Salary Trends in in the Therapeutic Horsemanship Industry: An Update Lorrie Renker Pebbles Turbeville

A Sixteen Year Update 1998 Survey Strides: April 1999 “Therapeutic Riding Instructors : Trends & Statistics Article”. Worthen’s definition of a profession: Nine Components 2014 Surveys

Components of a Profession 1.Developed a body of content (knowledge and skills) unique to the area of specialization. 2. Specialization has developed standards to guide those who practice it. 3.Developed preparation programs designed to produce practitioners who are well qualified in the unique knowledge and skills.

Components of a Profession 4.Relevant professional associations influence the preparation programs. 5.Persons have a specialized knowledge. 6.Specialization has developed procedures for certification or licensing for those judged qualified to practice the specialization.

Components of a Profession 7.Specialization has developed an association devoted to furthering professional development of practitioners. 8.Specialization has developed criteria for determining membership in such association.

Components of a Profession 9. Stable career opportunities emerged for well-qualified practitioners.

Survey Return Center Survey Number of Instructors Reported % of Return71%10% Instructor Survey Number of Instructors Reported % of Return46%6% 1998 : Center and Instructor Surveys: collected with PATH annual renewals 2014 : Center surveys: from PATH. Follow up direct to centers listed on PATH website. Survey request sent through Yahoogroups Instructor Surveys: request included in Center survey to ask instructors to complete. Survey request sent through Yahoogroups.

Operating Centers PATH has maintained self-reported statistics since 1993

EAA Instructors Master Advanced Registered 704 1,144 3,581 Other 252 Total ,413 4,121 % of registered instructors 78.14% 80.97% 92.56%

Instructor Terminology Center TR Instructor64% TH Instructor13% Riding Instructor 9% Other 4% EAAT Instructor 3% Adaptive Riding Instructor 2% Instructors of EAA 2% Adapted Riding Instructors 1% EAA Instructors 1% IRD 1% Instructor TR Instructor50% TH Instructor26% EAAT Instructor15% IRD4% Adaptive Riding Instructor4% Adapted Riding Instructor1%

Registered Instructors Reasons for not Pursuing Higher Level Certification Not enough time to pursue25% Plan to pursue in the future24% Cost of certification16% Other12% No pay differential10% Do not yet have the skills5% Certification too complicated4% Rumored fail rate3% Not a fair evaluation1%

Viable Profession (Instructor Reported) Answer Options%No. Unable to make a living wage as EAA Instructor47.88%113 Hold an additional position in order to make a living wage47.46%112 My significant other works in order for us to make a living wage36.44% 86 Only employed as an EAA Instructor19.07% 45 Would like full time position but only part time available16.53% 39 Have considered changing profession13.14% 31 Other11.44% 27 Able to make a living wage as EAA Instructor10.17% 24 Have more than one EAA Instructor position 6.8% 16 Have changed profession and have returned to EAA instruction 5.08% 12 Had to move to locate an EAA Instructor position 3.39% 8

Center Reported Paid Versus Non-Paid Instructors Full Time Paid14%23% Part Time Paid47%61% Unpaid (Volunteer)38%16% Not Reported 1% Percentage calculated using numbers reported

Instructor Profile (Instructor Reported) Average Years Teaching Non-Disabled9.43 years6 years Median6 years Mode0 years Average Years Teaching Disabled7.42 years10.18 years Median7.5 years Mode3 years Plan to Upgrade Certification Level48%

Benefits Centers Provide No Health Benefits66% No Dental Plan81% Instructors Receive No Health Benefits71% No Dental Plan80%

How Do Centers Find Instructors Hire from Within72.4% Word of Mouth58.2% Send Instructors for Training34.7% Advertise with PATH22.4% Advertise Locally16.3% Advertise of Listserves16.3% Contact Colleges / Universities8.2% Other7.1% Contact Approved Training Courses6.1%

How Easy to Find Instructors (2014) Very EasyEasyAverageDifficultVery Difficult 3%11%31% 24% In 1998 respondents indicated a rating of 3.4 on and easy (1) to Hard (5) scale

Full Time – Salaried Instructors ( Center reported) Region 127, , ,000 Region 224, ,000 – 39,000 Region 320, ,000 – 39,000 Region 421, ,000 – 51,000 Region 521, ,000 – 31,000 Region 617, ,000 – 51,000 Region 719, , ,000 Region 822, ,000 – 39, 000 Region 922, , ,000 Region 1013, ,000 – 38,000 Region 1122,438.18None reported

Hourly Rate (Center reported) Part Time Region 1$16.38$18.40 Region 2$13.88$15.20 Region 3$16.08$26.05 Region 4$14.01$16.17 Region 5$17.61$15.77 Region 6$11.08$15.67 Region 7$13.05$18.24 Region 8$11.92$16.92 Region 9$13.64$11.67 Region 10$12.00$14.75 Region 11$12.14$17.78 Full Time Region 1$13.33$18.61 Region 2$12.07$17.11 Region 3$10.89$16.57 Region 4$10.53$20.14 Region 5$13.05$14.89 Region 6$ 9.99$24.00 Region 7$11.17$17.33 Region 8$ 9.68$17.50 Region 9$11.81$15.00 Region 10$ 8.66$15.93 Region 11$13.22None reported

Full Time – Salaried Instructor Total ( Center Reported) 1998 Average Annual Salary $21, Average Annual Salary $34,000 – $ Median$35,000 –$ Mode$35,000 – $39,000 Range$20,000 – $24,000 To $65,000 - $69.000

Total 2014 Hourly Rate Part Time Center Reported 2014 Full Time Center Reported 2014 Instructor Reported Average$13.29$17.25$17.22 $17.44 Median$10.50$15.00$17.00$16.82 Mode$10.00$15.00 $20.00

Challenges in the past five years have:

Help Program Sustainability

Challenges in Collection of Data Instructors wear many hats Difficulty in obtaining responses Salary vs hour calculations Information not reported accurately

1998 Predictions More demand / more jobs (46% of responses) Better pay (10% of responses) More college options Shortage of instructors Will bottom out and have less jobs More Advanced level Instructors

1998 Predictions More business like More PR for EAA More qualified at less pay Demand for more qualifications More part time and less full time Recognized as a profession

1998 Predictions Triple in five years More medical training More competitions

Rider Weight Limit Over 200 pounds38% (38) 200 pounds30% (30) Less than 200 pounds32% (33)