Horse Power Instructor Training School

TESTIMONIALS FOR HPITS

"The "Horse Power NARHA Instructor Training Program" is about much more than becoming a Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor. The experiential learning included: horse training/ handling, center administration, horse care (from head to hoof), saddle fitting, a "Centered Riding" clinic, volunteer training, presentations form psycho-therapists to assist us with our EFMHA goals, twice weekly personalized riding instruction and of course how to create and execute lessons plans tailored to each special client. We even learned how to initiate a therapeutic carriage driving program, and if we didn't know how to drive, you provided us with driving lessons. Thank you for providing me with this beautiful farm environment in which to grow and learn. I came to Horse Power with dreams of becoming an Instructor, I came away with my dreams fulfilled. You can be sure, I'll be back for more."
- Pippin Hine, former ITC, current "Registered NARHA Instructor."

"As the mother of 8 and 9 year old daughters, it took a very special reason to leave home for 3 months. Horse Power was that "special reason". It's a great feeling to be part of such a wonderful program. Boo and the rest of the staff were very understanding of the sacrifice that my family and I made in order for me to be here. Three months seemed like forever when I left home, but it really flew by. In the big picture of it all, 3 months was a small price to pay for the knowledge of a lifetime of helping others."
- Amy LaValley, Registered NARHA Instructor.

"I consider my time at Horse Power one of the best learning experiences that I've had in my adult life. I learned something from everyone I met there. The students of Horse Power, the staff, and my class mates. And of course the horses! It was tough at times (being away from family) but always fun! I now teach full time at an excellent Therapeutic Riding Center in Maine and am able to apply much of what I learned at Horse Power to my work there."
- Vickie Mcleod-Tardiff, Registered NARHA Instructor at Hearts and Horse's

"In helping the inexperienced see those small differences that determine who wins and who doesn't....Everyone feels like a winner at Horse Power."
- Megan Melissa McPherson, ITC 2006

"I feel absolutely empowered, encouraged and ready. I am behind the school 100% and want to help promote it."
- Megan Vittum in South Africa... Graduate at both NARHA Registered and Advanced Instructor Level at HPITS Fall 2005

"I miss all of you terribly. I miss Martin coming to tell me when you were gone and he wasn’t. I miss Brighty braying at me when I went down to do my morning chores (he talked me into feeding that field full of munchkins right at the beginning). I miss the many different personalities that your staff represents. They are amazing people and as a unit are incredible.

Please trust that I am serious. The time spent with you guys was truly the most significant part of my life. As you know, I was frustrated at times, happy beyond belief at times and so forth. At one point early on, I was crying, praying, threatening in my room. My soul was quickened, in no uncertain terms, that my time at your school was not about me. Well, I can accept that with huge open arms, heart and soul and then it turned out to be the best time of my life even though it wasn't about me!
I decided to make a major career change and follow my dream to work in the field of Therapeutic Riding. The training I received at Horse-Power has provided structure, hands on training/teaching and extensive equine care/management.

The program is ideal for anyone who chooses to pursue this career. The lectures and interaction with educators and mental health professionals prepare instructors not only to 'teach' but to develop programs, evaluate sessions, and liaise with care givers, counselors/therapists, and parents.

I liked being in a small group of 7. We were given the opportunity to practice our team building skills. I feel I really moved forward with my own personal development because of the challenge and support that the Horse-Power program has given me."
- June Proctor NARHA REGISTERED INSTRUCTOR RDA INSTRUCTOR Cheltenham , Glos UK

"The HPITS was just the course I needed to get my own program started. What a learning opportunity this was for me! Unlike a lot of candidates, I had very little background knowledge about the world of horses. The weeks at the HPITS were packed with hands-on experiences with the horses, and also the many classes on horse-care and handling were just what I needed. Our own individual riding lessons were personalized and thorough, so I was able to gain a lot of confidence in my own horsemanship skills.
The classes on teaching and lesson planning covered another area that I needed information on, and we were given plenty of time to practice our newly-learned skills.
We had many dynamic outside speakers that were knowledgeable and experienced in their field. Equine facilitated mental health, an up and coming aspect of Therapeutic Riding, was another area that was introduced to me. It was very exciting to learn what can be accomplished including the horse in mental health sessions."