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<br />The 1990's <br />NARHA's growth and activities expanded dramatically in the early 1990's as a direct <br />result of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation grant. The Association spent the funds prudently <br />and most programs were funded for tive years. The grant supported national workshops <br />for instructors and newcomers to the industry, regional Program Consultants who visited <br />operating centers at no charge to the center, operating center and individual loans. <br />Conference speakers and workshops. therapeutic riding curriculum development for <br />universities and colleges. trade show exhibits for members to borrow, and a second <br />employee to manage programs associated with the grant. <br /> <br />With motivation and manpower provided by the grant. NARHA committees went to <br />work on other programs. The Standards and Accreditation Committees composed a <br />comprehensive "Standards for Operating Centers" document and the Medical Committee <br />wrote "Precautions & Contraindications." <br /> <br />Both are considered essential in encouraging high standards in safety and quality of <br />service for the industry and were published as part of the NARHA Guide. <br /> <br />The accreditation program living the videotape process was serving the membership well. <br />It was generally felt that the quality of therapeutic riding was improving, largely due to <br />almost 20 years ofa diligent accreditation program. <br /> <br />However, the educational benefits of on-site reviews were not forgotten and, at the <br />request of the membership, the 1993 NARHA Board of Directors asked an On-Site <br />Accreditation Task Force chaired by Judy Lightfoot to formulate a new on-site process. <br />(This process is being presented at the 1994 Conference.) <br /> <br />In 1992. the Instructor Certitication Committee added a new level of certification: <br />Certified Instructor. Members applying for this category submitted a videotape of their <br />skills and took a written exam in their region. In 1994, the committee added yet another <br />certification category - Registered 1nstructor - which was the minimum level of <br />certification. By 1995, NARHA began phasing in a new accreditation requirement: All <br />instructors at NARHA centers must achieve one level of certification - Registered. <br />Cel1itied or Master - to pass accreditation. <br /> <br />With the growth in certitication, accreditation and educational programs, came growth in <br />the NARHA staff. In 1990, a third employee was added lor administrative support and in <br />1991, the executive director hired one full-time communications coordinator and one <br />pal1-time administrative assistant. NARHA now had five employees. The NARHA board <br />also authorized the executive director to hire a public relations firm in 1992. NARHA <br />began to receive more national publicity, with features in equine magazines. health care <br />trade publications, and cable and network nevv's shows. Increased awareness resulted in a <br />signiticantjump in requests lor information. <br /> <br />NARHA's Individual Memberships increased dramatically in the 1990's as well. This was <br />due largely to the increased publicity, increasing llumbers of instructors going through <br />