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Recently, we had our Equestrian Director go to another certification
program. She came back with some confusing information. She
says that the principal [of that organization], told her that
she needed to be a "Certified Handicapped Instructor"
to lead one-person trail rides for anyone with disabilities.
She also said the horses need to be "Specially Trained"
in order to be used for folks with disabilities.
We are making strides to become more accessible because that
is becoming a growing market for us. Easter Seals and a group
of Developmentally Disabled Adults both lease our facility
presently and with new facilities having been built within
the last year, the interest in our facility is growing. If
what [this person] said is true, it would mean that we would
have to restructure our Equine Program.
Our question is: in regards to walking with riders with people
with disabilities, is what this person said a Law, a Standard
for [their association] or [a standard for] CHA, or is it
simply a good idea in case of an accident and litigation?
Thank you for your help,
Program Director at Camp
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Dear Program Director
at Camp,
In answer to your last question, the latter statement is accurate.
It "is simply a good idea in case of an accident and
litigation." There is no legal mandate that says that
your instructors must be certified for dealing with riders
with disabilities, although your insurance company might.
However, it is a really good idea and providing horseback
riding to persons with disabilities does carry a higher level
of risk than does riding for persons who are generally able-bodied.
Also, you should check with your insurance carrier to make
sure that you are adequately covered. CHA standards require
that instructors are qualified, experienced and meet minimum
age requirements; certification would be an indication of
that but other documentation may be acceptable.
Many large riding facilities are mainstreaming disabled riders
into their programs and this is a welcome change. However,
the risks are greatly increased and the staff and horses must
be well qualified. Horses used for riders with disabilities
must be extra quiet, very desensitized and must be taken through
a process to desensitize them to things such as wheel chairs
and crutches, people squealing, lurching, going off balance,
spastic movements, etc.
Certain physical disabilities have precautions and contraindications
for riding and so it is important to proceed with extreme
caution to prevent further physical damage to the rider's
body because of impairment caused by the disability. Some
disabilities require a side-walker and leader, some require
two side walkers and a leader. Mounting procedures can be
very complicated with various disabilities. Emergency dismount
policies and procedures for riders with disabilities must
be formulated and practiced. For certain disabilities or conditions,
riding is contra-indicated altogether. For others, the riders
can attain a high level of horsemanship skills.
As you can imagine, having a certified instructor would theoretically
mean that the person was trained to handle riders with disabilities
in general, keeping in mind that all instructors cannot know
everything about all disabilities. They do need to know where
to go for appropriate information to keep the rider safe and
prevent further injury.
Certainly having certified instructors for riders with disabilities
would be a good idea, but it is not mandated by any law. Massachusetts
is the only state that regulates riding instructors, and as
far as I know, they do not distinguish between riding instructors
of riders who are able-bodied and riders with disabilities.
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