11/24/2025
Even in retirement, Susan Redmond continues to change lives—horses, kids and adults alike—through hippotherapy at Unbridled Hope and Healing. A 1995 physical therapy graduate, Redmond uses the movement of rescued horses to help children with physical disabilities, developmental delays, autism, rare syndromes and more. She says the steady rhythm of the horse can spark incredible change: better posture, stronger muscles, and even improved speech.
Families come weekly—sometimes for years—and the bond they form with Redmond is unmistakable. Watching parents talk with her, it is clear how grateful they are for her skill, time, and the genuine love she pours into every session. Redmond has seen limited-verbal children begin to talk, non-ambulatory kids develop the strength to walk, and one little girl gain so much mobility that she is now dancing.
Some stories stay with her forever. One young boy with cerebral palsy would relax so completely on the horse that he would fall asleep—the only time his body was fully comfortable. Parents often tell her their kids leave calmer, more talkative and happier, carrying that peace with them throughout the day. Redmond calls it “magical,” and it’s easy to see why.
Her journey into this work is just as inspiring. When her children were teenagers, she returned to school for her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, knowing from the start that pediatrics was her calling. She spent years working in school systems and early intervention before “retiring”—yet she continues working with Unbridled Hope and Healing because she loves it too much to stop.
Her advice to students is simple and heartfelt: “Follow your passion, and you will never burn out. Whatever you’re interested in—sports medicine, pediatrics, geriatrics—go after it. I’m still doing it, and I’m retired!”
