoof down when you are done. These creatures of flight are
ever so trusting to allow us to tie them up and then lift their
hoof. Let's respect the trust they are offering us and not rudely
drop their hoof to the ground when we are done. Set it down gently
and give them a pat to say "thanks."
It is always in the horse's best interest to be handled in a
predictable manner. Our goal should be to teach every student and
horse handler how to be mindful and work with the horse in a
consistent manner. In this way we can help to gain and keep the
mutual respect of our equine friends. |
Attn: NARHA Centers - Outbreak of Equine Herpes Virus
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Please be aware that there has been an EHV/EHM Equine Herpes Virus
(Rhinopneumonitis) outbreak in Utah, Idaho, and along the Front
Range (Colorado). Equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) is
another name for the neurologic disease associated with equine
herpesvirus (EHV) infections. Neurological signs appear as a
result of damage to blood vessels in the brain and spinal cord
associated with EHV infection. Interference with the blood supply
leads to tissue damage and a subsequent loss in normal function of
areas in the brain and spinal cord.
Neurological signs appear as a result of damage to blood vessels
in the brain and spinal cord associated with EHV infection. Signs
of EHM include:
� Fever preceding neurologic signs (either in a horse diagnosed
with EHM or in horses that
have been exposed to a horse diagnosed with EHM)
� Decreased coordination
� Urine dribbling
� Loss of tail tone
� Hind limb weakness
� Leaning against a wall or fence to maintain balance
� Lethargy
� Inability to rise
Horses may appear to be perfectly healthy yet spread the virus via
the secretions from their nostrils.
If you have any concern as to whether your horses may have been
exposed, you can start by taking the horses temperature twice a
day and while doing so make the horse yield the hind end away from
you to see if there is any loss of coordination. If your horse is
showing flu like symptoms, a temperature over 101.5 degrees and/or
any neurologic symptoms, call your veterinarian right away.
Information provided by Countryside Large Animal Vet Service. For
more information visit
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/. |
Survey
Seeks Statistical Data From NARHA Centers |
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Jennifer Lemmon, the bookkeeper and treasurer of the board for Leg
Up Therapeutic Riding Center, a NARHA Premier Accredited Center in
Pulaski, TN, has put together a survey to provide statistical data
for a grant request. The data collection is part of Jennifer's
thesis for her degree but also provides data for a grant to
complete capital improvements for Leg Up. These improvements will
enhance the safety and comfort of the horses, riders and
volunteers. Jennifer hopes to obtain data from organizations that
may have completed their improvements, as well as some that may
still be in the growth stage, as is Leg Up.
If you would like to participate,
click here to take the survey. If you would like more
information, contact
Jennifer or call her at (832) 495-8491. |
Molly Sweeney Retires From HHRF Board
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The spring edition of the Horses and Humans Research Foundation
newsletter is on the HHRF website. It features an article about
Molly Sweeney, HHRF founder and 2010 NARHA James Brady Award
recipient, who is retiring from the HHRF board.
Click here to visit the page. |
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. You can
locate their contact information under the
Find a Center link on the NARHA home page or on the
NARHA events calendar.
NARHA Equine Specialist in Mental Health and
Learning Workshop and Practical Skills Testing
May 26-29
Ride On Center for Kids in Georgetown, TX
June 18-21
Windrush Farm Therapeutic Equitation, Inc., in Boxford, MA
If
you are interested in attending, please call the center
immediately and reserve your spot. We are in need of more
attendees for this event.
August 18-21
Healing Reins in Bend, OR
October 19-22
Hearts and Horses in Loveland, CO
NARHA Advanced Level Certifications
May 20-22
Three Gaits, INC in Oregon, WI
May 31-June 3
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center Inc in Old Lyme, CT
July 15-16
Ride On Center for Kids in Georgetown, TX
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
If you
wish to attend, please call the center and get your spot
paid for! All reserved spots will be confirmed with an
email confirmation providing you with the application and
informing you where to send your application materials.
NARHA Driving Workshop only
June 20-22
Brave Hearts Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center in
Harvard, IL
If you are interested in attending, please call the center
immediately. The driving demo workshops do count toward
gaining NARHA driving certification.
July
21-26
Happy Trails in Tulare, CA
If you are interested in
attending, please call the center immediately. The driving
demo workshops do count toward gaining NARHA driving
certification.
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
September 23-26
Falconwood Farms in Conyers, GA
Mentor Training Workshop
July 9-10
Centenary College Equine Center in Hackettstown, NJ
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 endorsement or
comply with NARHA standards.
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