Health & Fitness
AaTs' Standards Organization Wins Award!
It is with great pleasure that we announce to members that PATH Intl. is the recipient of the 12th annual Equine Industry Vision Award, presented by American Horse Publications and sponsored by Zoetis, formerly Pfizer Animal Health.
The Equine Industry Vision Award Committee, which includes the AHP Board of Directors and a Zoetis representative, reviewed the record-breaking 21 nominations and announced PATH Intl. as the winner at AHP's Equine Industry Vision Award Breakfast on June 21, 2013.
Finalists were judged on their performance in relation to the achievement(s) cited and their demonstration of the following attributes and abilities: 1) The vision and innovation of a true pioneer; 2) Leadership, commitment, dedication and willingness to serve; 3) Original and effective ideas and/or products, services, programs; 4) High moral, ethical and professional standards.
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"I doubt when therapeutic horsemanship was introduced in this country, or later when our association was founded in 1969, anyone would have foreseen the challenges AND opportunities the equine industry faces today," said PATH Intl. Marketing and Communications Director Kaye Marks.
"The industry faces some real challenges. All of these things affect EAAT centers just like most other segments of the industry. We hear troubling news about breed registry numbers declining, the effect of the economy on showing and the racing industry. It all seemingly sounds pretty dire. However, there is one uniquely positioned statement the EAAT industry can make. We are all about hope and opportunity, not just for participants at our centers, but also for the horses! ... EAAT is one way in which an animal, who has always given his all to humans as a beast of burden, can continue to contribute to society and the betterment of man."
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The other finalists under consideration were Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA), KY; Tootie Bland, Owner and Producer of Road to the Horse, TX; and Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), CT.
Previous recipients of the Equine Industry Vision Award are Alexander Mackay-Smith in 2002, Don Burt in 2003, the American Quarter Horse Association in 2004, John Ryan Gaines in 2005, Stanley Bergstein in 2006, David O'Connor in 2007, Sally Swift in 2008, Charlotte Brailey Kneeland in 2009, John Nicholson in 2010, Robert E. Cacchione in 2011, and Equine Land Conversation.While it was PATH Intl. that was named as the recipient, the award was accepted on behalf of all PATH Intl. Members and Centers. Our members and centers strive for excellence in caring for our equine partners, and that care is part of our core values. ThePATH Intl. Standards for Certification and Accreditation set the bar high in the EAAT industry in promoting safety and care for the equines and the humans with whom they partner.
To all of you who work tirelessly in helping equines and humans reach their full potential, we congratulate you on this award. It truly is a reflection on all of us in this amazing industry. Animal Assisted Therapy Services, Inc. is a PATH International member center.
http://www.pathintl.org/path-intl-centers/find-center
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