Utah State University
Logan, Utah
Utah State University in Logan, Utah offers college-level training in equine-assisted services through its Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences. The main option is a 12-credit Equine-Assisted Services certificate for students headed into adaptive riding, equine-assisted mental health and learning, or related work. USU Extension also runs an instructor mentorship pathway toward PATH Intl. certification.
- Equine-Assisted Services certificate (12 credits)
- Hands-on labs
- PATH Intl. CTRI instructor mentorship
- PATH Intl. ESMHL mentorship
- Student internships
- Equine Science minor
- USU undergraduate students
- Future adaptive riding instructors
- Future equine specialists in mental health and learning
- Students who plan to work with horses as therapists, mental health professionals or educators
More about this center
About the Certificate
The Equine-Assisted Services Institutional Certificate of Proficiency is a 12-credit undergraduate program in the Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, part of the Quinney College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. According to the USU catalog, students must be in good standing with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
Coursework covers the principles of equine-assisted services, the human-animal bond, training and assessing horses for this work, and the basics of teaching horsemanship skills, with hands-on labs. The department says the certificate prepares students to pursue the PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL) credentials, and that the program is a member of PATH Intl. (as a higher education member) and the Certified Horsemanship Association. Learn more about PATH Intl.
Instructor Mentorship Pathway
USU Extension's Center for Equine-Assisted Services mentors candidates for PATH Intl. certification, usually accepting two or three candidates per semester. CTRI candidates must ride independently at the walk, trot and canter, hold adult and child CPR/AED certification, and complete 25 hours of teaching adaptive riders, about 5 to 10 hours a week. ESMHL candidates need solid ground handling skills, CPR/AED certification and 30 hours of teaching.
CTRI mentorship costs $300 for current certificate students and $450 for others. ESMHL mentorship costs $250 for certificate students and $350 for others. Fees cover horse use for lessons and filming of the portfolio video, and both tracks include an online test-prep module. Applications must arrive at least three weeks before adaptive riding sessions begin.
Getting Started
Sarah Andersen, a lecturer and certificate instructor in the department, is the contact for the certificate program at 435-757-8881 or sarah.andersen@usu.edu. Questions about the mentorship pathway go to equine.experience@usu.edu. Families looking for adaptive riding or other community programs can reach the Center for Equine-Assisted Services in Wellsville at 435-994-8506.
Location
The certificate is offered on USU's Logan campus. The Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences lists its address as 4800 Old Main Hill, AGRS 421, Logan, UT 84322, phone 435-797-2282. The Center for Equine-Assisted Services works out of the Sam Skaggs Family Equine Education Center at 3580 South US-89 in Wellsville.
From public records, not yet reviewed by the center · Last updated Oct 2026 Suggest an edit
Common Questions
Answered from the center’s own website and public records.
Who can enroll in the Equine-Assisted Services certificate?
It is an undergraduate certificate at USU, and the catalog says students need to be in good standing with a GPA of 2.0 or higher. Contact Sarah Andersen at 435-757-8881 or sarah.andersen@usu.edu with questions.
Does the certificate make me a certified therapeutic riding instructor?
No. USU says it prepares students to pursue outside credentials such as PATH Intl. CTRI and ESMHL, and the Center for Equine-Assisted Services offers mentorship toward them.
What does the instructor mentorship cost?
CTRI mentorship is $300 for certificate students and $450 for others, and ESMHL mentorship is $250 for certificate students and $350 for others. PATH Intl. offers scholarships and grants that can help with certification costs.
Location
Logan, Utah 84322
Questions to Ask When You Call
The center is the best source for these answers.
- Are you running now, and taking new riders?Start here. We couldn’t confirm a current schedule.
- Which ages and needs do you work with?Ask about experience with your rider’s specific condition.
- Is a licensed PT, OT or speech therapist involved?Therapist-led hippotherapy is usually the only kind insurance may cover.
- What does a session cost, and are there scholarships?Many nonprofit programs offer sliding scales or sponsored spots.
- Do you have a mounting ramp or lift?Important for riders who use a wheelchair or need help mounting.