Not Just A Pony Ride

Welcome to Episode 168 of the HETRA Podcast! In this episode, we dive into one of our favorite annual community events: Stall 'n Treat.Join us as we discuss how combining festive costumes, horse-loving community members, and inclusive fun creates a safe, memorable, and accessible environment for our participants, families, and supporters. Whether you are curious about organizing inclusive community events or want a peek behind the scenes at HETRA, this episode is packed with inspiration!What You'll Learn in This Episode:Community Engagement: How events like Stall 'n Treat strengthen connections between participants, families, and volunteers.Creating Inclusive Events: Tips for hosting accessible, sensory-friendly community gatherings around horses.Costumes & Horses: How to ensure safety, comfort, and fun for the horses and participants during festive activities.Behind the Scenes at HETRA: The preparation and teamwork required to bring large community events to life.🚨HETRA University Live: October 24th, 20268:00am-5:00pmSt. Charles Illinois Register Here: https://pci.jotform.com/form/252226497568166 Resources & Links:🎧 Subscribe & Listen: Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode!🌐 Learn More: Check out our website and full resource libraryhttps://hetrauniversity.mykajabi.com/HETRAUniversity

In this episode of the Not Just A Pony Ride Podcast, we dive into the strategy and importance behind Session Break Weeks in adaptive riding and equine-assisted service programs. Taking an intentional pause isn't just about taking time off, it's a critical tool for maintaining high standards of care, preventing team burnout, and ensuring long-term sustainability for both staff and our hard-working therapy horses. In this episode, we cover: Preventing Burnout: Why scheduled breaks are essential for instructors, therapists, and volunteers to rest and recharge. Equine Welfare: Giving our therapy herd dedicated downtime to rest, undergo routine care, and stay mentally fresh. Program Strategy: Using break weeks for team meetings, continuing education, and administrative catch-up. Maintaining Quality: How intentional pauses directly improve rider outcomes and session consistency. 🚨HETRA University Live: October 24th, 2026 8:00am-5:00pm St. Charles Illinois Register Here: https://pci.jotform.com/form/252226497568166 Resources & Links: 🎧 Subscribe & Listen: Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode! 🌐 Learn More: Check out our website and full resource libraryhttps://hetrauniversity.mykajabi.com/HETRAUniversity

Curious about HETRA University Live? Join us in this quick episode of the Not Just A Pony Ride Podcast as we explain what HETRA University Live is and why it's a valuable resource for all EAS professionals!Register Now for our upcoming HETRA University Live!📍 Where: Honey Bridge Ranch- Home of HorsePower Therapeutic Riding in St. Charles, Illinois 📅 Date: October 24th⏰ Time: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM🎟️ Early Bird Registration: $60https://pci.jotform.com/form/252226497568166

Wearing multiple hats is a challenge familiar to so many in the Equine Assisted Services community, yet it’s something that isn’t talked about enough. Whether you’re full-time, part-time, or a dedicated volunteer, balancing your roles takes heart and intentionality. In this episode of the Not Just A Pony Ride Podcast, we dive into the real world experiences, strategies, and unique rewards of serving as a part-time Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI). Whether you are juggling a separate full-time career, managing family commitments, or stepping into adaptive riding instruction on a flexible schedule, balancing your passion for equine-assisted activities with personal boundaries is key. Key Topics Covered •The Part-Time Perspective: Why many instructors choose a part-time path in therapeutic riding and the unique advantages it brings to both instructors and centers. •Balancing Work & Life: Tactical tips for managing your schedule, avoiding burnout, and maintaining energy for every lesson. •Continuing Education & Growth: How to keep your CTRI credentials current and continually develop teaching skills on a part-time schedule. •Building Strong Connections: Effective ways to stay integrated with your center's team, volunteers, and riders when you aren't on-site full-time. Looking for continuing education units (CEUs) to keep your knowledge fresh and your certification up to date? This one day event is an incredible opportunity you won’t want to miss! While HETRA has hosted many conferences at our main site in Nebraska and traveled across the country to present for PATH Int'l, AHA, and HHRF, we are now taking our education on the road to you! This full-day workshop focuses entirely on Equine Welfare because our programs simply cannot thrive if our horses aren't happy, healthy, sane, and sound. Earn 7 CEUs in just 1 single day Early Bird Rate: Under $60 (that’s less than $10 per session!) Date & Time: October 24th | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Location: Honey Bridge Ranch (Home of Horsepower Therapeutic Riding), St. Charles, IL Spots are limited, so don't wait, head to the link to lock in your early bird registration today! https://pci.jotform.com/form/252226497568166

Don't be afraid to try new things! This week on the podcast we are talking about a new policy we implemented at HETRA - scheduled "ground weeks". During this week, all participants who participate in a mounted program move to ground based activities for the week. This gives our horses a break and our participants new opportunities to grow in their skills. Listen in to hear how we implemented this new routine and what fun, different things our instructors and therapists were up to during this week! Follow us on social and plug in here: ⁠https://hetrauniversity.mykajabi.com/HETRAUniversityLinks⁠