General

Online Courses

PATH Intl. Standards Course

Learning PATH Intl. Standards is vital for PATH Intl. Certified Professionals, instructors-in-training, center representatives, site visitors, program administrators and anyone interested in learning the highest safety standards and industry best practices for equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT). This course will provide you with an overview of how the standards are organized and how they come together to holistically support EAAT programing. You can expect to dedicate approximately 6 hours of coursework.

Click here to purchase the online standards course and exam. 

PATH Intl. Mentor Training Online Course

Welcome to the PATH Intl. Mentor Training Online Course! We are glad you are joining us. During this Mentor Training Course, you will explore and apply principles and practices for effective mentoring.

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Course Description

This four-week Mentor Training Course meets the requirements to become an official PATH Intl. Mentor. Quality mentorship is a key component to achieving any level or discipline of certification. This skill development program has been created in response to the need for a formalized education process to enhance the skills of those who mentor. The objective is to increase the number of qualified mentors available to instructors in training and to provide current PATH Intl. Certified Professionals with a continuing education opportunity while enhancing personal observation, evaluation and feedback skills.
This course will be taught online through CourseWebs, our Learning Management System. Learners should expect to spend 3-5 hours per week for this course, some weeks may require more time than others. There is one module of coursework for each week of the course. Each module contains instruction, activities and discussion questions.
This course will meet 12 hours of continuing education requirements for PATH Intl. Certified Instructors. Successful completion of all course activities and exams is required to receive the CEU’s for the course and receive the PATH Intl. Mentor designation.

Learning Objectives

After the completion of this course, PATH Intl. Certified Professionals will be able to:

• Demonstrate and apply knowledge of the certification process and PATH Intl. Standards
• Display diplomacy with mentee, volunteers and participants
• Formulate effective communication methods with mentee
• Demonstrate conflict resolution strategies
• Employ realistic expectations for mentee
• Provide appropriate feedback to mentee

Prerequisites

Current PATH Intl. Certified Professional
Required Materials: PATH Intl. Standards for Certification and Accreditation manual

Technical Requirements

Our learning management system is CourseWebs. To access the LMS, learners will need an internet connection and an internet browser with Java enabled (Mac users must use Firefox, or other Mac-compatible browser as Safari is not compatible with CourseWebs).

In addition, learners should be able to:

• Create and save MS Word documents
• Find basic resources on the internet
• Create and organize files & folders on your computer
• Send, receive and manage email

Accessibility Statement

PATH Intl. is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all course participants in accordance with federal guidelines. If you have a disability, use assistive technology, or need accommodations to fully access a course, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Someone from our PATH Intl. staff will contact you to discuss your needs.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism, the passing off of others’ words or ideas as your own, is unacceptable in this course. Learners are expected to formulate your own ideas in the discussion posts and not simply repeat what another student has already said.

Coursework/Participation

All coursework should be completed and submitted successfully by the posted deadlines to receive credit for this course. Acceptance of late coursework is at the discretion of your course instructor and will only be allowed under extenuating circumstances. All coursework will be scored as Complete (C) or Incomplete (I).

Learners will need to access the course three to four times per week to complete online reading, exams, discussion board posts, activities and submit assignments.

A one-time request for a transfer to a later section of the course may be allowed. Note that completed coursework will not transfer and the transfer is subject to an administrative fee of $50.

Last year in November BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center, a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center in Harvard, IL, began mentoring veterans to become PATH Intl. Certified Registered Instructors so veterans can teach other veterans riding while providing much needed peer to peer support. The mentorship program was led by PATH Intl. Certified Master Instructor Meggan Hill-McQueeney and assisted by PATH Intl. Certified Registered Instructor Paddy McKevitt and PATH Intl. Certified Registered Instructor and USMC veteran Nick Montijo. The process began with three all-intensive days that focused on the PATH Intl. instructor certification process, enhancing riding and horsemanship skills and overall knowledge of working with people with diagnoses. Following the three-day all-intensive course, the veterans were given instructions to complete their Phase 1 requirements of the certification along with gaining as much exposure as possible to riding lessons and teaching opportunities at BraveHearts.

The veterans independently held group meetings to work with one another taking practice tests and reviewing course preparations. Once Phase 1 was completed, the group quickly moved to Phase 2 and began obtaining their teaching hours.  In January, the group met again for their second in house training consisting of an all day training creating lesson plans, riding and teaching one another. This gave the group time to reflect on possible lesson plans for the certification, strengthen their teaching and evaluate what they needed to work on with their riding. The group met with Meggan in March again to review progress, questions and more critiquing.  Meggan also used a lot of the teachings of Barb Schulte to help mentally prepare the veterans for the riding and teaching components and the specific skill sets Meggan teaches for performance enhancement strategies.    

In March, Mary Apper (Navy), Fred Busby (USMC) and Ron Hathaway(Air Force) along with Trecia Rodgers (Army) from ROCK in TX, participated in a week-long preparation, workshop and certification  course. Arriving to the farm the four veterans moved in and spent long hours each day to perfect lesson plans and their riding pattern prior to the OSWC. The OSWC was led by faculty  Marny Mansfield and Kathy Glew. The two and a half day workshop was also attended by 4 additional veterans (Ernest Coleman, Mitchell Hedlund, Greg Machalinski and Jeff Murphy) whom are currently preparing for Phase 1 and hope to certify later this year.  After the two and a half days of the workshop concluded, Mary, Fred, Ron and Trecia rode their pattern and each taught two veteran participants for their testing. We are proud to announced that all four veterans passed both components for their certification and are now PATH Intl. Registered Level Instructors.

The entire training and workshop was at no cost to the veterans due to funding received by the Milne Family Foundation, which consisted of funding for 15 veterans to receive their PATH Intl. Registered Level Instructor Certification within three years (2015-2017). The planning, preparation and training for the OSWC took much time and effort on BraveHearts, PATH as well as the two facilitators who helped to structure the course to be the best schedule for the veterans. A lot was taken into consideration of the process. The preparation was well worth it to watch all four veterans pass their certification and continue to move forward with their horsemanship. The veterans all came from different horsemanship backgrounds--two having been riding throughout their life and two veterans who have only been riding within the last year.

One veteran shared this quote with us to wrap up his experience, “With BraveHearts help, I am now a PATH Therapeutic Riding Instructor. BraveHearts has had the courage to see potential in me when I felt I had nothing to give. They have taught me to live in the moment and not dwell on my mistakes and shortcomings…I am proud I can now give back to others in need and I hope I can help others recognize their endless potential...I have gone from wishing I had died to a person that is looking for the next challenge no matter what it is. More than that, I want to help others face their fears and defeat those fears. For the first time in my life I BELIEVE I can do anything. BraveHearts has saved my life and I will be forever grateful.”

In April 2016, BraveHearts held the first training course for the next round of veterans who will be certifying later this year. These veterans consist of BraveHearts’s veterans Ernest Coleman, Mitchell Hedlund, Greg Machalinski and Jeff Murphy as well as Brenda-Lee Anderson from Rainier in WA and Brandon Horning from Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center in CO. These veterans are in the early stages of Phase 1 and will continue to develop with the guidance of Meggan and Paddy along with fellow veterans Mary, Fred, Ron and Nick.  BraveHearts is excited to watch these instructors to continue to develop and pursue their passion of helping fellow veterans and people with disabilities and reach their unlimited potential.