CENTER NEWS

Graz'n Acres received 100% from the accreditation team in Therapeutic Riding AND Driving!

TRAV would love to help your center become accredited. 
Contact TRAV for more info on how we can walk you through the process.

EQUI-KIDS, a NARHA Premier Accredited Center in Virginia Beach, received an anonymous gift of $1 million!  A portion of this gift will be used to help fund the $5.3 million capital campaign to build a new facility; and a portion of it will help supplement general operations over time.  In addition, they expect to use part of it to establish and Endowment Fund for EQUI-KIDS.  
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Congratulations to these very deserving centers!

 TRAV's Rider Achievement Certificate Program

 Congratulations to the following riders on your awards!

Dreamcatchers:

 Karen Thomas - Gold
Kayla Biever - Bronze

Astride with Pride:

Jack Cox - Bronze/Silver
Spencer Schaack - Bronze
Nicolas Moore - Bronze
Jessica Dillon - Bronze
Taylor Teel - Bronze/Silver/Gold
Elizabeth Revels - Bronze
Alicia Speer - Bronze
Katie Scott - Bronze
Michael Schneider - Bronze
Jillian Cooley - Silver/Bronze

 Washington International Horse Show

         TRAV sponsored an informational booth at the Washington International Horse Show in Washington, DC, October 21-26.  Many thanks to the volunteers who ran the booth for the week.  Individuals from Phoenix Rising, Lift Me Up!, Blue Ridge, Simple Changes, and Northern Virginia gave up their afternoons and evenings to help promote our profession.

 Plan now to attend the Region 3 Conference March 5-8, 2009 in Virginia Beach, VA

  by Barb Ford, Executive Director of EQUI-KIDS and chair of the Region 3 Conference

       Region 3 Conference planning is in full swing.  To date, close to two dozen speakers have submitted presentations and the information is at the NARHA office for review.  Some of the exciting topics include:  Administration, Hippotherapy, School Programming, Public Relations, Lesson Planning, Social Networking (facebook, internet challenges), Horse Topics, Dressage, Mental Health (Human/Equine bond) and much, much more!

       Many thanks to the TRAV Board who have stepped up and underwritten the Educational Sponsorship of the Region 3 Conference!  We hope to encourage the other states in Region 3 to financially contribute to this event, setting a precedent for regional funding of these conferences. 

      We are also pleased to announce that Markel has already committed as a contributing sponsor.  Sponsorship packets are ready and available for distribution.  Please let me know quickly if you would like one so that we can have all sponsors recognized throughout the event. Send inquiries to: Barb Ford, EQUI-KIDS/Region 3 Conference, PO Box 4095, Virginia Beach, VA 23454 or EQKIDS@aol.com.

       Remember that a highlight of the regional event is the Silent Auction so be creative and send your donations or forms in early! (**NOTE:  All packages must be sent to my home:  2408 South Adventure Trail, Virginia Beach, VA 23454**)

  New Instructor Corner

      I want to express my deep gratitude for the support TRAV has provided me in my endeavors to attend the NARHA Registered On-Site Certification Workshop.  The workshop was held at Special Equestrians, Inc. in Indian Springs, Alabama on May 30-31.  A wealth of knowledge was provided by evaluators Lili Kellogg and Mandy Branton emphasizing the level of professionalism required to be a NARHA Certified Instructor.  

    I walked away with an awareness of the need to foster our riders' independence and encourage the trust development between instructor and riders.  The evaluators' recommendations included embracing your riders' trust.  I am continually driven to develop my craft as a certified instructor.  I've enjoyed all the riders I've been blessed to teach and greatly appreciate TRAV's support.

With thanks, Machele Huff, MSW, LCSW
Astride with Pride

Advanced Instructor Certification

      The Loudoun Therapeutic Riding Foundation at Morven Park in Leesburg hosted a NARHA Advanced Instructor Certification on October 23-24.  NARHA evaluators Lili Kellogg and Gail Pace, both from Texas, spent two days testing four candidates in areas of horsemanship, riding, teaching and knowledge of disabilities in written tests and practical skills.  Riders and volunteers from the Loudoun program participated in able-bodied classes, classes for riders with cognitive disabilities, and classes for riders with physical disabilities.  Two candidates came from Northern Virginia centers, one from Connecticut, and one from California.  For information on how to host a certification, contact the NARHA office.  You may also contact the Loudoun program for information on their perspective from the host center point of view. 

 Site Watch

       The Non-Profit Times - This online newsletter address matters pertaining to all aspects of nonprofit management - fundraising, financial management, direct marketing, technology, legal issues and human resources.  It offers a mix of "how to" and news stories. 

       The Blue Ridge Horse Force is a local organization which promotes riders and horses in the beginning stages of showing.  The divisions include western, gaited, hunter, jumper, trails and gymkhana.  Participants may accumulate points throughout the season for year-end awards.  This organization has added two therapeutic riding divisions:  1) walk and walk/trot with assist and 2) independent walk and walk/trot.  The rider with the most points accumulated will receive a year-end award.  For more information, contact Lynda McGarry at lynda_mcgarry@hotmail.com.