PATH Intl. Is a BreyerFest Beneficiary
PATH Intl. wants to thank BreyerFest for once again including PATH Intl. as a beneficiary of its 2012 "British Invasion" event July 20-22 at the Kentucky Horse Park. Early Bird registration is available through April 2. Thank you to Reeve International and BreyerFest for helping PATH Intl. inspire and enrich the human spirit through the power of the horse!

Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International

March 20, 2012

PATH Intl. Partners With Wounded Warrior Project

PATH Intl.� has partnered with Wounded Warrior Project� (WWP) to provide equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) for WWP alumni. WWP has made a significant gift of a $200,000 grant to PATH Intl. for the purpose of awarding scholarships for EAAT to WWP alumni who have expressed an interest in therapeutic horsemanship.

An electronic broadcast was sent by WWP to 1,834 of its alumni, defined as Wounded Warriors who incurred service-connected injuries on or after September 11, 2001. The initial broadcast focused on regions identified by WWP as needing activities for local WWP alumni. Local alumni interested in participating in EAAT returned an expression of interest to WWP. WWP matched those alumni from 11 states with PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Centers that offer services to veterans. Click here to read the story.

Standards Reorganization

The Standards Reorganization Task Force is excited to preview the new sections in the upcoming 2012 edition of the PATH Intl. Standards for Certification and Accreditation. You'll remember that due to increased activities and certifications and yearly additions to the Standards Manual, the task force was formed to reorganize 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.

Core Standards

Administration and Business Section

Organization, emergency procedures, safety regulations, risk management, business practices and written policies/procedures

Facilities Section

Building/grounds maintenance, safety, equipment storage and maintenance and activity area

Equine Welfare and Management Section

Equine management, training, conditioning and care

Activities Standards

The activity used in achieving a goal

Mounted section
Driving section
Interactive vaulting section
Ground section

Service Standards

The service that determines the outcome of the goal

Equestrian skills section (riding, driving or vaulting goals)
Medical/mental health section (hippotherapy or EFP goals)

Click here to see more details.

Apply Now for 2012 PATH Intl. Conference Scholarships

2012conflogo PATH Intl. continues to work diligently to obtain funding sources to ensure the maximum opportunity to underwrite scholarships for the PATH Intl. Conference and Annual Meeting.

The 2012 PATH Intl. Conference and Annual Meeting Scholarship application and the 2012 Marjorie V. Kittredge Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy and Learning Scholarship application are due by email, fax or mail postmarked no later than June 11, 2012.

Click here to download applications.

2012 PATH Intl. Conference Call for Papers

The 2012 PATH Intl. Conference is October 31-November 3 in Bellevue, WA, just outside Seattle. At this time PATH Intl. is conducting a call for papers. You are invited to submit an abstract highlighting your organization's innovations, your insights or research and how they may benefit the equine-assisted activities and therapies field. Abstracts must be submitted electronically.

Click here to download abstract information.

Click here to begin the abstract submission process.

These links are also available on the PATH Intl. conference webpage.

Abstracts must be submitted to PATH Intl. by April 6, 2012.

No submissions will be accepted after April 6.

Be an Exhibitor at the 2012 PATH Intl. Conference
Get your product or service in front of nearly 1,000 professionals in the EAAT field by exhibiting at the 2012 PATH Intl. Conference and Annual Meeting in Bellevue, WA, October 31-November 3, 2012. Click here for information. There is a $100 discount for those who register by May 15, plus a $50 member discount anytime. Contact Megan Ream with any questions.

Equine Welfare Tip

Whoa There! Take It Slow and Easy on the Grass
By Sherri Velte, Equine Welfare Committee

Spring is just around the corner. So are longer, brighter, warmer days that bring lush, green pastures back to life in which our horses will frolic around. Spring also means it's time to think about feed changes. Now is a good time to ask a few questions: Does my horse have some winter weight to shed? Will my horse's work load be increasing? What is the best way to introduce my horse to the new spring grass in his pasture? This issue's equine welfare tip will give you some ideas why and how to help your horse adjust slowly to spring grass. 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!

PATH Intl. Survey Respondent Wins PATH Intl. Conference Registration

Thank you to everyone who answered the survey questions about future PATH Intl. conferences. We had 765 survey respondents! We value your input in helping us offer the best possible conferences.

Laurie Flanagan in Pennsylvania was the winner of the 2012 PATH Intl. Conference and Annual Meeting registration. Congratulations, Laurie! Please contact Jaime Covington for registration information.

PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center on "The Biggest Loser" Tonight

biggest loser logo Therapeutic Horsemanship, a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center in Wentzville, MO, will be featured on the national television show "The Biggest Loser" tonight, March 20, 7 p.m. Central time, on NBC. "We have not seen the spot yet, but the show's cast and crew were extremely impressed with our program during their two-hour shoot here last week," said Monica Marsh, the center's executive director. "This is a great way to let your friends and family know what we do here and how Equine Assisted Therapies and Activities affect the lives of so many people in our community and around the globe!"

PATH Intl. Launches New Online Pro Shop for Logo Merchandise

Customize your gear

Choose from thousands of clothing and merchandise items. Then select the association-approved logo that's right for you, and it will be embroidered or silkscreened on your chosen items. There are logos for Certified Instructors, Premier Accredited Centers and many more that you can add to any of the items. Shop a full-range of hip styles of t-shirts, jackets, anything you can imagine!

Many clothing items allow further customization such as adding your name or your center name to the embroidery.

Show your pride in accomplishment. Click here to start shopping today!

PATH Intl. Center Membership Grace Period Ends March 31, 2012

As a reminder, center renewals were due December 31, 2011. 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 that 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.

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

PATH Intl. center members that 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 above for information on how to renew.

Standards Reorganization - Center Accreditation Grace Period

Centers that submit their application for accreditation prior to June 30, 2012, will use the 2011 edition of the PATH Intl. Standards for Certification and Accreditation for their visit. Any requests to accredit using the 2012 edition of the Standards Manual must be made in writing to the PATH Intl. office prior to the scheduling of site visitors. To make a request, contact Abby Hendren.

Centers that apply after July 1, 2012, and have their site visit prior to December 31, 2012, will have the choice to accredit using the 2011 or 2012 edition of the Standards Manual.

All site visits that take place after January 1, 2013, will accredit using the 2012 edition of the Standards Manual.

Please email Abby Hendren if you have any questions.

Senior Horse Care Book Now in PATH Intl. Store

senior horse care book cover If your horse is 15 years or older, this book is for you! It's like having a senior-horse specialist in your barn! Will your horse be fit and shiny when he's in his 20s? Will he have a bounce in his step? It's not entirely up to genes and chance. Your care and management can make a difference in how well your horse ages.

To order Hands-On Senior Horse Care by Karen E.N. Hayes, DVM, MS & Sue Copeland for $5.30 S&H, please click here.

Foundation Directory a Center Member Benefit

Did you know every PATH Intl. member center has free access to the Foundation Directory Online as a PATH Intl. center member benefit? If a center were to subscribe individually, it would cost approximately $2,000.

To access the Foundation Directory Online, log in to the PATH Intl. website using your executive director or primary contact email and password. Then under My Center Membership, you will see the Foundation Directory listed. Click on it and start researching. This technological tool allows every center access to a database of over 98,000 grant-makers to help PATH Intl. centers find funding for programs and operating costs.

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 for a chance to win prizes.

This year, the grand prize is a two-night stay at one of four exciting locations! Click here for full details and prizes. Remember, the Member-Get-A-Member drive ends June 29, 2012!

Announcing PATH Intl. Webinars
The next webinar is "Steps to Successful Accreditation" on Monday, April 16 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.

Upcoming Region Conferences: Save the Date

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 Gilbertsville, KY Contact: Joy Winebarger
Note: Region 4's registration is still open but closing soon! Click here for a brochure.
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.

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
May 23-26, 2012
Horses Help in Phoenix, AZ

August 27-30, 2012
National Ability Center in Park City, UT

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

September 25-29, 2012
Horse Power @ Touchstone Farm in Temple, NH
The event will start the evening of the 25th and end the evening of the 29th; contact host site for detailed schedule.

PATH Intl. Advanced Certification Event
April 15-17, 2012
Horses Help in Phoenix, AZ

May 29-31, 2012
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding in Old Lyme, CT

September 10-12, 2012
BraveHearts in Harvard, IL

November 16-18, 2012
Maryland Therapeutic Riding in Annapolis, MD

PATH Intl. Vaulting Workshop/Certification Event
None scheduled at this time

PATH Intl. Mentor Training

May 20-21, 2012

Saddle Up! in Franklin, TN

October 15-16, 2012
Horses Help in Phoenix, AZ

PATH Intl. Evaluator Training
June 2-3, 2012
BraveHearts at the Bergmann Centre in Polar Grove, IL

Interested in becoming an evaluator for the onsite certification events? This is the event to attend.
This will be the only training offered in 2012.
Advanced Instructors only.
Prior completion of PATH Intl. Mentor Training required.
Contact: Meggan Hill-McQueeney, (815) 765-2113.

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.