Corporate Membership
Did you hear? PATH Intl. has its Corporate Membership program up and running for 2012. Check it out here or contact Megan Ream for details.

Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International

February 7, 2012

Recruit New Members to PATH Intl. and Win

We at Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) know that our current members are the best possible source for new members who could benefit from all PATH Intl. has to offer.

With our special Member-Get-A-Member drive, we've made referring colleagues to PATH Intl. easier than ever! Forward an application to them or direct them to Join Now to download an application. Or direct them to the PATH Intl. store to join online. Ask your friend to enter your name as his/her "referred by." Then tell another friend... and another... and another to win prizes.

Thank you for your efforts for all members recruited by June 29, 2012. Click here for full details and prizes.

AQHA Gives PATH Intl. Centers CE Scholarship Opportunity for Individuals

AQHA logo The American Quarter Horse Foundation, a PATH Intl. alliance partner, is happy to announce that beginning in 2012, an important addition will be made to criteria for the America's Horse Cares grant program.

In addition to requests for scholarship and equipment funding, the AHC program will offer funding to benefit the continuing education of a PATH Intl. Certified Instructor, therapist, employee or volunteer of PATH Intl. Centers. Requests must be made by the organization and will be subject to requirements.

The updated AHC application and guidelines are currently available on the AQHA website. The deadline to submit an application is March 1, 2012.

PATH Intl. Riders Assistance Scholarship

All scholarship applications must be in the PATH Intl. office by Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

PATH Intl., with funding from the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation, will provide seven scholarships for a total of $1,800 to allow children in need to participate in a therapeutic horsemanship program. The Riders Assistance Fund will go to fund participants at seven PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Centers.

Originally, the fund was set up to give one $300 gold-level need-based scholarship. However, thanks to the generosity of the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation, PATH Intl. can now give out six additional $250 silver-level scholarships in 2012 to PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Centers.

Click here to access the application. Please email the completed scholarship applications to Megan Ream. If you have any questions, please contact Megan at (800) 369-7433, ext. 107.

Coming Soon - 2012 PATH Intl. Conference Call for Papers
The PATH Intl. Conference and Annual Meeting is October 31-November 3, 2012, in Seattle, Washington. The 2011 PATH Intl. conference had the largest attendance in association history. With a focus on industry-leading research and educational innovation, 2012 promises to be even better. Watch for information and details on abstract submission to published shortly.

A Good Reason to Renew Your PATH Intl. Center Membership Today!

PATH Intl. center members who renew before the membership grace period ends on March 31st will receive a very functional gift from PATH Intl. As you have been reading in the eNews, the PATH Intl. Standards for Certification and Accreditation (fondly known as the Standards Manual) is in the process of being completely reorganized for user-friendliness and to reflect the changes, growth and progress made in the field of equine-assisted activities and therapies.

Want to get your center's policies and procedures reorganized in keeping with the updated Standards Manual to be published in July? For all centers renewing before March 31, a new tabbed file folder system will be part of the center's renewal package. In July, the 2012 edition of the PATH Intl. Standards for Certification and Accreditation CD will be mailed and available online. Standards will be available electronically in a one-standard-per-page format to make it easier to reorganize with the change.

PATH Intl. Center Member renewals are past due. Centers that have not yet renewed have until March 31st to renew before membership expires. See below for information on how to renew.

PATH Intl. Center Renewals

As a reminder, center renewals were due December 31. Centers renewing between now and March 31, 2012 must include a $50 late fee with their center renewal. The 90-day membership renewal grace period began on January 1, 2012. If you have already renewed your center membership, thank you.

Premier Accredited Centers: please note the new Accreditation Reinstatement Policy for PACs
who do not renew prior to March 31, 2012.

Click here to renew online. NOTE: The center's primary contact or executive director must be logged in to their personal account in order to renew online.

A hard copy renewal is still an option. Download and complete the center renewal booklet and renewal invoice from the PATH Intl. website, and mail it in.

Click here to download the center renewal booklet.

Centers that prefer to pay by check may now complete the center renewal booklet online and mail a check for center membership dues.

Click here for instructions on renewing your center membership online.

Reminder: Send in Your Instructor Report

If you are renewing your center membership online, be sure to send in your instructor report. The membership department has received many online renewals but only a handful of instructor reports. Your center will be considered non-compliant if the instructor report is not received.

Equine Tips From the Equine Welfare Committee

Desensitize to Build Confidence and Trust

By Patty D'Andrea, Equine Welfare Committee

The technique of desensitizing our equine partners is a great tool to build confidence and trust in each other and is a wonderful way to start learning more about our equine partners' likes, dislikes and comfort zones. Read more ...

The Equine Welfare Committee encourages positive and engaging educational exploration from our readers - we'd love to hear your feedback! Please let us know if you have any questions about our tip or have a suggestion about specific topics you would be interested in learning more about in the future. Email Kristin Mason, EWC chair. Thank you!

Announcing PATH Intl. Webinars

woman at computer Have you ever wished you could get more personalized instruction from a presenter or a workshop? Webinars can give you the personal attention you want in an easy-to-follow format, all from the comfort of your own computer. In our continuing efforts to increase communication and educational opportunities for PATH Intl. members, PATH Intl. launched a new webinar system. Offerings in January included a guide through the PATH Intl. center accreditation process as well as HIPAA training and awareness.

The next webinar is "Steps to Successful Accreditation" on Monday, February 27 at 5:30 p.m. (Mountain Time). To register, log in to the PATH Intl. online store. Space is limited to the first 15 registrants.

Standards Reorganization

In August 2011 a task force was formed to review the current organization of the PATH Intl. Standards for Certification and Accreditation manual. In the course of the review, it is evident that due to increased activities and certifications and yearly additions to the Standards Manual the time has come for a reorganization of the content. While the content remains the same, the intent is to eliminate duplications and create a much more user friendly manual with the publication of the 2012 edition. Click here for more details.

USA One of Twenty-Three Nations to Qualify for London 2012 Paralympic Games

Coming off of a strong performance at a recent qualifier for the Paralympics, USA's Para-Dressage team has earned a spot at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. Para-Dressage riders from 23 nations have qualified to take part. Team USA earned their qualification by virtue of a second place finish on the FEI Para-Equestrian team rankings list. The qualification process, which began in October 2010, finished January 31, 2012. A total of 78 Para-Equestrian riders will be battling it out for the 11 sets of medals available in Greenwich Park over six days from August 30 to September 4. Additional information on the equestrian events at the London 2012 Paralympic Games can be found on the FEI website.

Upcoming Region Conferences: Save the Date

Region 6 March 9-11 Fargo, ND. Contact: Bette Shipley, Kristi Schaefer or Erika Berg
Region 2 March 23-25 Middletown, MD Contact: Ginny Gaylor
Region 3 March 23-25 Williamsburg, VA Contact: Nancy Paschall
Region 4: March 30-31 Paducah, KY Contact: Denise Spittler
Region 1 April 20-22 Putney, VT Contact: Kate Davis-McKelvy

Other dates will be coming soon. Check the region conference calendar or your region's webpage for the latest details.

Therapeutic Riding Centers Invited to Attend Parelli Horse Tour for Free

Pat and Linda Parelli of Parelli Natural Horsemanship will be presenting the 2012 USA Tour "Horse and Soul" at the PA Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA, March 31-April 1, 2012. Other tour stops scheduled throughout the year include Virginia, Georgia, California, Washington, Ohio, Minnesota, Texas, Tennessee, Florida and North Carolina.

PATH Intl. therapeutic riding programs have the opportunity to attend for free. Each organization simply needs to fax a letter, on the organization's stationary, to Parelli Central at (888) 731-9722. In the letter please include the location of the tour stop your organization wishes to attend and the number of people in your group.

For more information about Parelli and the "Horse and Soul Tour," visit www.parellihorseandsoul.com. Or email Liz Huntington.

Two PATH Intl. Subcommittees Seeking New Members

PATH Intl. Riding Certification Subcommittee
The PATH Intl. Riding Certification Subcommittee seeks one enthusiastic new member to join the committee. Applicants should have a strong interest in therapeutic riding and desire to continue the development and improve the PATH Intl. riding instructor certification process. Click here for criteria, purpose and description of this subcommittee. Email Tara McChesney with questions. The submission deadline is February 13, 2012.

PATH Intl. Equine Specialist Certification Subcommittee
The PATH Intl. Equine Specialist Certification Subcommittee seeks two enthusiastic new members to join the committee. Applicants should have a strong interest in therapeutic riding, EFL and EFP, desire to continue the development and improve the equine specialist certification. Click here for criteria, purpose and description of this subcommittee. Email Tara McChesney with questions. The submission deadline is February 13, 2012.

PATH Intl. Events Calendar

Unless otherwise noted, contact Abby Hendren at (800) 369-7433, ext. 104, with questions. All dates are subject to change. To register for an event, please contact the host site directly. You can locate its contact information under Find a Center on the PATH Intl. home page or on the PATH Intl. events calendar.

PATH Intl. Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning Workshop and Practical Skills Testing
February 24-27, 2012
MTRA in Ocala, FL

September 14-16, 2012
Sunnyside Equestrian Center in Lincroft, NJ

October 24-27, 2012
Hearts & Horses, Inc. in Loveland, CO

PATH Intl. Driving Workshop and Certification combination event
Workshop is held the first 2-1/2 days, certification held the last 2-1/2 days. Specific schedule sent by host site.
August 7-11, 2012
BraveHearts at the Bergmann Center in Poplar Grove, IL

PATH Intl. Advanced Certification Event
May 29-31, 2012
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding in Old Lyme, CT

September 10-12, 2012
BraveHearts in Harvard, IL

PATH Intl. Vaulting Workshop/Certification Event
No events at this time

PATH Intl. Mentor Training

February 28-29, 2012

Therapeutic Horsemanship in Wentzville, MO

May 20-21, 2012

Saddle Up! in Franklin, TN

Please visit the PATH Intl. events calendar for a list of 2012 Registered On-Site Workshops and Certifications.

Please direct correspondence about this newsletter to PATH Intl. eNews coordinator. PATH Intl. eNews is a benefit of Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International membership. No portion of this publication may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, scanned or electronic process without written permission from PATH Intl. PATH Intl. reserves the right to reject, accept and edit submitted material. PATH Intl. eNews 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 PATH Intl. eNews do not necessarily reflect PATH Intl. policy, imply PATH Intl. endorsement or comply with PATH Intl. standards.