Tuesday, July 22, 2025 10:28:44 AM
Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) Exam
| PATH Intl. EXAM with Practice Questions and Key
Terminology
Dudley, a 16-year-old quarter horse, has arrived in the arena a few minutes before his assigned
lesson with his horse leader, Maggie. As the instructor is completing the set-up of arena
equipment, she observes as Maggie warms Dudley up at walk and trot in hand. Dudley appears
to be stiffer than usual in the hind end at the trot. The instructor coaches Maggie to walk and trot
Dudley more forward, which will allow him to loosen up before his rider mounts. The lesson
plan for the day includes four trot poles. However, based on how Dudley is presenting in his
warm-up, the instructor modifies her set-up to reduce the demands on the horse's hind end. After
the lesson, the instructor shares her observations of Dudley's stiffness with the barn manager for
further evaluation.
What are two other choices that the instructor could have made regarding Dudley's stiffness?
Two other options for managing Dudley's stiffness are removing him from the lesson or allowing
more time for warm-up before mounting.
Unsoundness is-
a serious condition that affects an equine's usefulness and way of moving. The CTRI must be
able to recognize visual signs of discomfort in the horse that may be an indication of
unsoundness, such as ear pinning, tail swishing, nipping or stiffness.
Horse Biting Handler During Lesson
Richard is a 10-year-old rider with autism who is riding Jack, a 17-year-old Haflinger gelding.
Richard is very excited to trot, which causes him to bounce on Jack's back during transition to
the trot. The instructor observes that Jack is nipping at his horse leader. The horse handler moves
his hand up to hold Jack's halter as a defensive response to the nipping behavior.
The instructor identifies three corrections that need to be made to address Jack's biting behavior
and the safety of the horse handler based on her observations. First, the instructor gives the rider
a verbal correction to let Richard know that his bouncing is making his horse uncomfortable.
Additionally, the instructor has Richard trot in half-seat position to increase the weight bearing
input he is getting and to reduce the impact of his self-stimulation behaviors on the horse. Once
the rider's behavior has been addressed, the instructor coaches the horse handler to move his
hand further down the lead line to give Jack more space to balance. This allows Jack to feel less
trapped and therefore less stressed in the lesson.
After the lesson, the instructor discusses Jack's behavior with the rest of the instructional team
,Tuesday, July 22, 2025 10:28:44 AM
and horse care staff. The group works to ensure that Jack has more opportunity for some trail
riding fun with skilled riders to maintain his mental and physical well-being as a therapeutic
riding mount as well as to further develop his topline muscles.
Identify at least one other reason that Jack could be displaying mouthy behavior.
Jack would benefit from a variety of interventions to prevent burnout: exercise by a skilled rider
outside of the arena, an evaluation of equipment fit, chiropractic/acupuncture/massage treatment,
a week off from therapeutic riding lessons.
Evaluation of a Potential Therapeutic Riding Horse
An instructor and equine manager are searching for an equine to carry adult riders. They are
considering a 16-hand draft cross mare who is 20 years old. She has been an event horse and is
retiring from that career due to a tendon injury in her right front leg. The injury has been
rehabbed and the horse is back to work doing light trail riding. When evaluating the mare's
conformation, the instructor notes that the horse has three balanced parts (neck and shoulder,
back and barrel, hindquarters) and a wide spring of ribs. Her hind legs are placed close together
and she is cow hocked, which is typical of most work horse breeds. She has windpuffs on both
hind legs, likely due to her conformation in relation to jumping. The mare's front legs are square
under her chest and straight. Her feet are of good quality and she is only shod up front; however,
she is clubfooted on the right, which may have caused her tendon injury. All three gaits are
smooth with obedient transitions. She is easy to lead and has a kind, interactive personality.
The instructor and equine manager decided not to accept this mare into the program. Her
previous tendon injury paired with her clubfoot on the right side affected the evenness of her
gaits and would put her at risk for re-injury when being asked to carry larger, unbalanced riders.
What are reasons this equine mare would have been a good fit for a therapeutic riding program?
The mare described has three balanced parts with a wide spring of her rib, which is indicative of
a strong back. Additionally, at 16 hands this mare is not too tall for use of sidewalkers should
they be required for those riding her.
When viewed from the front, the instructor should be looking for the equine's:
-width of chest
-correctness of legs
-spring of rib
-head
-depth of body
-symmetry
When viewed from the rear, the instructor should be looking for the equine's:
,Tuesday, July 22, 2025 10:28:44 AM
-muscle definition
-correctness of legs
-depth of body
-symmetry
When viewed from the side, the instructor should be looking for the equine's:
•balance and symmetry
• length and thickness of neck
• length and lie of topline
• length of bone in the legs
• depth of body
• joint angles
• correctness of legs
An equine's conformation will affect its "way of going." Each equine should be observed in
motion from the front, from the hind and from the side at all gaits as well as on a bend. With the
equine in movement, the instructor should be watching for:
• unsoundness
• way of going
• footfall patterns on two tracks
• freedom of movement and bend
• frame unsoundness
• way of going
• footfall patterns on two tracks
• freedom of movement and bend
• frame
While preparing a horse that has been in a therapeutic riding program for many years, the
instructor observes that the animal's bursa and deep flexor tendon areas are inflamed. The horse
does not show any signs of lameness. What is MOST LIKELY the cause?
a. Carpitis
b. Capped elbow
c. Dorsal metacarpal disease
d. Windpuffs
d. Windpuffs
From the picture below, what is the proper footfall for an equine at the trot?
a. 2 | 4
1|3
, Tuesday, July 22, 2025 10:28:44 AM
b. 2 | 1
1|2
c. 2 | 3
1|2
d. 3 | 4
1|2
b. 2 | 1
1|2
While warming up an equine at the trot, the instructor observes the horse's head pop up and then
drop down dramatically and uncharacteristically and with the rhythm of the trot. What is
happening?
a. When a lame foot strikes the ground, the horse's head pops up. When a sound foot strikes the
ground, the horse's head drops.
b. When a sound foot strikes the ground, the horse's head pops up. When a lame foot strikes the
ground, the horse's head drops.
c. When a horse has an energetic trot, the head movement is much more pronounced.
d. When a horse has an energetic trot, the horse's head will drop when the rider's outside leg is
too far behind the girth.
a. When a lame foot strikes the ground, the horse's head pops up. When a sound foot strikes the
ground, the horse's head drops.
A horse leader is taking an equine in the ring for a warm-up. The instructor notices the equine is
walking behind the horse leader and is taking narrow, shortened steps. What is MOST LIKELY
the issue to address?
a. Abscess
b. Sidebone
c. Navicular syndrome
d. Arthritis
d. Arthritis
During a lesson, the instructor observes that an equine is swishing the tail, nipping at people and
pinning its ears. These behaviors could likely indicate any of the following EXCEPT:
a. unbalanced rider.
b. incorrect handling by leader.
Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) Exam
| PATH Intl. EXAM with Practice Questions and Key
Terminology
Dudley, a 16-year-old quarter horse, has arrived in the arena a few minutes before his assigned
lesson with his horse leader, Maggie. As the instructor is completing the set-up of arena
equipment, she observes as Maggie warms Dudley up at walk and trot in hand. Dudley appears
to be stiffer than usual in the hind end at the trot. The instructor coaches Maggie to walk and trot
Dudley more forward, which will allow him to loosen up before his rider mounts. The lesson
plan for the day includes four trot poles. However, based on how Dudley is presenting in his
warm-up, the instructor modifies her set-up to reduce the demands on the horse's hind end. After
the lesson, the instructor shares her observations of Dudley's stiffness with the barn manager for
further evaluation.
What are two other choices that the instructor could have made regarding Dudley's stiffness?
Two other options for managing Dudley's stiffness are removing him from the lesson or allowing
more time for warm-up before mounting.
Unsoundness is-
a serious condition that affects an equine's usefulness and way of moving. The CTRI must be
able to recognize visual signs of discomfort in the horse that may be an indication of
unsoundness, such as ear pinning, tail swishing, nipping or stiffness.
Horse Biting Handler During Lesson
Richard is a 10-year-old rider with autism who is riding Jack, a 17-year-old Haflinger gelding.
Richard is very excited to trot, which causes him to bounce on Jack's back during transition to
the trot. The instructor observes that Jack is nipping at his horse leader. The horse handler moves
his hand up to hold Jack's halter as a defensive response to the nipping behavior.
The instructor identifies three corrections that need to be made to address Jack's biting behavior
and the safety of the horse handler based on her observations. First, the instructor gives the rider
a verbal correction to let Richard know that his bouncing is making his horse uncomfortable.
Additionally, the instructor has Richard trot in half-seat position to increase the weight bearing
input he is getting and to reduce the impact of his self-stimulation behaviors on the horse. Once
the rider's behavior has been addressed, the instructor coaches the horse handler to move his
hand further down the lead line to give Jack more space to balance. This allows Jack to feel less
trapped and therefore less stressed in the lesson.
After the lesson, the instructor discusses Jack's behavior with the rest of the instructional team
,Tuesday, July 22, 2025 10:28:44 AM
and horse care staff. The group works to ensure that Jack has more opportunity for some trail
riding fun with skilled riders to maintain his mental and physical well-being as a therapeutic
riding mount as well as to further develop his topline muscles.
Identify at least one other reason that Jack could be displaying mouthy behavior.
Jack would benefit from a variety of interventions to prevent burnout: exercise by a skilled rider
outside of the arena, an evaluation of equipment fit, chiropractic/acupuncture/massage treatment,
a week off from therapeutic riding lessons.
Evaluation of a Potential Therapeutic Riding Horse
An instructor and equine manager are searching for an equine to carry adult riders. They are
considering a 16-hand draft cross mare who is 20 years old. She has been an event horse and is
retiring from that career due to a tendon injury in her right front leg. The injury has been
rehabbed and the horse is back to work doing light trail riding. When evaluating the mare's
conformation, the instructor notes that the horse has three balanced parts (neck and shoulder,
back and barrel, hindquarters) and a wide spring of ribs. Her hind legs are placed close together
and she is cow hocked, which is typical of most work horse breeds. She has windpuffs on both
hind legs, likely due to her conformation in relation to jumping. The mare's front legs are square
under her chest and straight. Her feet are of good quality and she is only shod up front; however,
she is clubfooted on the right, which may have caused her tendon injury. All three gaits are
smooth with obedient transitions. She is easy to lead and has a kind, interactive personality.
The instructor and equine manager decided not to accept this mare into the program. Her
previous tendon injury paired with her clubfoot on the right side affected the evenness of her
gaits and would put her at risk for re-injury when being asked to carry larger, unbalanced riders.
What are reasons this equine mare would have been a good fit for a therapeutic riding program?
The mare described has three balanced parts with a wide spring of her rib, which is indicative of
a strong back. Additionally, at 16 hands this mare is not too tall for use of sidewalkers should
they be required for those riding her.
When viewed from the front, the instructor should be looking for the equine's:
-width of chest
-correctness of legs
-spring of rib
-head
-depth of body
-symmetry
When viewed from the rear, the instructor should be looking for the equine's:
,Tuesday, July 22, 2025 10:28:44 AM
-muscle definition
-correctness of legs
-depth of body
-symmetry
When viewed from the side, the instructor should be looking for the equine's:
•balance and symmetry
• length and thickness of neck
• length and lie of topline
• length of bone in the legs
• depth of body
• joint angles
• correctness of legs
An equine's conformation will affect its "way of going." Each equine should be observed in
motion from the front, from the hind and from the side at all gaits as well as on a bend. With the
equine in movement, the instructor should be watching for:
• unsoundness
• way of going
• footfall patterns on two tracks
• freedom of movement and bend
• frame unsoundness
• way of going
• footfall patterns on two tracks
• freedom of movement and bend
• frame
While preparing a horse that has been in a therapeutic riding program for many years, the
instructor observes that the animal's bursa and deep flexor tendon areas are inflamed. The horse
does not show any signs of lameness. What is MOST LIKELY the cause?
a. Carpitis
b. Capped elbow
c. Dorsal metacarpal disease
d. Windpuffs
d. Windpuffs
From the picture below, what is the proper footfall for an equine at the trot?
a. 2 | 4
1|3
, Tuesday, July 22, 2025 10:28:44 AM
b. 2 | 1
1|2
c. 2 | 3
1|2
d. 3 | 4
1|2
b. 2 | 1
1|2
While warming up an equine at the trot, the instructor observes the horse's head pop up and then
drop down dramatically and uncharacteristically and with the rhythm of the trot. What is
happening?
a. When a lame foot strikes the ground, the horse's head pops up. When a sound foot strikes the
ground, the horse's head drops.
b. When a sound foot strikes the ground, the horse's head pops up. When a lame foot strikes the
ground, the horse's head drops.
c. When a horse has an energetic trot, the head movement is much more pronounced.
d. When a horse has an energetic trot, the horse's head will drop when the rider's outside leg is
too far behind the girth.
a. When a lame foot strikes the ground, the horse's head pops up. When a sound foot strikes the
ground, the horse's head drops.
A horse leader is taking an equine in the ring for a warm-up. The instructor notices the equine is
walking behind the horse leader and is taking narrow, shortened steps. What is MOST LIKELY
the issue to address?
a. Abscess
b. Sidebone
c. Navicular syndrome
d. Arthritis
d. Arthritis
During a lesson, the instructor observes that an equine is swishing the tail, nipping at people and
pinning its ears. These behaviors could likely indicate any of the following EXCEPT:
a. unbalanced rider.
b. incorrect handling by leader.
