American Hippotherapy Association Inc

In 2014 AHA, Inc. reached 1,200+ equine profressionals (outside of the equine assisted activities and therapies industy,) 600+ therapists new to equine assisted therapy, 1100+ equine assisted activities professionals and over 200 youth through speaking engaments, vender/exhibitor booths, and related netowrking opportunities.

By suppporing AHA, Inc. you are supporting over 1,100 therapists who represent over 10,000 individuals being served. As we continue to grow and educate about the value and benefits of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech language pathology professionals who incoporate equine movement and the equine enviornment into their clients overall plan of care these numbers will continue to grow.

Our pictures tell the stories of AHA, Inc. member therapists and their clients best. Clients walk, complete tasks and talk for the first time on the back of a horse with their families/caregivers watching with tears of joy in their eyes.

By makind a donation you become part of these tearful celebrations of joy for families and clients as they are able to receive PT, OT and SLP services which allow them to be successful and met milestones in their lives many of them thought impossible.

For those of you new to Hippotherapy it is refered to as treatment with the help of the horse and is one of the most effective therapy strategies being used.  Just being able to do therapy and not be in the clinical setting is motivational for so many clients.  But the horse gives new motivation to so many by taking them out of the clinic.

We could share a thousand stories and know a story is the best way to let you know why you should support AHA, Inc. to help therapists and their team as they continue to make allow these stories to unfold daily.

“Every lock is said to have a key”

One day in April 2011, I found that key for myself, when I began my hippotherapy with a wonderful group of people through the Special Strides hippotherapy program.

I am an adult who was born with cerebral palsy.

Susie Rehr, AHA, Inc. Board Treasuerer, physical therapist for this “journey,” and her team of very dedicated volunteers, make hippotherapy a very unique experience, as they find a way to tailor to the needs of each individual’s abilities, from children to adults.

And in my case, Susie had quite a task ahead of her, at least in my opinion.

Age and time for me began showing itself through more and more difficulties with my daily life of living with cerebral palsy, and slowly I began to lose the independence of my mobility.

And for me giving up hope was never an option.

Through Hippotherapy, with Susie and her team, that is exactly what these therapist and volunteers do; they will turn over every proverbial rock to find the right answer for you, keeping that hope alive, and the results of participating in the hippotherapy is nothing short of miraculous to me.

As I have begun to regain the mobility I thought may be lost to me.

In riding my horse, I find a connection and a freedom of movement that brings me such serenity.

It is amazing to me how the horse retrains my gait through their strides, and gets me moving again.

It seems almost “effortless” on my part, but believe me it is hard work for me and the horse.

My “journey” with my ever patient and caring physical therapist, Susie, and the other fabulous people and horses in this Hippotherapy program still continues….

And for that reason I am forever thankful.

~AHA thanks Special Strides of Monroe, New Jersey for sharing this story