VITAL INFORMATION ON SCHOLARSHIPS AT E.T.A.

 

Summary

Data collected by NARHA over the past few years has revealed that as many as 80% of NARHA Centers will go out of business within their first two to three years of operation.  Most of them fail due to the high costs associated with maintaining a NARHA Center: rising land prices, especially near major metropolitan centers; high feed, bedding, and  insurance costs; purchase, training, and maintenance fees for equines; salaries and benefits for staff.

Data collected by NARHA also shows that for each one of the 70,000+ individuals served by NARHA Centers, perhaps 10 more students would benefit from instruction at a NARHA Center.  Most of those not currently taking lessons are not able to do so because of cost.  As a result, E.T.A.’s founder and leadership make a major effort each year to provide scholarship assistance to as many individuals and families as possible who have both a demonstrated financial need and who fit within our service guidelines.

Our goal is to provide 40% of our riders with scholarships, if they have demonstrated financial need, but that goal must be consistent with ensuring the long-term survivability of Equine Therapy Associates. Market forces, rising costs, and total revenues can, and have, affected E.T.A.’s ability to generate scholarship funds. ETA also partners with a number of private entities and governmental bodies to offer generous grants and scholarships. Please contact the Director if this would be helpful to you. Click Here to register.

Will Everyone Receive an ETA Scholarship?

Due to the reasons cited above, not all of those who apply will receive a scholarship at E.T.A. Not everyone will continue to receive a scholarship(s). We strongly encourage all individuals who have not received an E.T.A. scholarship to contact the foundation directory, their associations, and their social worker for additional suggestions.

When possible, E.T.A. will provide need-based financial aid to assist qualified families and individuals with tuition and related costs, if those individuals fit within our normal service guidelines.  (E.T.A. also routinely lends its students certified helmets and body protectors, as well bright orange trail riding gear and bells, irrespective of financial need.  We can often fit many clients with boots and jodhpurs for regular lessons, as well, and often lend horse show clothes.) Grants to individuals and families are based on financial information submitted to Equine Therapy Associates annually

How Does E.T.A. Decide on Scholarships?

Established guidelines help the Scholarship and Staff Committee determine the level of need, taking into account current income and other family/individual assets and liabilities.  Please contact the Director, Dr. Hansen, and request a scholarship application, and refer to the website for application filing dates.  Please also remit $35.00 with your completed scholarship application to cover reproduction and filing costs.

Financial aid applications should be submitted with a complete application package for admission; incomplete packages must, regretfully, be returned to the applicant.  Due to the time-consuming nature of the evaluation and volunteer training process, financial aid decisions are announced before a student is admitted into the program.  If a scholarship is not granted, a candidate is welcome to apply for admission to a particular program at E.T.A., if that program is not already filled.  Waiting lists are also maintained (please see our website).

E.T.A. maintains a preference system for financial aid, as well as for admission, which is awarded according to the following standard:

• Returning students who have met the registration deadlines, who continue to need financial assistance, and who are making adequate progress;

• Siblings of returning students, if they meet the registration deadlines, and if they meet the scholarship goals for the year;

• Named scholarships for specific diseases, disabilities, conditions and or syndromes;

• Scholarship goals: ETA is focusing the majority of our non-named scholarship funds on five pilot programs: PRT or Pre-Tot-Riding for three-year-olds, the PRD or Pre-Riding-Development class for those with substantial developmental delays or most autistic students, the Pre-Valuting Program, the Seniors' Program, and the PDP or Pre-Driving Program for those with fear of heights or horses, and or those who are allergic to dust and or to horses.

• Students whose disabilities rank in the top categories of E.T.A.’s current service guidelines.Click Here to register.

E.T.A. reserves the right to amend the guidelines or scholarship policies, as well as any other rules or procedures, without notice, although we will always work with continuing students to minimize potential disruptions of service.

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