Certificate Programs

Prospective Students

Equine Therapeutics Certificate Questionnaire

The goal of this questionnaire is to determine your specific interests and experiences coming into the Equine Therapeutics Certificate program.Share your interest >

Blue Hens gain hands-on experience in equine therapeutics: youtube.com/watch?v=g4BvvWiukBQ

Equine therapeutics certificate

The University of Delaware is proud to offer an Equine Therapeutics Certificate. As a Higher Ed Member of PATH Intl and in partnership with Carousel Park & Equestrian Center, a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center, UD's Equine Therapeutics Certificate provides students with the education and experience to become Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors (CTRI) and/or Equine Specialists in Mental Health and Learning (ES). Upon completion of the program, students will have fulfilled all CTRI and/or ES application requirements by meeting and even exceeding job and industry standards as delineated by PATH Intl.

Courses in the certificate programs draw from three disciplines - animal science, behavioral health and education, and human development. Our students learn from both University of Delaware professors and equine industry professionals.

UD's certificate programs are open to both undergraduate students and any member of the general public.

Course highlights

Introduction to Equine Therapeutics

Introduction to Equine Therapeutics offers students of all disciplines an experiential and academic opportunity to explore the growing field of Equine Assisted Services (EAS). The course focuses on the benefits of and best practices for providing EAS to individuals with special needs including physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges. Students meet once a week at UD for the classroom component of the course and once a week at Carousel Park and Equestrian Center to apply what they have learned to hands-on experiences with horses.

Introduction to Equine Science

Students receive an overview of equine science which focuses on the unique equine biology, function and husbandry of the horse.

Equine Management

Students apply the principles of nutrition, health care, behavior, reproduction, and farm management to the discipline of horse management.

Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor Practicum

The CTRI practicum takes place at Carousel Park and Equestrian center and offers students the opportunity to explore teaching and communication in a therapeutic lesson setting and accrue volunteer hours if needed, Volunteer hours can be completed either at Carousel Park or with a partner like Southern Delaware Therapeutic Riding.

Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor Internship

The CTRI internship enables students to complete the required hours of teaching therapeutic riding lessons under the supervision of a PATH Intl. CTRI. The internship can be done either at Carousel Park or with a partner like Southern Delaware Therapeutic Riding. Students can take this for credit or not; the hours needed will vary based on past experience.

Equine Specialist Practicum

The ES practicum includes opportunites to complete required volunteer hours, participate in a PATH Intl. ESMHL workshop, and take the ES Horsemanship Skills Test.

Introduction to Exceptional Children

Students study the basis for special education and physical and psychological characteristics of exceptional children. Professors discuss past and emerging educational practices for exceptional children with emphasis on teaching commonalities.

Teaching Exceptional Adolescents

Students example characteristics of exceptional adolescents and the historical, legal and philosophical bases for special education. You will learn to teach students with special needs within general education settings using research-based instructional strategies, classroom management, and related services.

Families and Developmental Disabilities

The course focuses on people with developmental disabilities in the context of their family and culture from a multidisciplinary perspective. Professors cover disabilities and their causes; changing needs across the lifespan, gender, cross-cultural and legal issues; and information about prevention and intervention, employment, inclusion, and empowerment.

Contact Us

Amy Biddle
Assistant Professor of Animal Science

asbiddle@udel.edu

302-831-2642

Elyssa Doner
Affiliated Instructor , Animal and Food Sciences
Carousel Park Equestrian Center

edoner@udel.edu

302-995-7670

Health, Physical Activity, and Disability

Students study and implement individualized physical activities for people with various disabilities in a variety of settings that promote health and wellness.

Our partners

We collaborate with Therapeutic Riding and Ongoing Training (TROT) at Carousel Park and Equestrian Center, and Southern Delaware Therapeutic Riding (SDTR).