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Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor Jobs in Raleigh, NC

Catapult

Equine Manager

Cary, NC · On-site

... Instructor/Equine Specialist * Leads equine component of the Riding Academy * Coordinates with the ... meet riding and therapeutic needs; creates the daily/weekly equine schedule for the program

Catapult

Equine Manager

Cary, NC · On-site

... to meet riding and therapeutic needs; creates the daily/weekly equine schedule for the ... instructors with horse and rider challenges and concernsProvides training for Equine ...

All JobsCertified Therapeutic Riding Instructor JobsCertified Therapeutic Riding Instructor Jobs in Raleigh, NC

Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor information

What is a certified therapeutic riding instructor?

A Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor is a professional who is trained and credentialed to teach horseback riding to individuals with physical, cognitive, or emotional challenges. They use equine-assisted activities to help improve participants’ physical strength, coordination, confidence, and social skills. These instructors are certified by organizations such as the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.), which ensures they meet high standards for safety, instruction, and knowledge of working with diverse populations. Their primary role is to create individualized lesson plans, ensure the safety of riders, and facilitate a positive therapeutic experience with horses.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be a certified therapeutic riding instructor?

To thrive as a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, you need a deep understanding of equine management, adaptive riding techniques, and therapeutic principles, usually backed by PATH Intl. certification or similar credentials. Familiarity with safety protocols, horse tack, and adaptive equipment is essential, as well as experience maintaining lesson records and progress reports. Strong communication, patience, and empathy are crucial for building rapport with riders of varying abilities and collaborating with families and healthcare professionals. These skills ensure a safe, supportive, and effective environment that fosters the physical and emotional development of participants.

What are common challenges faced by certified therapeutic riding instructors and how can they be managed?

Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors often encounter challenges such as adapting lesson plans to meet the diverse physical, cognitive, and emotional needs of each rider. Maintaining safety for both participants and horses, while fostering a supportive and encouraging environment, is also a key responsibility. Effective communication and collaboration with occupational therapists, volunteers, and caregivers are crucial for success. Ongoing professional development and peer networking can help instructors stay current with best practices and manage these challenges proactively.

What is the difference between Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor vs Certified Riding Instructor?

AspectCertified Therapeutic Riding InstructorCertified Riding Instructor
CertificationsSpecialized in therapeutic riding, often requiring additional certifications in adaptive riding and therapeutic techniquesFocuses on general riding skills, certifications like USPC or PATH Certified Riding Instructor
Work EnvironmentTherapeutic riding centers, clinics, hospitals, working with individuals with disabilitiesEquestrian centers, riding schools, general riding lessons for all ages
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in therapeutic and rehabilitation settings, equine therapy programsCommon in recreational riding, competitive riding, and general equestrian education

The main difference is that Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors specialize in working with individuals with disabilities and have additional training in therapeutic techniques. Certified Riding Instructors focus on general riding skills and are employed in broader equestrian settings. Both roles require certification, but the therapeutic instructor's training emphasizes adaptive riding and therapy-specific skills.

How long does it take to become a certified therapeutic riding instructor?

Becoming a certified therapeutic riding instructor typically requires completing a training program that lasts from several days to several weeks, depending on the certifying organization. Candidates usually need to gain experience working with horses and individuals with disabilities, and pass written and practical assessments to earn certification. The process can take several months to a year, including prerequisite experience and training hours.

How to become a certified therapeutic riding instructor?

To become a certified therapeutic riding instructor, you typically need to complete a specialized training program through a recognized certifying organization, such as PATH International, which includes coursework, practical teaching experience, and assessments. Additionally, CPR and first aid certifications are often required, and ongoing education helps maintain certification standards.

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For Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor jobs in Raleigh, NC, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor job openings in Raleigh, NC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution.

Equine Manager

Catapult

Cary, NC • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

Re-posted 12 days ago

Job description

At Catapult, we are supporting our member, CORRAL, in their search for an Equine Manager at their Cary, NC Farm. This is a full-time, onsite role, and will be required to work on Saturdays.
About CORRAL
CORRAL is a faith-motivated nonprofit that provides adolescent girls in high-risk situations a holistic program of equine therapy and education so they may gain access to a bright future. Our participants may be "high-risk" due to socioeconomic status, trauma such as neglect, abuse, or, more frequently, a combination of these situations. CORRAL is intended as a long-term intervention for the participants, requiring a minimum of one year's commitment from each girl upon enrollment. Our staff provides intensely personal and high contact programming that includes only the uppermost standards of literacy and academic tutoring, vocational training, and equine-assisted therapy programs.
Description of Role
CORRAL is looking for an experienced, full-time Equine Manager who is passionate about working with historically marginalized and underserved youth by building healthy relationships with CORRAL horses that are trained in natural horsemanship. The Equine Manager is responsible for horse care and training to meet the needs of the program participants in riding and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy sessions. The Equine Manager supports the diverse participants of CORRAL Riding Academy and is committed to lessening the stigma surrounding mental health issues in BIPOC youth; creating equitable spaces for youth to be seen, heard, challenged, and understood is a must. Additionally, the Equine Manager will lead the Equine and Facilities Volunteer Teams to provide a safe barn, arena, and fields for the horses and programming.
Programming Hours are Tuesday-Thursday 11am until 7pm and on Friday and Saturday 9am until 5pm. A typical work week is Tuesday through Saturday. Summer Hours may shift to Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm. Approximately 40% of these hours involve direct service hours and being outside in varying weather conditions. This role is responsible for the health and well-being of our equine herd, so emergency attention outside of programming hours will be necessary periodically. IMPORTANT: Please do not apply if you are not available to work on Saturdays.
This position will report directly to the Program Director. The CORRAL team is big on collaboration, so you must have the ability to demonstrate positive team interactions with other staff members. Outcomes and documentation are important, so you are able to complete the paperwork and analyses that help CORRAL hone its programs.
Key Outcomes
  • Equine line items will be within budget
  • All horses will hit targeted body score, depending on health needs
  • All horses will have individualized training plans based on time in the program and desired training level
  • All girls will have individualized lesson plans that has them passing skills each week, culminating in advancing one riding level every 12 months

Responsibilities
Lead Instructor/Equine Specialist
  • Leads equine component of the Riding Academy
    • Coordinates with the Programming Team to monitor the progress of each participant; designs equine lesson plans to meet riding and therapeutic needs; creates the daily/weekly equine schedule for the program
    • Prepares lesson plans daily for each rider to meet program goals
  • Plans horse-related activities on and off the farm including horse shows
  • Coach volunteers to participate in sessions and produce program deliverables

Champion Management
  • Ensures champions understand the "why" of CORRAL
  • Promotes teamwork and collaboration among CORRAL instructors
    • Assist volunteer instructors with horse and rider challenges and concerns
    • Provides training for Equine Volunteers
    • Coaches volunteers to ensure that they are thoroughly prepared for sessions
  • Leads the Equine Team which:
    • Maintains barn, tack, feed, horse related supplies, and equipment
    • Oversees the feeding schedule
    • Addresses care routines of horses (deworm, vaccine, feet)
    • Procure necessary items for herd health
  • Coordinates with staff and volunteer to complete farm work through Community workdays
  • Onboards and promotes an inclusive environment for volunteers
  • Update Salesforce with interactions with champions as needed

Herd Management
  • Manages the health and well-being of the herd (wellness, soundness, nutrition, forage)
    • Establishes and maintains daily/weekly/monthly care routines for horses
    • Handles routine and emergency vet occurrences and resulting ongoing treatment plan(s)
    • Organize and maintain tack, feed, horse-related supplies, and equipment
    • Plans and arranges the training of CORRAL horses
  • Handles all equine related donations
  • Trains horse volunteers for the horses feeding, training, and care of CORRAL horses

Farm Management
  • Oversees the management of the barn, farm, and pastures
  • Maintains the cleanliness, organization, safety, and working conditions of all CORRAL horse facilities Coordinates with staff to utilize the Volunteers, girls, interns, and working students to address needs for facilities
  • Performs weekly farm walk-throughs
    • Barn, barn area, and arena: make sure the barn is organized and items out of place are put away, check the tack room, check supplies, and make the space orderly
    • Pastures: check for down fences, posts, wires, or unsafe conditions; assess forage for rotation, seeding, fertilizing, completing soil samples, and other pasture management needs

Minimum Qualifications
  • Experience in Natural Horsemanship
  • Advanced or professional riding experience in any discipline
  • At least an Associate's Degree in a Human Services related field, or at least one (1) year of Human Service experience working with CORRAL's population
  • High level of organizational skills
  • Experience with farm, barn, and pasture management
  • Excellent social and personal skills
  • Ability to stand for prolonged periods of time, fitness level to work with multiple horses daily and work outside

Preferred Qualifications
  • Training & Certificate in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
  • Experience in starting horses
  • Experience teaching riding lessons

Salary/Benefits
This is a direct, on the ground, full-time salaried role. CORRAL offers a competitive benefits package including employer contributions to health, vision, and dental benefit plans; the ability to contribute to a Flexible Spending Account (FSA); and employer-paid life insurance, long-term disability coverage, and an employee assistance program, available after 60 days. CORRAL observes 13 paid Holidays per year and offers a competitive PTO policy.
Diversity Statement
CORRAL aims to serve girls in the highest risk situations in our community. Among those risk factors is the pervasive influence of systemic racism and discrimination. As members of a marginalized population, these youth are statistically more likely to have negative health, academic and economic outcomes. Understanding this context, CORRAL bears the same responsibility to heal the trauma our girls have experienced due to systemic racism and other forms of exclusion just as much as more commonly understood forms of trauma i.e., physical or emotional abuse.
EOE

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