Progress notes are a requirement for PATH Intl. certified instructors to complete. They keep instructors (and centers) compliant with PATH Intl., and they also keep track of what is occurring in lessons and what a rider can do next.
Every instructor has their own, unique way of writing notes but there are a few things that should always be included. I’ll share my notes template below and feel free to use or adjust it if you want. This is what I have tweaked over years of progress notes and some new ideas from clinical writing I do as a speech pathology graduate clinician.
| Rider Name: | Lesson Date: | |
| Horse: | Instructor: | Volunteer(s): |
| Goals: | ||
| Lesson Plan: | ||
| Notes: | ||
The top of the notes are pretty self-explanatory, but here is what I include in the other sections:
Goals: I review why riders chose to participate in equine-assisted services. This should be in the rider paperwork or you can have a conversation with the rider and/or caregivers to understand their goals.
Lesson Plan: I write out my lesson plans based on rider goals. I include my warm-up exercises (related to my plan) and what activities I will do with the riders.
Notes: I try to have the goals and lesson plans written out the week before each lesson and then I just have to fill in notes after my lessons. In the notes, I recap how the lesson plan went, any adjustments that needed to be made, and what progress was made toward goals.
Here’s an example:
| Rider Name: XX | Lesson Date: XX | |
| Horse: XX | Instructor: XX | Volunteer(s): XX |
| Goals: 1. Follow 2-step instructions given verbal prompting in 3/5 opportunities. (e.g., whoa at the cone then circle the barrel). 2. Use reins one at a time to turn the horse, given visual prompts, in 3/5 opportunities. 3. Increase independence in activities of daily living by | ||
| Lesson Plan: 1. Warm up with single arm exercises and feet in and out of stirrups. 2. Riders will complete an obstacle course: whoa at a cone, circle a barrel, and 2-point over a pole. Do this 3x in each direction. 3. Cool down with stretching exercises on both sides. | ||
| Notes: XX was dysregulated today, demonstrated by continuous movement of his body and difficulty staying focused on the task. Had a longer warm-up than typical. Given verbal prompts and modeling, XX was able to complete the obstacle course. The last time through to the left, XX completed the course with just verbal prompting. XX ended the lesson calmer and more regulated. | ||
Let me know if this is helpful!
Centerstone Therapy 
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