The third annual National Snaffle Bit Association Coaches Summit was held in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, April 12-14, 2021. Presented as a special project of the NSBA Foundation, the three-day workshop included instruction in the classroom and on-site at Ryan Cottingim Show Horses in Shelbyville, TN. Six states, 20 participants
The three-day workshop is designed for equine industry professionals, therapeutic riding center coaches, staff, volunteers, or interested stakeholders to explore opportunities for engagement and expansion of current or new riding programs. Presenters included Partners for Progress NFP Executive Director Diane Helgeland, operations coordinator, and PATH Intl certified instructor; Ariel Higgins, Director of Equestrian Programs MTSU; Laura Gilmer, Editor for GoHorseShow; Carey Cooper, OQHA Treasurer Amanda Gately, and Ryan Cottingim, professional horseman, breeder, and judge. Industry professionals, parents, and facility stakeholders also spoke at the workshop. Twenty attendees represented six states.
Instruction revolved around the inclusion competition for Equestrians with Disabilities or Veterans using horses to form therapeutic riding. It included grant writing, fundraising, strategies for building industry networks, and open discussion panels for each. Certified Professionals received continuing education credits for attending the Coaches Summit as outlined in their certification requirements.
As a special project of the NSBA Foundation, the workshop was funded in part by Gutmann Farms-Texas, Dan & Stephanie Janis, and the Curt & Beth Hartman Family.
NSBA’s Equestrians with Disabilities and Heroes on Horses provides a competitive platform for independent and supported riders to participate in and compliment the work of PATH Intl. The programs are open to any age rider in Western and English disciplines. The Heroes on Horses and Equestrians with Disabilities are two of five programs administered by the National Snaffle Bit Foundation, including the Animal Welfare Fund, the Trainer Crisis Fund, and the Education Fund.
Operating under a separate board of directors, the NSBA Foundation serves as the fiduciary arm of the National Snaffle Bit Association. It provides funding to support the Association’s efforts through programming specific to the equine industry and the NSBA membership. The NSBA Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.
For more information, please visit www.nsba.com.
