Great Strides Therapeutic Riding, Inc.

Equine Program Internship Description

Position: Equine Program Internship

Supervisor/Contact Person: Emily Osborne, TRI, Barn Manager at: (703) 304-5065 or Emily@GreatStrides.org

Location: 26771 Howard Chapel Drive, Damascus MD 20872

Great Strides mission is to promote emotional healing and growth in partnership with horses. We are a nonprofit organization offering Therapeutic Horsemanship, Equine Facilitated Learning and Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy services to children and adults who are experiencing emotional pain or behavioral difficulties. We strive to provide a safe, healing environment for clients, horses, volunteers and staff, assisting each on their journey.

We are a Premier Accredited Center of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA). We provide Equine Facilitated Mental Health (EFMH) services to a wide range of clients and our horses are an active part of our staff, offering their wisdom and guidance to all that we do.

Great Strides is a place where humans and horses work together to create a new way of being, one that emphasizes authenticity, collaboration, and exploration, in congruence with the EPONA approach. We hold the "sacred space of possibility" for ourselves, and others in taking a courageous look at the unconscious patterns that rule our behavior.

We have learned so much doing this work, and are ready to share it. We are offering a 3- month internship to a responsible, caring, organized and energetic person, who enjoys learning by doing, and is open to new ideas of all kinds.

Internship Description:

Interns will gain hands-on experience and training in Conscious Stable Management for an active equine facilitated mental health program. They may be able to earn education credits through their associated school.

Learning Opportunities:

1. Conscious Herd Management:

Philosophy of Conscious Herd Management
Care and feeding of 15 equines and other animals
Schedule and facilitate and document health care of equines and other animals
Farm maintenance: operation/maintenance of machinery, fencing, physical plant
Working within a budget
Documentation systems for record keeping
Pasture management, manure management, nutrient management
Provide coverage for Barn Manager

2. Training and fitness of the Therapy Horse for an EFMH program:

Groundwork, long lining, active and reflective round pen work, clicker training, T-Touch, etc.
Mounted work: in arena and on trails in the Epona approach, Natural Horsemanship and other modalities
Therapeutic Vaulting
Safety issues

3. Therapeutic Riding

Lesson planning
Working with clients with emotional difficulties
Co-teaching and/or assisting instructor with therapeutic lessons

4. Working with Volunteers:

Volunteer training
Working with Volunteer Coordinator
"Care and feeding" of volunteers
Participation in special events

5. Working with a Team

General Orientation to all components of EFMH programming (psychotherapy, therapeutic riding, fundraising, marketing, etc).
Systems of communication to ensure smooth operation between equine and client needs
Designing a program for subsequent interns in collaboration with team.
Planning and coordination of agency events
NARHA Standards of Operation
Active participation in supervision, exploring and owning oneÍs contribution to the dynamics within the organization.
Participate in professional growth opportunities

Minimum requirements:

Must be 18 years of age.
Must have 5 years of experience with equines.
Must have valid driver's license.
Must be physically able to meet job requirements.
Must be willing to spend majority of time outdoors.
Show professional judgment and character.
Must be willing to commit to 3 months (extension possible)

Great Strides Therapeutic Riding, Inc. --- www.GreatStrides.org