Canadian Miniature Therapy Horse AssociationCMTHA
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Become a qualified team.

CMTHA provides an exclusive qualification process built on rigorous Standards of Operations and Behaviors — developed and annually updated by experienced miniature therapy horse owners and trainers. It's a clear, professional roadmap to navigate complex indoor and outdoor spaces without fear.

Start your applicationSee the process
Why become qualified with CMTHA

Set the standard for professionalism

Uncompromising safety

Because miniature horses are naturally "flight" and prey animals, they can startle at unfamiliar sights or sounds. Our training goes far beyond general equine handling — equipping horse and handler to manage natural instincts safely in public.

Meet facility demands

Healthcare and educational facilities vet visiting animals closely and prioritize professional standards. Most now require written proof a team has been verified to safely serve their community — a CMTHA qualification is exactly that.

Increased visibility

As a free service, our online database lets facility managers verify credentials and search for qualified teams — placing your contact information and history directly in front of local facilities actively seeking your services.

The roadmap

How qualification works

A clear, supportive path from first inquiry to a fully qualified, listed team — with re-evaluation built in to keep standards high.

What you'll receive

An expiration-dated photo ID badge for your team
A verified public listing in our free database
Annually updated Standards of Operations & Behaviors

Apply & prepare

Submit your inquiry and follow our recommended training path to prepare your horse to navigate indoor and outdoor environments calmly and confidently.

Team evaluation

You and your horse are evaluated together across diverse environments — testing skills, temperament and aptitude for public and institutional settings.

Get listed

Once qualified, your team receives a photo ID badge and a verified profile in our online database — visible to facilities searching nearby.

Re-evaluate every 2 years

To maintain the highest safety and sanitary standards, every team renews its qualification through re-evaluation on a two-year cycle.

Get ready for evaluation day

Recommended training path

Use this standard summary to prepare your miniature horse and handler team for the safety, temperament and adaptability standards we assess. Work through the six phases below at your own pace — then bring a confident, well-prepared team to your evaluation.

Download the training summary (PDF)
Phase 1

Foundation groundwork

  • Halting & leading. Lead on a loose line without crowding, lagging or pulling ahead; halt instantly on cue and back up smoothly.
  • Stationary patience. Stand quietly while tied or held for 15+ minutes without pawing, vocalizing or fidgeting.
  • Grooming & handling. Desensitize sensitive areas (ears, muzzle, tail, belly) and lift all four hooves without resistance.
  • Voice & body cues. Build robust responses to commands like “whoa,” “back” and “leave it.”
Phase 2

Sensory desensitization

  • Visual stimuli. Accept umbrellas opening and closing, balloons, plastic bags, waving flags, bubbles and moving toys.
  • Auditory stimuli. Acclimate to metal drops, clapping, loud high-pitched voices, sirens and sudden loud thuds.
  • Tactile stimuli. Tolerate sudden, clumsy or heavy petting — such as leaning on the horse or pulling the mane.
Phase 3

Medical equipment

  • Mobility devices. Walk calmly alongside manual and motorized wheelchairs, walkers, crutches and canes.
  • Clinical equipment. Condition to moving IV poles, hissing oxygen tanks and squeaky utility carts.
  • Intrusive obstacles. Steer through confined spaces between hospital beds and furniture without panic.
Phase 4

Environmental adaptability

  • Slick surfaces. Navigate linoleum, polished concrete, hardwood, deep carpets and wet tiled entryways.
  • Elevators & auto-doors. Approach, enter, stand calmly inside and exit elevators and heavy automatic sliding doors.
  • Stairs & ramps. Safely manage low stairs, handicap ramps and curb cuts.
  • Therapy boot acclimation. Become fully comfortable wearing rubber-soled therapy boots to prevent slips and floor damage.
Phase 5

Public socialization

  • High-energy settings. Tolerate school classrooms, crowds, running or shouting children, and direct attention.
  • Unexpected contact. Calmly accept hugs around the neck and gentle physical tugging from multiple individuals.
  • Other animals. Maintain neutral, non-reactive behavior when encountering dogs or other service animals.
Phase 6

Hygiene & logistics

  • Sanitation & potty bags. Comfortably wear a manure collection bag (bun bag) and develop a “go-on-command” routine.
  • Travel safety. Self-load calmly into trailers or transport vehicles, arriving clean and stress-free.
  • Handler–equine shielding. The handler acts as protector, reading stress markers (yawning, licking) and managing breaks.
Before you arrive

Recommended pre-evaluation checklist

A quick self-check to confirm your team is ready for evaluation day.

Ground manners: walk on a loose lead, back straight, and square halt.
Sensory: calm response to umbrellas, sudden loud sounds and clapping.
Slick floors: navigate polished hospital floors with boots fitted.
Medical aids: sidestep wheelchairs and stand calmly next to a walker.
Social temperament: tolerate awkward hugs and child interactions.
Logistics: wear a collection bag and load into transport without stress.
Sign up for Qualification Day Download the full summary
Questions

Frequently asked

Why don't you use the word "certified"?
We believe no person or organization can guarantee an animal's behavior. Calling a team "certified" implies a guarantee we can't honestly make. Instead, we qualify the horse and handler together as a team that has demonstrated the skills and temperament to visit safely.
Is the qualification transferable to another horse or handler?
No. A qualification belongs strictly to the specific horse-and-handler pairing. It cannot be transferred to a different person or animal individually — because the team is the unit we evaluate.
How often must we be re-evaluated?
Every two years. Regular re-evaluation maintains the highest safety and sanitary standards over time, and keeps your listing and photo ID badge current.
What size are miniature therapy horses?
They typically stand just 24 to 34 inches tall — small enough to visit comfortably indoors, with a natural love for people.
How much does it cost to be listed in the database?
Inclusion in our online verification database is a free service. It places your team's contact information and qualification history in front of facilities actively seeking therapeutic visits.
What does the photo ID badge do?
Each qualified team carries an expiration-dated photo ID badge upon arrival, so facility staff can quickly confirm the team's identity and current qualification status for added security.

Ready to begin?

Tell us about you and your horse, and we'll guide you through the qualification process.

Start your applicationRead our standards