CTRI Exam Questions and Complete
Solutions Graded A+
Dudley, a 16-year-old quarter horse, has arrived in the arena a few minutes before his assigned lesson
with his horse leader, Maggie. As the instructor is completing the set-up of arena equipment, she
observes as Maggie warms Dudley up at walk and trot in hand. Dudley appears to be stiffer than usual in
the hind end at the trot. The instructor coaches Maggie to walk and trot Dudley more forward, which
will allow him to loosen up before his rider mounts. The lesson plan for the day includes four trot poles.
However, based on how Dudley is presenting in his warm-up, the instructor modifies her set-up to
reduce the demands on the horse's hind end. After the lesson, the instructor shares her observations of
Dudley's stiffness with the barn manager for further evaluation.
What are two other choices that the instructor could have made regarding Dudley's stiffness? - Answer:
Two other options for managing Dudley's stiffness are removing him from the lesson or allowing more
time for warm-up before mounting.
Unsoundness is- - Answer: a serious condition that affects an equine's usefulness and way of moving.
The CTRI must be able to recognize visual signs of discomfort in the horse that may be an indication of
unsoundness, such as ear pinning, tail swishing, nipping or stiffness.
Horse Biting Handler During Lesson
Richard is a 10-year-old rider with autism who is riding Jack, a 17-year-old Haflinger gelding. Richard is
very excited to trot, which causes him to bounce on Jack's back during transition to the trot. The
instructor observes that Jack is nipping at his horse leader. The horse handler moves his hand up to hold
Jack's halter as a defensive response to the nipping behavior.
The instructor identifies three corrections that need to be made to address Jack's biting behavior and
the safety of the horse handler based on her observations. First, the instructor gives the rider a verbal
correction to let Richard know that his bouncing is making his horse uncomfortable. Additionally, the
instructor has Richard trot in half-seat position to increase the weight bearing input he is getting and to
reduce the impact of his self-stimulation behaviors on the horse. Once the rider's behavior has been -
Answer: Jack would benefit from a variety of interventions to prevent burnout: exercise by a skilled rider
outside of the arena, an evaluation of equipment fit, chiropractic/acupuncture/massage treatment, a
week off from therapeutic riding lessons.
Evaluation of a Potential Therapeutic Riding Horse
,An instructor and equine manager are searching for an equine to carry adult riders. They are considering
a 16-hand draft cross mare who is 20 years old. She has been an event horse and is retiring from that
career due to a tendon injury in her right front leg. The injury has been rehabbed and the horse is back
to work doing light trail riding. When evaluating the mare's conformation, the instructor notes that the
horse has three balanced parts (neck and shoulder, back and barrel, hindquarters) and a wide spring of
ribs. Her hind legs are placed close together and she is cow hocked, which is typical of most work horse
breeds. She has windpuffs on both hind legs, likely due to her conformation in relation to jumping. The
mare's front legs are square under her chest and straight. Her feet are of good quality and she is only
shod up front; however, she is clubfooted on - Answer: The mare described has three balanced parts
with a wide spring of her rib, which is indicative of a strong back. Additionally, at 16 hands this mare is
not too tall for use of sidewalkers should they be required for those riding her.
When viewed from the front, the instructor should be looking for the equine's: - Answer: -width of chest
-correctness of legs
-spring of rib
-head
-depth of body
-symmetry
When viewed from the rear, the instructor should be looking for the equine's: - Answer: -muscle
definition
-correctness of legs
-depth of body
-symmetry
When viewed from the side, the instructor should be looking for the equine's: - Answer: •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: - Answer: • 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 - Answer: 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 - Answer: 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. - Answer: 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 - Answer: 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.
Solutions Graded A+
Dudley, a 16-year-old quarter horse, has arrived in the arena a few minutes before his assigned lesson
with his horse leader, Maggie. As the instructor is completing the set-up of arena equipment, she
observes as Maggie warms Dudley up at walk and trot in hand. Dudley appears to be stiffer than usual in
the hind end at the trot. The instructor coaches Maggie to walk and trot Dudley more forward, which
will allow him to loosen up before his rider mounts. The lesson plan for the day includes four trot poles.
However, based on how Dudley is presenting in his warm-up, the instructor modifies her set-up to
reduce the demands on the horse's hind end. After the lesson, the instructor shares her observations of
Dudley's stiffness with the barn manager for further evaluation.
What are two other choices that the instructor could have made regarding Dudley's stiffness? - Answer:
Two other options for managing Dudley's stiffness are removing him from the lesson or allowing more
time for warm-up before mounting.
Unsoundness is- - Answer: a serious condition that affects an equine's usefulness and way of moving.
The CTRI must be able to recognize visual signs of discomfort in the horse that may be an indication of
unsoundness, such as ear pinning, tail swishing, nipping or stiffness.
Horse Biting Handler During Lesson
Richard is a 10-year-old rider with autism who is riding Jack, a 17-year-old Haflinger gelding. Richard is
very excited to trot, which causes him to bounce on Jack's back during transition to the trot. The
instructor observes that Jack is nipping at his horse leader. The horse handler moves his hand up to hold
Jack's halter as a defensive response to the nipping behavior.
The instructor identifies three corrections that need to be made to address Jack's biting behavior and
the safety of the horse handler based on her observations. First, the instructor gives the rider a verbal
correction to let Richard know that his bouncing is making his horse uncomfortable. Additionally, the
instructor has Richard trot in half-seat position to increase the weight bearing input he is getting and to
reduce the impact of his self-stimulation behaviors on the horse. Once the rider's behavior has been -
Answer: Jack would benefit from a variety of interventions to prevent burnout: exercise by a skilled rider
outside of the arena, an evaluation of equipment fit, chiropractic/acupuncture/massage treatment, a
week off from therapeutic riding lessons.
Evaluation of a Potential Therapeutic Riding Horse
,An instructor and equine manager are searching for an equine to carry adult riders. They are considering
a 16-hand draft cross mare who is 20 years old. She has been an event horse and is retiring from that
career due to a tendon injury in her right front leg. The injury has been rehabbed and the horse is back
to work doing light trail riding. When evaluating the mare's conformation, the instructor notes that the
horse has three balanced parts (neck and shoulder, back and barrel, hindquarters) and a wide spring of
ribs. Her hind legs are placed close together and she is cow hocked, which is typical of most work horse
breeds. She has windpuffs on both hind legs, likely due to her conformation in relation to jumping. The
mare's front legs are square under her chest and straight. Her feet are of good quality and she is only
shod up front; however, she is clubfooted on - Answer: The mare described has three balanced parts
with a wide spring of her rib, which is indicative of a strong back. Additionally, at 16 hands this mare is
not too tall for use of sidewalkers should they be required for those riding her.
When viewed from the front, the instructor should be looking for the equine's: - Answer: -width of chest
-correctness of legs
-spring of rib
-head
-depth of body
-symmetry
When viewed from the rear, the instructor should be looking for the equine's: - Answer: -muscle
definition
-correctness of legs
-depth of body
-symmetry
When viewed from the side, the instructor should be looking for the equine's: - Answer: •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: - Answer: • 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 - Answer: 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 - Answer: 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. - Answer: 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 - Answer: 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.
