New Horse Organization, PACES, Requires Mandatory Criminal Background Checks for Certification
Are there sexual predators working at equestrian events? Parents and vulnerable children may never know until it’s too late. Why? Because the multi-billion dollar horse industry currently is not required to conduct criminal background checks or licensing for its youth coaches, professionals or workforce. To address this growing national concern for child safety and crime prevention, a new organization, PACES, Professional Accreditation Council of Equine Specialists, has been formed. PACES will require mandatory criminal background screenings, as well as CPR and First-aid training, for all equine certification candidates.
PACES has teamed with a premier nationwide provider of pre-employment screening services to provide background checks to PACES members and their candidates for certification. PACES background screenings will utilize a searchable database of over 230 million records from federal, state, local, and private sources and over 300 million arrest, conviction and disposition records plus 6 billion records from other sources providing the most extensive nationwide sexual offender and criminal database search currently available.
According to PACES executive director, Claudia Starr, “Sexual predators are everywhere. Something must be done about the dangers they present. We want our children protected. PACES believes in the strength of the horse industry to be self-regulating. Applying more stringent standards in our workforce is a positive step for our industry.”
“You wouldn’t buy a horse without a vet check, why would you hire an employee without a background check? PACES is taking a proactive role in risk management and making professional development a priority. Entry level equestrians, skilled professionals, horse-related businesses, and consumers will all benefit from PACES bold new direction,” said Starr.