PATH INTL CTRI EXAM SCRIPT 2025/2026 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GRADED A++
✔✔curb bit - ✔✔A type of bit designed to exert a leverage type of action in the horse's
mouth.
✔✔direct rein steering - ✔✔The direct rein puts pressure on the bit, directly back toward
the rider. It works in opposition to the horse's forward motion. The direct rein makes the
horse shorten its stride for the turn, so it works best where you need more control or a
tight turn.
✔✔dressage - ✔✔A time-tested, methodical progression of exercises designed to
increase a horse's muscular capabilities and degree of suppleness, allowing it to
perform increasingly difficult movements under saddle.
✔✔equine - ✔✔A general description inclusive of horses, ponies, mules, donkeys or
miniatures.
✔✔equine assisted activities (EAA) - ✔✔Activities that are facilitated by equine
professionals and may provide opportunities for participants to experience therapeutic
benefits.
✔✔Equine assisted therapy (EAT) - ✔✔Treatments conducted by appropriately licensed
medical professionals. PATH Intl. provides standards of professionalism and safety for
all these EAAT professionals.
✔✔equitation - ✔✔The act or art of riding horseback.
✔✔extended gait - ✔✔Covering as much ground as possible, lengthening strides to the
utmost while maintaining the same rhythm.
✔✔far side - ✔✔The right side of the horse.
✔✔footfall pattern - ✔✔The sequence in which the legs
move in a gait, such as the walk, trot or canter.
✔✔forehand - ✔✔The front of the horse, including head, neck, shoulders and forelegs;
in other words, that portion of the horse in front of the center of gravity.
✔✔forward seat - ✔✔Style of riding that permits the rider to sit closer to the forehand
and permits adjustment of the center of gravity forward to negotiate obstacles and
remove the weight (seat) from the saddle when necessary.
, ✔✔Free Walk - ✔✔A relaxed gait in which the horse is allowed complete freedom to
stretch out and lower its head and neck.
✔✔Girth - ✔✔The strap or webbing that holds the saddle in place.
✔✔Half-pass - ✔✔A variation of travers, executed on the diagonal instead of along the
wall. The horse, slightly bent round the inside leg of the rider, should be as close as
possible parallel to the long sides of the arena, the forehand slightly in advance of the
quarters.
✔✔Hand Gallop - ✔✔An extended canter, but the horse remains collected, unlike the
flat-out run when the horse's gait almost returns to a four-beat status.
✔✔Head carriage - ✔✔Refers to the position in which the head and neck are carried
relative to the parallel. An ideal head carriage should have the neck parallel to the
ground to slightly above the parallel.
✔✔Headset - ✔✔Refers to the amount of flexion at the poll. An ideal headset should be
perpendicular to the ground to slightly forward of the vertical.
✔✔Horse Leader - ✔✔the person responsible for controlling the equine during an EAA
lesson/session.
✔✔Impulsion - ✔✔Engagement of the hind legs and rounding of the back, allowing the
horse to move forward with greater energy.
✔✔Lateral Bend - ✔✔Refers to the horse's ability to curve or bend its body from head to
tail.
✔✔Lateral Movement - ✔✔Work on two tracks, in which the horse is bent uniformly
from poll to tail and moves with the forehand and quarters on two different tracks.
Shoulder-in, haunches-in (travers), haunches-out (renvers), and half-passes are lateral
movements.
✔✔Lead - ✔✔The leading foot (leg) of a horse. When cantering circularly, the foot to the
inner arc of the circle clockwise, a right foot lead; and counterclockwise, a left foot lead.
✔✔Leg Yield - ✔✔A suppling exercise designed to make a horse responsive to
unilateral aids.
✔✔Medium Gait - ✔✔Between the collected and extended.
✔✔Natural Aids - ✔✔A natural aid is part of your body. Each natural aid has a certain
way of signaling the horse. There are four natural aids:
AND ANSWERS GRADED A++
✔✔curb bit - ✔✔A type of bit designed to exert a leverage type of action in the horse's
mouth.
✔✔direct rein steering - ✔✔The direct rein puts pressure on the bit, directly back toward
the rider. It works in opposition to the horse's forward motion. The direct rein makes the
horse shorten its stride for the turn, so it works best where you need more control or a
tight turn.
✔✔dressage - ✔✔A time-tested, methodical progression of exercises designed to
increase a horse's muscular capabilities and degree of suppleness, allowing it to
perform increasingly difficult movements under saddle.
✔✔equine - ✔✔A general description inclusive of horses, ponies, mules, donkeys or
miniatures.
✔✔equine assisted activities (EAA) - ✔✔Activities that are facilitated by equine
professionals and may provide opportunities for participants to experience therapeutic
benefits.
✔✔Equine assisted therapy (EAT) - ✔✔Treatments conducted by appropriately licensed
medical professionals. PATH Intl. provides standards of professionalism and safety for
all these EAAT professionals.
✔✔equitation - ✔✔The act or art of riding horseback.
✔✔extended gait - ✔✔Covering as much ground as possible, lengthening strides to the
utmost while maintaining the same rhythm.
✔✔far side - ✔✔The right side of the horse.
✔✔footfall pattern - ✔✔The sequence in which the legs
move in a gait, such as the walk, trot or canter.
✔✔forehand - ✔✔The front of the horse, including head, neck, shoulders and forelegs;
in other words, that portion of the horse in front of the center of gravity.
✔✔forward seat - ✔✔Style of riding that permits the rider to sit closer to the forehand
and permits adjustment of the center of gravity forward to negotiate obstacles and
remove the weight (seat) from the saddle when necessary.
, ✔✔Free Walk - ✔✔A relaxed gait in which the horse is allowed complete freedom to
stretch out and lower its head and neck.
✔✔Girth - ✔✔The strap or webbing that holds the saddle in place.
✔✔Half-pass - ✔✔A variation of travers, executed on the diagonal instead of along the
wall. The horse, slightly bent round the inside leg of the rider, should be as close as
possible parallel to the long sides of the arena, the forehand slightly in advance of the
quarters.
✔✔Hand Gallop - ✔✔An extended canter, but the horse remains collected, unlike the
flat-out run when the horse's gait almost returns to a four-beat status.
✔✔Head carriage - ✔✔Refers to the position in which the head and neck are carried
relative to the parallel. An ideal head carriage should have the neck parallel to the
ground to slightly above the parallel.
✔✔Headset - ✔✔Refers to the amount of flexion at the poll. An ideal headset should be
perpendicular to the ground to slightly forward of the vertical.
✔✔Horse Leader - ✔✔the person responsible for controlling the equine during an EAA
lesson/session.
✔✔Impulsion - ✔✔Engagement of the hind legs and rounding of the back, allowing the
horse to move forward with greater energy.
✔✔Lateral Bend - ✔✔Refers to the horse's ability to curve or bend its body from head to
tail.
✔✔Lateral Movement - ✔✔Work on two tracks, in which the horse is bent uniformly
from poll to tail and moves with the forehand and quarters on two different tracks.
Shoulder-in, haunches-in (travers), haunches-out (renvers), and half-passes are lateral
movements.
✔✔Lead - ✔✔The leading foot (leg) of a horse. When cantering circularly, the foot to the
inner arc of the circle clockwise, a right foot lead; and counterclockwise, a left foot lead.
✔✔Leg Yield - ✔✔A suppling exercise designed to make a horse responsive to
unilateral aids.
✔✔Medium Gait - ✔✔Between the collected and extended.
✔✔Natural Aids - ✔✔A natural aid is part of your body. Each natural aid has a certain
way of signaling the horse. There are four natural aids:
