CTRI LATEST 2026 COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS
AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔When viewed from the rear, the instructor should be looking for the equine's: - ✔✔-
muscle definition
-correctness of legs
-depth of body
-symmetry
✔✔When viewed from the side, the instructor should be looking for the equine's: -
✔✔•balance and symmetry
• length and thickness of neck
• length and lie of topline
• length of bone in the legs
• depth of body
• joint angles
• correctness of legs
✔✔An equine's conformation will affect its "way of going." Each equine should be
observed in motion from the front, from the hind and from the side at all gaits as well as
on a bend. With the equine in movement, the instructor should be watching for: - ✔✔•
unsoundness
• way of going
• footfall patterns on two tracks
• freedom of movement and bend
• frame unsoundness
• way of going
• footfall patterns on two tracks
• freedom of movement and bend
• frame
✔✔While preparing a horse that has been in a therapeutic riding program for many
years, the instructor observes that the animal's bursa and deep flexor tendon areas are
inflamed. The horse does not show any signs of lameness. What is MOST LIKELY the
cause?
a. Carpitis
b. Capped elbow
c. Dorsal metacarpal disease
d. Windpuffs - ✔✔d. Windpuffs
✔✔From the picture below, what is the proper footfall for an equine at the trot?
a. 2 | 4
1|3
,b. 2 | 1
1|2
c. 2 | 3
1|2
d. 3 | 4
1 | 2 - ✔✔b. 2 | 1
1|2
✔✔While warming up an equine at the trot, the instructor observes the horse's head pop
up and then drop down dramatically and uncharacteristically and with the rhythm of the
trot. What is happening?
a. When a lame foot strikes the ground, the horse's head pops up. When a sound foot
strikes the ground, the horse's head drops.
b. When a sound foot strikes the ground, the horse's head pops up. When a lame foot
strikes the ground, the horse's head drops.
c. When a horse has an energetic trot, the head movement is much more pronounced.
d. When a horse has an energetic trot, the horse's head will drop when the rider's
outside leg is too far behind the girth. - ✔✔a. When a lame foot strikes the ground, the
horse's head pops up. When a sound foot strikes the ground, the horse's head drops.
✔✔A horse leader is taking an equine in the ring for a warm-up. The instructor notices
the equine is walking behind the horse leader and is taking narrow, shortened steps.
What is MOST LIKELY the issue to address?
a. Abscess
b. Sidebone
c. Navicular syndrome
d. Arthritis - ✔✔d. Arthritis
✔✔During a lesson, the instructor observes that an equine is swishing the tail, nipping
at people and pinning its ears. These behaviors could likely indicate any of the following
EXCEPT:
a. unbalanced rider.
b. incorrect handling by leader.
c. increased enrichment in class.
d. having too many people in space. - ✔✔c. increased enrichment in class.
✔✔Learning Modality: Auditory - ✔✔Instructor
-Provide the riders with the task analysis of posting the trot.
-Play music that has a 1-2 beat.*
-Place bells on the equine to create a rhythm sound.*
, Riders and/or Sidewalkers
-Count 1, 2, 1, 2 in rhythm with the horses' trot.
-Say up, down, up, down in rhythm with the horses' trot.
-Clap hands in rhythm with the horses' trot.
✔✔Learning Modality: Visual - ✔✔Instructor
-Provide a video link for a rider posting the trot.
-Demonstrate posting action in the center of the arena.
-Place colored tape on horses' outside shoulder for the riders to sync their posting with.
-Use boots or wraps of different colors on the horses to show diagonal pairs of legs that
create the 1-2 rhythm of the trot.
-Draw pictures of the upward and downward phases of the post on a whiteboard or
chalkboard.
Riders and/or Sidewalkers
-Watch a demonstration rider post the trot.
✔✔Learning Modality: Kinesthetic - ✔✔Instructor
-Use ground poles to exaggerate the "bounce" of the trot.
Sidewalkers
-Tap riders' leg/hand/foot/hip in rhythm with the trot.
Riders
-Practice on a horse with excellent trot suspension.
-Practice posting rhythm on an exercise ball before mounting.
✔✔What are the what, how and why components to develop the skill of walk/halt
transitions? - ✔✔Why: Posting the trot is more comfortable for both the rider and the
horse
How:
Eyes forward
Shoulders over hips
Heels down
Hands on reins above the pommel of the saddle
Stand up
Sit down
Continue to stand and sit in a 1-2 rhythm
✔✔A participant is sweating, breathing rapidly and refusing to comply with directions.
What is the MOST LIKELY cause of this behavior?
a. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔When viewed from the rear, the instructor should be looking for the equine's: - ✔✔-
muscle definition
-correctness of legs
-depth of body
-symmetry
✔✔When viewed from the side, the instructor should be looking for the equine's: -
✔✔•balance and symmetry
• length and thickness of neck
• length and lie of topline
• length of bone in the legs
• depth of body
• joint angles
• correctness of legs
✔✔An equine's conformation will affect its "way of going." Each equine should be
observed in motion from the front, from the hind and from the side at all gaits as well as
on a bend. With the equine in movement, the instructor should be watching for: - ✔✔•
unsoundness
• way of going
• footfall patterns on two tracks
• freedom of movement and bend
• frame unsoundness
• way of going
• footfall patterns on two tracks
• freedom of movement and bend
• frame
✔✔While preparing a horse that has been in a therapeutic riding program for many
years, the instructor observes that the animal's bursa and deep flexor tendon areas are
inflamed. The horse does not show any signs of lameness. What is MOST LIKELY the
cause?
a. Carpitis
b. Capped elbow
c. Dorsal metacarpal disease
d. Windpuffs - ✔✔d. Windpuffs
✔✔From the picture below, what is the proper footfall for an equine at the trot?
a. 2 | 4
1|3
,b. 2 | 1
1|2
c. 2 | 3
1|2
d. 3 | 4
1 | 2 - ✔✔b. 2 | 1
1|2
✔✔While warming up an equine at the trot, the instructor observes the horse's head pop
up and then drop down dramatically and uncharacteristically and with the rhythm of the
trot. What is happening?
a. When a lame foot strikes the ground, the horse's head pops up. When a sound foot
strikes the ground, the horse's head drops.
b. When a sound foot strikes the ground, the horse's head pops up. When a lame foot
strikes the ground, the horse's head drops.
c. When a horse has an energetic trot, the head movement is much more pronounced.
d. When a horse has an energetic trot, the horse's head will drop when the rider's
outside leg is too far behind the girth. - ✔✔a. When a lame foot strikes the ground, the
horse's head pops up. When a sound foot strikes the ground, the horse's head drops.
✔✔A horse leader is taking an equine in the ring for a warm-up. The instructor notices
the equine is walking behind the horse leader and is taking narrow, shortened steps.
What is MOST LIKELY the issue to address?
a. Abscess
b. Sidebone
c. Navicular syndrome
d. Arthritis - ✔✔d. Arthritis
✔✔During a lesson, the instructor observes that an equine is swishing the tail, nipping
at people and pinning its ears. These behaviors could likely indicate any of the following
EXCEPT:
a. unbalanced rider.
b. incorrect handling by leader.
c. increased enrichment in class.
d. having too many people in space. - ✔✔c. increased enrichment in class.
✔✔Learning Modality: Auditory - ✔✔Instructor
-Provide the riders with the task analysis of posting the trot.
-Play music that has a 1-2 beat.*
-Place bells on the equine to create a rhythm sound.*
, Riders and/or Sidewalkers
-Count 1, 2, 1, 2 in rhythm with the horses' trot.
-Say up, down, up, down in rhythm with the horses' trot.
-Clap hands in rhythm with the horses' trot.
✔✔Learning Modality: Visual - ✔✔Instructor
-Provide a video link for a rider posting the trot.
-Demonstrate posting action in the center of the arena.
-Place colored tape on horses' outside shoulder for the riders to sync their posting with.
-Use boots or wraps of different colors on the horses to show diagonal pairs of legs that
create the 1-2 rhythm of the trot.
-Draw pictures of the upward and downward phases of the post on a whiteboard or
chalkboard.
Riders and/or Sidewalkers
-Watch a demonstration rider post the trot.
✔✔Learning Modality: Kinesthetic - ✔✔Instructor
-Use ground poles to exaggerate the "bounce" of the trot.
Sidewalkers
-Tap riders' leg/hand/foot/hip in rhythm with the trot.
Riders
-Practice on a horse with excellent trot suspension.
-Practice posting rhythm on an exercise ball before mounting.
✔✔What are the what, how and why components to develop the skill of walk/halt
transitions? - ✔✔Why: Posting the trot is more comfortable for both the rider and the
horse
How:
Eyes forward
Shoulders over hips
Heels down
Hands on reins above the pommel of the saddle
Stand up
Sit down
Continue to stand and sit in a 1-2 rhythm
✔✔A participant is sweating, breathing rapidly and refusing to comply with directions.
What is the MOST LIKELY cause of this behavior?
a. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
