Equine Skills, Level 1

May 1-2, 2008 

AHA  Faculty: 

Liz Baker, PT, HPCS

Mary Helene Chaplin, PT, HPCS

Liz is a PT whose involvement in hippotherapy began in 1986. In 1987 she studied hippotherapy at the Rommel Klinik in Wildbad, Germany, and is a founding member and past president of the AHA. Liz has taught at many American and international conferences over the past fifteen years; she has been extensively involved with NARHA as a board member, executive vice president, and Health and Education committee chair from 1987--2000. In 2000, Liz was the recipient of NARHA's most prestigious award, The James Brady Professional Achievement Award. Liz has been with Greenlock since its inception in 1989; she also continues to practice at Wrentham Developmental Center. She lives in Wrentham, MA, with her husband Stan, her dog Sophie and cat Maggie, and is still looking for a hobby.   

Mary Helene, a physical therapist for over 20 years, has been practicing hippotherapy at Greenlock Therapeutic Riding Center, in Rehoboth, MA, since 1997.  She also works as a school-based physical therapist and a consultant to a social service agency caring for developmentally disabled children and adults.  Mary Helene has been a member of AHA since 1998 and is currently the RI state AHA liaison.  She has been actively riding horses for over 10 years and assisted her daughters into becoming accomplished equestrians as well.  Mary Helene lives in Portsmouth, RI with her husband, and 3 children as well as the family’s dogs, cat and favorite mare, Quincy.

Target Audience:

This two-day, hand-on workshop targets therapists with minimal to no horse experience in non-mounted equine skills.  Participants will work with horses in teams of two, with a faculty/student ratio of 1 to 6, allowing an opportunity for demonstration, practice and individualized feedback and instruction.

Course Description:

This workshop is an American Hippotherapy Association (AHA) approved course and is a prerequisite for the Hippotherapy Treatment Principles, Level 1 workshop. 

NOTE:  Therapists may waive taking the Equine Skills Level 1 course if they have documentation of horse skills such as:  Pony Club levels, NARHA Registered Therapist, USDF Bronze medal.  In addition, a therapist may submit a skills list, signed by a horse professional, that shows basic equine skills.  Once reviewed by our faculty, you will be contacted if it is determined that the Level 1 Equine Skills course can be waived.  Please fill out the waiver form (on our website - www.greenlock.org) and send the signed form along with your registration form and check to Greenlock.

Course Objectives Include:

Ø            Correctly interpret the “body language” of the horse.

Ø            Identify and name key anatomical points of the horse.

Ø            Recognize elements of desirable conformation of the horse.

Ø            Identify, describe the function of, and demonstrate proper use of grooming equipment.

Ø            Identify key parts of the horse’s tack.

Ø            Demonstrate safe and proper tacking and un-tacking of a horse.

Ø            Recognize and describe the four natural gaits of the horse.

Ø            Recognize desirable qualities of the horse’s movement.

Ø            Recognize unsoundness in a moving horse.

Ø            Recognize the signs of stress/burnout in the horse.

Ø            Demonstrate safe, correct leading techniques with basis school figures.

Ø            Demonstrate kind and humane treatment of the horse at all times.


Course Specifics:

The workshop begins on Thursday, May 1, 2008, and runs through Friday, May 2, 2008.  Certificates of attendance will be given to participants who attend the ENTIRE workshop.  ENROLLMENT IS LIMITED TO 15 PARTICIPANTS.

Tuition:

$325.00 per person fee includes instruction, an extensive notebook of course materials and daily lunch and must be received by April 1, 2008. Fees will be refunded (less $100.00 processing and cancellation fee) for cancellations made prior to April 1, 2008.  No refund will be allowed for cancellations made after April 1, 2008.

Accommodations:  (Seekonk, MA)

Johnson & Wales Inn, 213 Taunton Avenue, 508-336-8700  (Closest proximity to GTRC)

Ramada Inn, 940 Fall River Avenue, 508-336-7300

Hampton Inn, 1105 Fall River Avenue, 508-336-9000

Bed & Breakfast Lodging:  (Rehoboth, MA)

Gilberts B&B, 30 Spring Street, 508-252-6416

5 Bridge Farm, 154 Pine Street, 508-252-3190

Perryville Inn, 157 Perryville Road, 508-252-9239