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...
At 18 months old, Max was meeting and surpassing his developmental milestones, but he suddenly stopped speaking and was later diagnosed with autism and apraxia of speech. His mother, Marbella, promised to provide him with the best care and support possible. Despite...
Have you ever wondered how to become a therapist who uses hippotherapy in clinical practice? The steps below outline a common pathway to gain experience and mentoring to become a successful practitioner utilizing our favorite therapy treatment modality!
By- Karen Yamasaki, OTR/L Occupational therapists are specialists who help children and adults improve their independence and quality of life by developing or regaining essential daily living skills. The term "occupation" refers not just to jobs but to everything that...
Meet Yusuf, a vibrant three-year-old with a passion for horseback riding! Just seven months ago, Yusuf began his journey at The Shea Center with a diagnosis of autism and speech delay. Since then, his progress in occupational therapy utilizing hippotherapy has been...
Five-year-old Delphine is a happy little girl who loves to ride Ginger. She looks forward to coming to Shea all week and on riding days, has all her gear on early, and rushes out the door with her helmet ready to go. Delphine loves riding in the arena, on the trail,...
Joel’s big smile shows how much he loves riding at The Shea Center! In transitional kindergarten, he is an active five-year-old who also has fun doing karate and swimming. He has been a client in occupational therapy utilizing hippotherapy for a year. During this...
Gabriella, age 4, doesn’t stop smiling while riding Huckleberry. When she arrived at The Shea Center two years ago, she was timid and had weakness in her right side. Once Gabriella started participating in occupational therapy utilizing hippotherapy, her core strength...
Leo, age 5, was diagnosed with autism at three. He has been through all the clinical therapies, but his favorite is occupational therapy utilizing hippotherapy at The Shea Center. Leo is motivated to play and engage in activities on the horse that help him build his...
Seven-year-old second-grade twins Ellie and Liz have been Shea Center clients for a year. With the onset of the pandemic, the girls began to be anxious about their surroundings by not feeling safe, not wanting to play outside, or being afraid of bugs and so forth. For...