Hello everyone!
Well- it seems I may be starting one day per week with a hippotherapy clinic. Does anyone do this? I volunteered a few years ago while I was an OT student at this stable- and it was fantastic!
For those of you who are unfamiliar with hippotherapy- it (I’m pretty sure “hippo” means horse in Greek) uses horses as a mode of treatment for children with autism, CP, or any sensory integration issues.
It’s amazing to watch because parents will bring their kids into the stables from ages 1-21 years old with a spectrum of sensory issues due to whatever their diagnosis may be. The therapist will put the child on the horse for a half an hour (while walking next to the horse holding the child). You can put the child on facing forward, backward, on their belly, or back, etc. whatever position they are comfortable.
Then- like magic- because of the intense sensory input the child receives from the horses gait- they can focus on what you are trying to do with them- whether it be retrieving items while they are on the horse for reaching exercises- or playing red light green light to work on their communication/cognitive skills, etc.
I have regretfully turned away some calls to this clinic because I do not work with this population in this outpatient orthopedic setting.
I am anxious to begin. I am scheduled to start working in April- because every therapist who goes into this aspect of horses- is required to take a hippotherapy certification course. This course is only being offered in April at this time- so I just have to get registered for it.
I am also really psyched because I LOVE horses.
Any comments from those of you who work with this population would be greatly appreciated. Any questions are of course welcome and I will always answer to the best of my ability 
Cheers!
Hi Annie,
I have been ann OT for over 30 years but doing hippotherapy for only 2 years. I don’t even have a horse background! But I went through certification and have learned a ton. You may find the info on my web site useful. Feel free to ppost comments on my horseot blog. I am always eager for more photos and thoughts.
Barbara
horseot.com
horseot.blogspot.com
Thank you for your post!
I just signed up for the certification this April. I will start once I take the two courses…Did you have to take them too? The first one is called “Equine skills” and the second one is called “Treatment principles”…so- I am very much looking forward to it. I just spoke to my future “boss” and she is psyced to have new therapists coming on staff because they are so backed up.
Where are you practicing out of? I will go to your site to look at your blog too!
Do you love it???
Annie
Hey Barbara – Your website is beautiful… I tried posting a comment – but it is coming up as an error- I am not very savvy with it- so I guess I am doing something wrong.
Anyway- thank you for posting your great ideas..I will be sure to do the same once I begin in April!
Cheers!