American Hippotherapy Association

American Hippotherapy Association Hippotherapy: occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech-language pathology with the help of a horse Why the Horse?

The horse’s walk provides sensory input through movement, which is variable, rhythmic, and repetitive. The resultant movement responses in the patient are similar to human movement patterns of the pelvis while walking. The variability of the horse’s gait enables the therapist to grade the degree of sensory input to the patient, and then utilize this movement in combination with other treatment str

ategies to achieve desired results. Patients respond enthusiastically to this enjoyable experience in a natural setting.

As April comes to an end, we have just enough time to highlight two more of our OT Faculty Members! ☔️🌈💐In addition to b...
05/01/2026

As April comes to an end, we have just enough time to highlight two more of our OT Faculty Members! ☔️🌈💐

In addition to being an OT, Sarah Beasley is also one of two international faculty members! She has been practicing in Ireland for 13 years 🇮🇪

Sarah learned about hippotherapy when she was travelling in Canada with friends. She came home from that trip, researching the work of another AHA, Inc. Faculty Member, Pippa Hodge, and started a Masters in OT with the sole purpose of being able to take the hippotherapy courses with AHA, Inc. Just TWO weeks after she finished her Masters, she travelled to Barcelona, Spain for her Part I course! 😲

Back in the states 🇺🇸, the Midwest is represented by Lesley Bray, who has been a practicing OT for 39 years! She has practiced in industrial rehab, psych hospital, outpatient hands inpatient rehab, home health, physician’s office, pediatrics and most recently in acute care hospital. When it comes to hippotherapy, she has started two clinics incorporating and consulted with several others in starting their own practice.  

Lesley’s journey started out as an adaptive riding instructor while in high school in 1982. One of the in-services she attended was from an OT who suggested she look into OT school and incorporate hippotherapy. Obviously, she took her advice and ran with it! 🏃‍♀️When it comes to those just starting their hippotherapy journeys, Lesley’s advice is to define your mission, purpose, and vision and stay true to that path. Start with small, baby steps to ensure quality and quantity will come! ✨

Thank to you all OTs for all the work you do with your clients! Happy OT month! 🎉🎉🎉

📍REMINDER! Conference CEUs are due by tomorrow, April 30th, 11:59 pm MT! In order to receive the full CE credit from AOT...
04/30/2026

📍REMINDER! Conference CEUs are due by tomorrow, April 30th, 11:59 pm MT!

In order to receive the full CE credit from AOTA, ASHA, and APTA (approved in certain states), you need to watch ALL of the sessions and complete all of the associated session evaluations. Partial credit will not be given.

As a reminder, please do not share the password or record the presentations. Also, do not record the presentations. Conference attendees will receive access to the videos again in late spring; specific sessions will be available for purchase soon for those who did not attend our 2026 conference.

Happy watching! 💻👀✨

04/29/2026

What is hippotherapy without MOVEMENT?! ✨ Windspiel is rockin’ & rollin’ as she steps out (literally!) into the pasture, working on grading her movement and transitions along the way. 🎉💃☀️Who else is quickly becoming part of the Windspiel fanclub (you can be President of the Club, Esther😉)?! 🏅🐴💕

Missed the registration deadline for our Part II course this weekend? 😳 No worries! Our next Part II course is being hel...
04/28/2026

Missed the registration deadline for our Part II course this weekend? 😳 No worries! Our next Part II course is being held in Edgewood, New Mexico with our friends at Skyline Therapy Services! ☀️🌵🐴

Taught by west coast AHA, Inc. Faculty, Joann Benjamin, PT, HPCS and Ruth Dismuke-Blakely, MS, CCC-SLP, HPCS, this course is designed to help you put the pieces learned in our Part I course into practice! 🧩🤔📚

Visit the link in our bio or head over to our website to sign up today! ✨💻

Our Connection Course Series continues in just TWO weeks with The Horse Connection! 🐴🗓️📚📍Open to all (therapists, horse ...
04/23/2026

Our Connection Course Series continues in just TWO weeks with The Horse Connection! 🐴🗓️📚

📍Open to all (therapists, horse handlers, and instructors alike) who are interested in developing a connection with their horse through leading, longeing, and long lining, or those interested in learning more about assessing horses as potential therapy candidates, including recognizing desirable qualities of conformation and movement, and also recognizing quality handling.

AHA, Inc. Members SAVE $50 on this course (and all future courses in the series!). Visit our link in bio or website to sign up today!✨

04/22/2026

It’s Tuesday, which means we have another International Insight into Windspiel’s journey into becoming a therapy horse!✨🗺️

This week, Esther (with a cameo by Lee & Windspiel’s BFF Armani) works on introducing Windspiel to some of the interesting sounds she might encounter during a treatment session. What are some of the most interesting sounds that you’ve heard during your sessions?! 📢👂🐴

📥 Let us know below and stay tuned for next week when Windspiel works on her dance moves (aka honing her medical quality equine movement)! 💃

Hey 2026 Conference Attendees! 👋 We have extended the deadline for the CE session evaluation completion till April 30th ...
04/20/2026

Hey 2026 Conference Attendees! 👋 We have extended the deadline for the CE session evaluation completion till April 30th to give you more time to watch the recorded sessions and complete session evaluations. 🎉

‼️ In order to receive the full CEUs that AOTA, ASHA, and APTA (in certain states approved), you need to watch all of the sessions and complete all of the evaluations. Partial credit will not be given.

As a reminder, please do not share the password or record the presentations.

Volunteers are the backbone of AHA, Inc., and while we are thankful every week of the year, April 19th-25th is extra spe...
04/20/2026

Volunteers are the backbone of AHA, Inc., and while we are thankful every week of the year, April 19th-25th is extra special as it is National Volunteer Appreciation week!✨🎉 Together we celebrate the volunteers of AHA, Inc- from our dedicated committee members and committee chairs, to our Board of Directors, this organization accomplishes amazing things thanks to your time, talents, and passion. THANK YOU for all that you do to help AHA, Inc. continue to lead the way in treatment with the help of the horse! 🥳🐴🤩

Join us in 2 weeks for our next Part I A webinar! AHA, Inc. Faculty Meredith Bazaar, MA, CCC-SLP, HPCS & Lisa Harris, MS...
04/19/2026

Join us in 2 weeks for our next Part I A webinar! AHA, Inc. Faculty Meredith Bazaar, MA, CCC-SLP, HPCS & Lisa Harris, MSVS, PT, HPCS are teaching this two-day virtual course for healthcare professionals starting their hippotherapy education journey. Head over to our website for course times, details, and registrations info!✨

In celebration of Occupational Therapy month, we reached out to our OT Faculty Members to learn a little bit more about ...
04/17/2026

In celebration of Occupational Therapy month, we reached out to our OT Faculty Members to learn a little bit more about their hippotherapy journey! 🎉🐴🎉🐴

Today, we are excited to highlight Jeanni Bonine, MS, OTR/L, HPCS & Gina Taylor, MS, OT, HPCS. We asked both Jeanni and Gina about advice that they would give clinicians new to the use of hippotherapy in treatment, and they both agreed that support and mentorship are KEY! 🔑 If possible, connect with someone who has developed the type of practice you hope to create. The AHA, Inc. community is incredibly generous, and many experienced clinicians are willing to share their knowledge and guidance. Additionally, they wanted to remind clinicians not to hesitate in advocating for the effectiveness of the work they are doing. Collect meaningful data, communicate outcomes clearly, and continue educating others about the role of equine movement as a therapy tool BUT don’t forget to use it in a truly integrated fashion.  

AHA, Inc. is proud to educate and support occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants utilizing equine movement and equine interactions in treatment. Thank you for all you do! ✨🥳🎊

📢 Hey 2026 Conference Attendees! 📢Friendly reminder that ALL conference surveys are due in ONE week! We hope you’ve been...
04/16/2026

📢 Hey 2026 Conference Attendees! 📢

Friendly reminder that ALL conference surveys are due in ONE week! We hope you’ve been enjoying watching (and maybe rewatching 👀) this year’s presentations. Which one was your favorite (and yes, all is an answer 😆) Comment down below and let us know! ⤵️

Didn’t register for conference? No worries! We anticipate présentions recorded with permission to be available for purchase in late spring! 🧾💐☀️

04/14/2026

It’s time for another International Insight from Windspiel and Esther in Germany! As she continues her journey to becoming a therapy horse, this week, Windspiel gets a first-hoof look at the clients who are receiving occupational therapy services (and maybe a snack or two...) 🐴🗺️🥖

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