Internship Guidelines

As part of the mission of Strides Therapeutic Riding Centers to be an educational resource both nationally and internationally, we offer Program internships to those candidates who are qualified under the following guidelines:

  ~The candidate is at least 18 years of age

  ~The candidate agrees to work at least 12 hours per week on a volunteer basis

  ~The candidate agrees to take vacation time either before or after the internship period

  ~The candidate agrees to attend all scheduled Program Meetings, assigned classes and events

~The candidate agrees to complete all assigned tasks, within the deadline and with minimal supervision

~The candidate may seek certification through NARHA, beginning with the online self-study and CAT courses

~The candidate agrees to uphold the NARHA Instructor Code of Ethics

~The candidate agrees to and abides by the Strides Therapeutic Riding Centers policies and procedures and the Strides Therapeutic Riding Centers Code of Ethics for employees

In return for the candidate's service, Strides Therapeutic Riding Centers will provide the following:

  ~A certified Instructor as a mentor

  ~Hands-on education about all aspects of teaching therapeutic riding

  ~A regular schedule of meetings, classes, and teaching opportunities

  ~Regular performance evaluations with written evaluations

~Opportunities for observation of other Instructor's classes

~Riding lessons on Strides program horses (Candidate must work over 25 hours per week to receive lessons without charge, under 25 hours will pay $30 per group lesson)

  ~Guidance toward NARHA certification, including personal riding skill evaluation, assistance with Registered level exam, self-study and CAT course.

~Opportunity to assist in other areas of the program as requested including recruit and train volunteers, assist with special events and fundraising, feeding and/or care of program horses, or other aspects relevant to the candidates internship

~Completion of all paperwork as provided by the intern to receive college credit for the internship

~Room (but not board) for a minimal fee for those needing it.

Internships will be a minimum of 12 weeks in length, and may last an indefinite period of time, as the candidate learns and grows within the realm of therapeutic riding, and as long as Strides Therapeutic Riding Centers continues to benefit from the involvement of the intern.  Internships may be terminated at any time by either the intern or Strides Therapeutic Riding Centers, and must be accompanied by a written statement for the reason of termination.   Strides Therapeutic Riding Centers will not be liable for the college credit or the grades received by the intern for the internship.  Strides Therapeutic Riding Centers will only offer Pass/Fail as requested by the college or institution requesting.