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Q:  What is Therapeutic Driving?

A:  Carriage driving is a fast growing sport.  NARHA centers can offer students with physical, mental, sensory, or emotional conditions the rewards of interaction and control of a horse or pony while driving from a carriage seat or in their own wheelchair. Using a horse and carriage gives participants an alternative or an addition to riding, opening up the world of horses to those who may be unable to ride due to weight, balance, fatigue, fear of heights, the inability to sit astride, or other issues.  Therapeutic driving is all about imparting knowledge of safety, horses, harnessing, and driving skills to children and adults using teamwork.  It takes 3-5 volunteers to make one driving turn out! Drivers who have a disability and are interested in competing are welcome at mainstream carriage driving competitions, such as pleasure driving and combined driving events, where they compete on an equal footing with the able bodied, and drivers in wheelchairs are seen at these competitions.  As with riding, there are Precautions to Driving
 

Q:  Who offers Therapeutic Driving?

A.  NARHA certified driving instructors who have completed and passed a NARHA Driving Instructor Certification offer therapeutic driving lessons.  NARHA has developed specialty practice and safety Standards for Driving.  NARHA programs offering Therapeutic Driving follow these standards. 

(The Driving Specialty Standards and a list of current NARHA certified instructors are available on www.narha.org in the “member’s only” section.) To find a center near you that offers therapeutic driving click on "Find a Center" on the homepage, then go to "Activities" and click on Driving and click on your state.
 

Q.  How does a person become a NARHA Therapeutic Driving Instructor?

A.  The NARHA driving instructor certification program is offered for individuals who seek certification in their own specialty discipline. 

The certified driving instructor has demonstrated the ability to drive a variety of horses to different vehicles, over varying terrain.  This candidate has demonstrated thorough knowledge of driving skills, teaching driving and the ability to safely direct a driving program.  This candidate has demonstrated skills to supervise others as assistants and volunteers in a driving program.  This candidate receives a passing evaluation from all course faculties and has met the goals of the course.

To apply for NARHA driving instructor certification status, candidates must complete and pass the NARHA driving instructor certification. Please review the Driving Certification Application booklet for prerequisites and criteria to apply for certification. The certification includes both practicum portions and written examinations.  At the conclusion of the certification, the candidate will be informed of the course evaluator's recommendations for certification of Level I or Level II.  Candidates will be notified of their final results in writing by the NARHA office.
 

Q:  What is the difference between the Level I and Level II Criteria?

A:  Use the following links to view the criteria for each level.  You must have Adobe Reader in order to view these documents. 
Level I Driving Criteria    Level II Driving Criteria
 

Q.  What if I’m unsure whether or not I’m ready to complete the certification? How long is the workshop valid?  May I Audit the Driving Certification?

A.  Participants can assess their skills by attending a three-day educational NARHA driving workshop.  A person has the option to audit a driving workshop; but no one may audit a Driving Certification. Successful completion of the workshop as a participant (not an auditor) is a prerequisite to completing the NARHA Driving Certification and is valid for two years.

Q.  Are there any pre-requisites for the driving candidate application process?

A. YES!  To actively complete/participate in the certification as a driving instructor candidate a person must meet the listed criteria found in the Driving Instructor Certification Program and Application Booklet

Q.  What are the resources if I have a question related to Therapeutic Driving?

A. You can email any driving committee member OR ask your question to others in the therapeutic driving community via the Yahoo Therapeutic Driving Listserv! 
 

Also, review the 2005 Driving Survey to discover what harness type, horses, lesson schedule, and carriages are preferred by other therapeutic driving centers! 

And finally there is a list of reference books that are recommended reading for driving certification candidates NARHA References for Driving