CTRI LATEST 2026 CORE EXAM MANUAL QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔When viewing the horse from the side, we should be looking for the horses.... - ✔✔-
balance and symmetry
- length and thickness of the neck
- length and lie of top line
- length of bones in the legs
- depth of body
- joint angles
- correctness of legs
✔✔When viewing the horses "way of going" we should watching for.... - ✔✔-
unsoundness
- way of going
- footfall patterns
- freedom of movement & bend
- frame
✔✔What are examples of an unsoundness? - ✔✔- bowed tendon
- bone spavin
- contracted heels
- founder
- fistula
- navicular
- quarter check
- ringbone
- stifled
✔✔What are examples of blemishes? - ✔✔- buck knee
- bog spavin
- capped hock
- capped elbow
- proud flesh
- sarcoid
- thoroughpin
- warts
- windpuffs
✔✔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
thecause?
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
✔✔Joe is an 11-year-old boy with the diagnosis of attention-deficit/ hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD). His characteristics include difficulty processing auditory input,
decreased self-esteem and low frustration tolerance, which result in use of inappropriate
language and non- compliance with requests. To set Joe up for success in his lesson,
, he rides Vixen, a forward moving, 16.1 hand draft cross mare that is safe and
cooperative for independent riders.
Vixen's forward movement helps hold Joe's attention by giving him constant balance
challenges. The mare's size earns Joe's respect and builds his confidence when he can
ride such a large horse effectively. Joe rides in a close-contact English saddle, which
encourages him
to constantly engage his core to maintain his position in the saddle. He uses a regular
English bridle with leather reins to give him safe control over a forward moving horse
when working off the lead line - ✔✔
✔✔What are the 3 types of attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder? - ✔✔1. Primarily
inattentive type, in which the individual has difficulty maintaining focus. Participants may
appear to be frequently daydreaming or thinking about things other than what they are
doing at the time. A participant may miss directions or seem to forget things. This type
of ADHD was previously known as attention deficit disorder (ADD).
2. Primarily hyperactive-impulsive type. An individual with this type of ADHD maybe
constantly moving and may make impulsive choices without thinking about the
consequences. They may seem impatient, be easily frustrated or frequently interrupt
others.
3. Mixed type, characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
✔✔Molly is a 13-year-old girl with cerebral palsy. She is a typical pre-teen in many
ways, including a strong desire to be independent and not be "different" from her peers.
She has been riding for two years, and as she gets older and taller, she has started to
have difficulty mounting and dismounting. Until recently, Molly has been mounting over
the croup from a mounting block with her foot in the stirrup, and then dismounting over
the croup of her horse to the ground. During both the mount and dismount, her muscle
tone increases significantly, and she and the instructor have great difficulty getting her
right leg over the horse.
To honor Molly's desire to be independent and "normal," a minor modification was made
to her mount.By using a mounting block with a higher platform, Molly simply swings her
right leg over the croup of the horse without putting her foot in the stirrup and with
minimal assistance from the instr - ✔✔
✔✔John is 5 years old and has sensory processing disorder. His characteristics include
tactile defensiveness, difficulty sitting still and sensitivity to loud or unpredictable noises.
When John first came to the farm, he was unable to tolerate the riding helmet; his
parents and instructor have worked together to find a very thin hat to wear under his
helmet. John owns his own helmet, which he puts on in the car before entering the farm
to ease the transition. He rides in gloves year-round to reduce contact with horse hair
and equipment.
John does best in the indoor arena or out on the trails where thereis less noise and, in
the case of the trail, more natural sensory stimulation. To help John focus and address
his challenges with sitting still, he rides a forward moving horse with a concussive trot
and narrow base to challenge his balance. A bareback pad is used to keep John as
challenged and close to the movement of t - ✔✔
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔When viewing the horse from the side, we should be looking for the horses.... - ✔✔-
balance and symmetry
- length and thickness of the neck
- length and lie of top line
- length of bones in the legs
- depth of body
- joint angles
- correctness of legs
✔✔When viewing the horses "way of going" we should watching for.... - ✔✔-
unsoundness
- way of going
- footfall patterns
- freedom of movement & bend
- frame
✔✔What are examples of an unsoundness? - ✔✔- bowed tendon
- bone spavin
- contracted heels
- founder
- fistula
- navicular
- quarter check
- ringbone
- stifled
✔✔What are examples of blemishes? - ✔✔- buck knee
- bog spavin
- capped hock
- capped elbow
- proud flesh
- sarcoid
- thoroughpin
- warts
- windpuffs
✔✔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
thecause?
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
✔✔Joe is an 11-year-old boy with the diagnosis of attention-deficit/ hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD). His characteristics include difficulty processing auditory input,
decreased self-esteem and low frustration tolerance, which result in use of inappropriate
language and non- compliance with requests. To set Joe up for success in his lesson,
, he rides Vixen, a forward moving, 16.1 hand draft cross mare that is safe and
cooperative for independent riders.
Vixen's forward movement helps hold Joe's attention by giving him constant balance
challenges. The mare's size earns Joe's respect and builds his confidence when he can
ride such a large horse effectively. Joe rides in a close-contact English saddle, which
encourages him
to constantly engage his core to maintain his position in the saddle. He uses a regular
English bridle with leather reins to give him safe control over a forward moving horse
when working off the lead line - ✔✔
✔✔What are the 3 types of attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder? - ✔✔1. Primarily
inattentive type, in which the individual has difficulty maintaining focus. Participants may
appear to be frequently daydreaming or thinking about things other than what they are
doing at the time. A participant may miss directions or seem to forget things. This type
of ADHD was previously known as attention deficit disorder (ADD).
2. Primarily hyperactive-impulsive type. An individual with this type of ADHD maybe
constantly moving and may make impulsive choices without thinking about the
consequences. They may seem impatient, be easily frustrated or frequently interrupt
others.
3. Mixed type, characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
✔✔Molly is a 13-year-old girl with cerebral palsy. She is a typical pre-teen in many
ways, including a strong desire to be independent and not be "different" from her peers.
She has been riding for two years, and as she gets older and taller, she has started to
have difficulty mounting and dismounting. Until recently, Molly has been mounting over
the croup from a mounting block with her foot in the stirrup, and then dismounting over
the croup of her horse to the ground. During both the mount and dismount, her muscle
tone increases significantly, and she and the instructor have great difficulty getting her
right leg over the horse.
To honor Molly's desire to be independent and "normal," a minor modification was made
to her mount.By using a mounting block with a higher platform, Molly simply swings her
right leg over the croup of the horse without putting her foot in the stirrup and with
minimal assistance from the instr - ✔✔
✔✔John is 5 years old and has sensory processing disorder. His characteristics include
tactile defensiveness, difficulty sitting still and sensitivity to loud or unpredictable noises.
When John first came to the farm, he was unable to tolerate the riding helmet; his
parents and instructor have worked together to find a very thin hat to wear under his
helmet. John owns his own helmet, which he puts on in the car before entering the farm
to ease the transition. He rides in gloves year-round to reduce contact with horse hair
and equipment.
John does best in the indoor arena or out on the trails where thereis less noise and, in
the case of the trail, more natural sensory stimulation. To help John focus and address
his challenges with sitting still, he rides a forward moving horse with a concussive trot
and narrow base to challenge his balance. A bareback pad is used to keep John as
challenged and close to the movement of t - ✔✔
