Through his story, Rob reveals how his military experience led him to The Shea Center—and a new sense of purpose. "I'm a retired disabled veteran who served 26 years in the military, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. My time in service—especially combat...
Seventeen-year-old Emma began riding at The Shea Center last December, and from the start, something clicked. After struggling to progress in previous therapeutic riding programs, she quickly found connection and momentum, especially with her horse, Warrior. Each...
After nine months of planning, The Shea Center recently welcomed 136 attendees to the PATH Intl. Region 11 Conference. As the governing body for therapeutic horseback riding, PATH Intl. brings together leaders and professionals from across the field. The...
We recently hosted The Shea Center’s 2026 Annual Meeting and Volunteer Celebration in The Elena Cappadona and Steve Stambaugh Volunteer Oasis, bringing together the dedicated board members and volunteers who make our mission possible. The Annual Meeting...
At just six years old, Blakesly has found something that brings her calm, joy, and connection in a way few other things can. Diagnosed with autism at two and a half, she is minimally verbal, experiences sensory challenges, and often needs movement to feel regulated....
Hippotherapy is a therapy-based intervention conducted by licensed professionals such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, or speech-language pathologists. The movement of the horse is used as a treatment tool. The therapist directs the horse handler and...
With more than 170 weekly volunteers supporting our programs, our community is strong—but there’s always room for more helping hands. Volunteer Requirements Must be at least 14 years old Attend a one-hour orientation Complete a one-hour training class Be...
Introduction & Length of Service Greig Ellis has been a respected and committed volunteer at The Shea Center since 2022. With over 1,113 volunteer hours, Greig has supported our clients, herd, and staff with kindness, compassion, and passion for our mission. ...
At The Shea Center, one method of steering a horse during a hippotherapy treatment is called ground driving. Ground driving involves “driving”, or controlling, the horse from behind with long lines attached to the bridle. This technique is used to optimize the horse’s...
Presenting Hippotherapy Research at the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) 2026 Congress in Bangkok Members of our therapy team, including Matt Mitchell, DPT, PT, HPCS; Randi Shannahan, DPT, PT, HPCS; and Jennifer Lee, OTR/L, ASDCS, recently traveled more...