The Equine-Assisted Services Institutional Certificate of Proficiency (ICP), offered through the Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Department, is designed to provide students with a foundational overview of the field of Equine-Assisted Services (EAS). In EAS, horses are used in various therapies, learning environments, and adaptive equine sports and/or recreational lessons to benefit humans mental, physical, and/or emotional health. Through the required courses, students gain an understanding of the principles of EAS, the human-animal bond, how to train and assess horses for EAS, and the fundamentals of instructing horsemanship skills. Hands-on labs are provided to enhance student learning. With this foundational knowledge of EAS, students will be prepared to pursue industry certifications such as the Professional Association or Therapeutic Horsemanship International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) or Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL). Additionally, the ICP will benefit students who plan to incorporate horses into their future practice as a mental health professional, occupational therapist, physical therapist, speech therapist, and/or educator.
Our program is a member of both the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) and the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH, Intl.) and abides by strict guidelines for safety and effectiveness.
The ESMHL ensures the safety and well-being of equines participating in equine-facilitated mental health and learning sessions. An ESMHL is knowledgeable in equine behavior and understands how to collaborate with a mental health therapist and/or educator. The ESMHL has a general knowledge of mental health and the educational process.
A CTRI possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities to effectively and safely teach riding skills to individuals with disabilities. A CTRI should demonstrate a general knowledge of mental health and the educational process.