Equine-Assisted Activities Study Guide
#1 Questions and Complete Solutions
Graded A+
Background info of PATH INT'L (NARHA): - Answer: 1960's - Therapeutic riding comes to US
1969 - PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) international was
founded as NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association)
1970 - 1st Center- Cheff Center in Michigan
Main organizations of EAAT in the US: - Answer: - Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship
(PATH Intl);
- Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) and its Instructor for Riders with Disabilities Certification
Program;
- Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) = equine-assisted psychotherapy &
unmounted activities.
Types of activities and therapies that make up EAAT - Answer: EAT: Equine Facilitated psychotherapy
(groom, lead, lunge, ride, drive, or vault) and hippotherapy (riding skills are not taught, therapy
treatment that uses movement of equine)
EAA: Adaptive driving (driving a cart in a setting equipped for individuals with disabilities, goals include
driving skills, PATH certified instructor), adaptive vaulting (PATH certified instructor, goals include
vaulting skills, horse is lunged in a circle), and adaptive riding (riding in a setting for individuals with
disabilities, PATH certified instructor, goals include riding skills)
Roles of those involved in EAAT: Rider - Answer: learns riding skills, benefits from movement of equine,
pays attention to instructor
Roles of those involved in EAAT: Equine - Answer: Listen to commands from rider and leader, support
riders weight, ignore distractions and remain calm in all situations
, Roles of those involved in EAAT: Instructor - Answer: Plans lessons for riders, selects horses, carries out
safe and effective lessons
Roles of those involved in EAAT: Leader (aka Horse Leader, HL) - Answer: Leads the horse during a lesson
(controls horse, monitors horse behavior, may tack/untack)
Roles of those involved in EAAT: Sidewalker (SW) - Answer: Walks alongside horse and rider
(monitors/assists rider, may support rider with a hold, a rider may need one or two sidewalkers).
Support may include not only physical support but emotional/mental support as well.
Side-walking Holds: Shoulder Hold - Answer: sidewalker holds rider's shoulder back with hand closet to
rider
Side-walking Holds: Belt Hold (aka Gait Belt) - Answer: SW holds rider's gait belt for support.
Side-walking Holds: Thigh Hold - Answer: Thigh Hold: SW puts arm closest to rider over rider's thigh.
Holds onto the saddle with hand, keeping elbow close to the rider's leg and off the horse.
Side-walking: Heel Hold - Answer: Heel Hold: SW holds heel with hand closest to rider
Side-walking: Combination hold - Answer: heel hold with a thigh hold, or other combinations.
Side-walking: Spotter - Answer: walks closely beside rider (not behind "drive line") for support for a
more independent rider. Spotter does not leave the rider.
English Saddles: Close Contact - Answer: (aka jumping, lightweight) most forward cut flap, flattest seat,
pommel, and cantle. For purpose of EAAT, allows rider to sit more forward in the saddle.
English Saddles: All Purpose Saddles - Answer: slightly forward cut flaps, deeper seat than close-contact,
allows rider to ride flat.
#1 Questions and Complete Solutions
Graded A+
Background info of PATH INT'L (NARHA): - Answer: 1960's - Therapeutic riding comes to US
1969 - PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) international was
founded as NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association)
1970 - 1st Center- Cheff Center in Michigan
Main organizations of EAAT in the US: - Answer: - Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship
(PATH Intl);
- Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) and its Instructor for Riders with Disabilities Certification
Program;
- Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) = equine-assisted psychotherapy &
unmounted activities.
Types of activities and therapies that make up EAAT - Answer: EAT: Equine Facilitated psychotherapy
(groom, lead, lunge, ride, drive, or vault) and hippotherapy (riding skills are not taught, therapy
treatment that uses movement of equine)
EAA: Adaptive driving (driving a cart in a setting equipped for individuals with disabilities, goals include
driving skills, PATH certified instructor), adaptive vaulting (PATH certified instructor, goals include
vaulting skills, horse is lunged in a circle), and adaptive riding (riding in a setting for individuals with
disabilities, PATH certified instructor, goals include riding skills)
Roles of those involved in EAAT: Rider - Answer: learns riding skills, benefits from movement of equine,
pays attention to instructor
Roles of those involved in EAAT: Equine - Answer: Listen to commands from rider and leader, support
riders weight, ignore distractions and remain calm in all situations
, Roles of those involved in EAAT: Instructor - Answer: Plans lessons for riders, selects horses, carries out
safe and effective lessons
Roles of those involved in EAAT: Leader (aka Horse Leader, HL) - Answer: Leads the horse during a lesson
(controls horse, monitors horse behavior, may tack/untack)
Roles of those involved in EAAT: Sidewalker (SW) - Answer: Walks alongside horse and rider
(monitors/assists rider, may support rider with a hold, a rider may need one or two sidewalkers).
Support may include not only physical support but emotional/mental support as well.
Side-walking Holds: Shoulder Hold - Answer: sidewalker holds rider's shoulder back with hand closet to
rider
Side-walking Holds: Belt Hold (aka Gait Belt) - Answer: SW holds rider's gait belt for support.
Side-walking Holds: Thigh Hold - Answer: Thigh Hold: SW puts arm closest to rider over rider's thigh.
Holds onto the saddle with hand, keeping elbow close to the rider's leg and off the horse.
Side-walking: Heel Hold - Answer: Heel Hold: SW holds heel with hand closest to rider
Side-walking: Combination hold - Answer: heel hold with a thigh hold, or other combinations.
Side-walking: Spotter - Answer: walks closely beside rider (not behind "drive line") for support for a
more independent rider. Spotter does not leave the rider.
English Saddles: Close Contact - Answer: (aka jumping, lightweight) most forward cut flap, flattest seat,
pommel, and cantle. For purpose of EAAT, allows rider to sit more forward in the saddle.
English Saddles: All Purpose Saddles - Answer: slightly forward cut flaps, deeper seat than close-contact,
allows rider to ride flat.
