Resources
Certification Options:
Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, Intl.
PATH Intl. was founded in 1969 to promote safe and effective therapeutic — also known as adaptive — horseback riding throughout the United States and Canada. Today, PATH Intl. has 794 member centers, nearly 4,000 individual members and more than 4,800 certified professionals in countries all over the world.
PATH Intl. is recognized as the leader in adaptive horsemanship certification and also offers certifications in interactive vaulting, adaptive driving, and the equine specialist in mental health and learning certification (ESMHL, meant to partner with a therapist). Mostly focuses on riding work, with ESMHL focusing on ground work.
COST AND TIME ESTIMATE: Between $500-$1000, ~6-8 months to complete certifications under mentoring supervisors. ESMHL must travel to a 2-day workshop.
Certified Horsemanship Association
The Certified Horsemanship Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit membership association, founded in 1967. CHA certifies equine professionals, accredits equine facilities and provides resources to programs and equine professionals in the form of published industry standards for equestrian programs, student horsemanship manuals and equine professional manuals. CHA offers English/Western riding instructor certifications, trail ride and guide certifications, and the instructors for riders with disabilities (IRD) certificate. Mostly focuses on riding work.
COST AND TIME ESTIMATE: Between $700-$1,000, 5-day workshop you must travel to.
Natural Lifemanship
Founded in 2010, Natural Lifemanship (NL) focuses on trauma-informed equine-assisted services. Though many models of horsemanship view the relationship as a hierarchical one, we assert that the most beneficial horse—human relationship comes from a partnership in which each partner chooses to ‘do the right thing’ for the other - because it is the right thing to do. Not out of fear, submission, compliance, or appeasement. The NL process is one that values personal growth as a foundation for supporting clients and uses science-based techniques and practices for forming deeper connections. Connections that will ultimately create the cornerstone for your life and practice. Mostly focuses on ground work.
COST AND TIME ESTIMATE: ~$5,600, 7-day workshop you must travel to.
Eagala
The Eagala organization spans a global network of highly professional and passionate individuals incorporating horses into treatment. Every certified Eagala practitioner is a credentialed Mental Health Professional or Equine Specialist, passing through standardized hands-on training, assessment, and mentorship. Completely ground work.
COST AND TIME ESTIMATE: ~$2,500, 5-day workshop you must travel to + online components.
Arenas for Change
Arenas for Change (ARCH) was created for therapists, transformational coaches, educators, and equine professionals seeking a meaningful way to engage clients, deepen facilitation skills, and foster lasting transformation. ARCH values creative, continuous learning, serving others, respect, humility, integrity, collaboration, and continuing education. Mostly focuses on ground work.
COST AND TIME ESTIMATE: ~$1,200, two 2-day workshops you must travel to.
The HERD Institute
The HERD Institute provides exceptional training to the next generation of Equine-Facilitated Practitioners and inspires professional and personal transformations. We support our members to develop the integrity of their personal philosophy, expand their knowledge and skills, and broaden their horizons through continuous learning and practice. Offerings for licensed mental health professionals as well as equine-assisted learning. Mostly groundwork.
COST AND TIME ESTIMATE: ~$2000, online components, webinars, and a 3-day practicum workshop that you must travel to.
Horse Powered Reading
Horse Powered Reading (HPR) can break through challenges like social-emotional concerns, ADHD, anxiety, depression and other concerns that get in the way of student learning. Students learn or reinforce reading and other academic skills in the moment. HPR integrates social-emotional learning with academics, thus allowing students to see and experience reading with their entire mind, body, and emotions by creating metaphors for the skills involved in reading.
Students interact with horses from the ground while utilizing toys and props to identify obstacles and learn 5 critical reading skills: phonemic awareness, decoding, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Completely ground work.
COST AND TIME ESTIMATE: ~$450, online components and 2-4 live/synchronous meetings with live session homework.
O.K. Corral Series
Developed by Greg Kersten, the O.K. Corral Series educates, promotes, and supports professionals in the practice of authentic equine-assisted psychotherapy and equine-assisted learning. Authentic equine-assisted work honors and integrates natural horse and herd behavior as a model for human mental and emotional health. Mostly focused on ground work.
COST AND TIME ESTIMATE: ~$1,850, 2-4 day seminars for each level that you must travel to.
American Hippotherapy Association
The American Hippotherapy Association, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, which provides educational resources and continuing education courses for occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech language pathology professionals who incorporate equines, equine movement and the equine environment in treatment. Mostly focused on riding work.
COST AND TIME ESTIMATE: $900-$1,200 for each level, online coursework and 3-day workshop you must travel to.
Strides to Success
Strides to Success offers certifications for academic skills for school-aged youth, leadership and team building, and personal development for life coaches, educators, wellness practitioners, equine specialists, corporate coaches, and more. Mostly focuses on ground work.
COST AND TIME ESTIMATE: $500 for each certificate, 30 hours of online coursework and hands-on sessions (10 documented practicum hours).
Equine-Assisted EMDR through EquiLateral®
EquiLateral: The Equine Assisted EMDR Protocol® (EA-EMDR) involves partnering with horses as sentient beings and in a manner that is supported by training, qualifications, ethical practice, and a keen awareness of client and animal welfare. EMDR therapists trained in the model mindfully incorporate equine-assisted interactions within the eight-phased, three-pronged, standard EMDR protocol to become Equine-Assisted EMDR.
COST AND TIME ESTIMATE: $1700, 3 days of online curriculum and a 3-day workshop you must travel to.
Welfare and Standards Organizations
International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations
The International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHAIO) is the global association of organizations that engage in practice, research, and/or education in animal-assisted activity, animal-assisted therapy, and service animal training. These activities serve to promote pet ownership, the human-animal bond, and respectful approaches to engaging with animals.
IAHAIO has over 100 multidisciplinary member organizations and professional associations globally, such as the AVMA, AAHA, JAHA, WSPA, and AAH-ABV in the veterinary medical field, the HABRI Foundation, ISAZ, and a wide range of academic centers, AAA, and AAT practice organizations.
Horses and Humans Research Foundation
Through sustained investment in rigorous ethical research and educational initiatives, the Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) serves as a catalyst to advance global knowledge of horse-human interactions and their impact on the health and well-being of people, horses, and other equines. Annual initiatives, research grants, regular webinars, and much more serve to educate and promote welfare and evidence-based practices in equine-assisted services and interventions.
HHRF celebrates the rich diversity of the communities it touches worldwide – human and animal. The research they support may occur in academia, in medical, veterinary, or behavioral facilities, in facilities that promote wellness and mental health, physical or occupational therapy, agrarian development, or environmental studies.
Horses for Mental Health
Horses for Mental Health is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to increase awareness, public engagement, funds, and access to programs incorporating horses for mental health and personal growth. They partner with nonprofit organizations, philanthropists, celebrities, influencers, and companies to realize our collective vision of a world where all mental health needs are met – together.