Bonnie Cunningham, MA, PT, HPCS
Bonnie is a licensed Physical Therapist in the states of
New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She holds a
Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts in Physical
Therapy and Master of Public Administration. Bonnie is
a PATH, Intl Registered Therapist, a PATH, Intl Certified
Riding Instructor and Certified as a National Assessor
for riders interested in competing in National Events
and the Paralympics. Bonnie is a Board Certified Clinical
Specialist in hippotherapy, Coordinating Faculty for the
American Hippotherapy Association, has taught
internationally and presented at national conferences.
Bonnie is practicing physical therapy using
hippotherapy treatment strategies in private practice.
Bonnie is a past president of AHA, Inc. and served as
the first Executive Director.
Gina Taylor, MS, OTR/L, HPCS
Gina is a New Jersey licensed occupational
therapist. She received her Masters Degree in
Occupational Therapy from Philadelphia University and
a Bachelor of Science in Equine Studies from Averett
University. She is certified in Sensory Integration,
DIR/Floortime, Infant Massage and is a board certified
Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist (HPCS). Gina continues
to expand her knowledge and the knowledge of other
therapists about hippotherapy used as a treatment
strategy through fieldwork student supervision,
national conference presentations and her involvement
with the American Hippotherapy Association as faculty
member, past Board Member and previous Education
Committee Chairperson. Gina has a private practice
providing occupational therapy services as well as
workshops and consultation for those interested in
equine assisted activities and therapy.
How does a Therapist use Equine
Movement?
Therapists utilizing hippotherapy treatment in their
plan of care include physical therapists, occupational
therapists and speech language pathologists. They
combine equine movement, the equine environment
and traditional therapy techniques (i.e. NDT, PNF, taskoriented motor learning, and sensory integration) in an
integrated treatment plan to achieve functional
outcomes.
When utilizing hippotherapy treatment strategies, the
patient engages in interventions designed to challenge
balance, increase stability, integrate sensory
information and interact with the environment. In this
controlled therapy environment, the therapist directs
the horse’s movement and carefully grades the sensory
input. In a PT, OT or Speech treatment session which
incorporates hippotherapy as one of the treatment
strategies the patient benefits from a foundation which
is established through the movement of the horse to
improve neurological function and sensory processing.
This foundation can be generalized to a wide range of
daily activities.
Special Strides
Presents
AHA Inc. Approved Level II
Hippotherapy Treatment
Principles Course
August 14-17, 2015
This course is mandatory to become an
AHCB Certified Therapist
Therapists in the United States have used the
movement of the horse for treatment since the 1970's
and it is currently utilized in 24 countries around the
world.
Go to the American Hippotherapy Association
(AHA Inc.) website:
www.americanhippotherapyassociation.org
For Directions to Special Strides please see our
website: www.specialstrides.com
srehr@specialstrides.com
Special Strides … Improving Lives
One Stride at a Time
Important Information
Hippotherapy Treatment Principles
This curriculum includes identifying and interpreting
the body language of the horse, recognizing desirable
conformation, soundness, and movement qualities,
gaits of the horse and signs of burnout. Identify
lameness and illness in the HPOT horse and explain
appropriate prevention through veterinary, farrier and
nutritional and training protocols. Identify and convey
to the horse handler the necessary skills required to
produce quality movement when leading, lunging or
long lining the hippotherapy horse. Understand the
principles of good nutrition, veterinary and wound
protocols for the horse. Understand the importance of
and be able to identify handling and riding skills that
are necessary to maintain and or improve the HPOT
horse. Create and understand the importance of having
a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly schedule for the
HPOT horse. Understand the need to educate and train
staff and or volunteers who will be working with the
hippotherapy horse, either in hippotherapy sessions or
involved with the daily care and training routines, the
handling techniques and training protocols to maintain
a safe, effective and successful HPOT program. This
curriculum is designed to provide and facilitate a
problem solving treatment approach, using actual
patients currently involved in Hippotherapy as part of
their physical, occupational or speech therapy
treatment. Practical applications to NDT, SI and Motor
Learning Theory and Clinical Reasoning will be applied
to the HPOT treatment strategy as well as an
introduction to the Hippotherapy Conceptual
Framework Theory. Therapists will be treating actual
patients within a Hippotherapy Team, including
videotaping and group discussions to further advance
the learning experience. This course may be attended
by licensed Speech, Physical and Occupational
therapists and assistants (PTA, COTA, and SLPA’s).
The curriculum may be utilized only under conditions
set forth by AHA, Inc.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Name: ____________________________________
Address: __________________________________
City/ State/ Zip: _____________________________
_________________________________________
Phone: ___________________________________
Email: ____________________________________
** Height: __________ **Weight: __________
**This information is needed for mounted practicum. If your weight
exceeds 180 lbs. you will be excused from the mounted practicum.
AHA Member#______________________________
If you are not currently a member but wish to take advantage of the
member rate please contact the AHA Inc. office at 720-369-9303
Copy of your membership certificate must be provided
to the host facility at the time of registration.
Profession & License # __________________________
Breakfast and lunch are included in the costs below.
Early registration: ON or BEFORE July 1, 2015
_____ $800 AHA, Inc. Member
_____ $925 Non-AHA, Inc. Member
After July 1, 2015 rate
_____ $850 AHA, Inc. Member
_____ $975 Non-AHA, Inc. Member
__ __ Check _____ Credit Card
Name on Card_______________________________
Exp. Date ____________ Security Code__________
Billing zip code________
****Manuals for the course: Each participant will need
to choose a method for receiving the course materials.
A downloadable copy, which you may then print, is of
$0 cost to you. A printed copy, shipped to you at the
time of the course, is $40 from the AHA, Inc. website.
Go to our website;
www.americanhippotherapyassociation.org to order
and for further instructions.
****Certificates of attendance with 27 contact hours
will be provided to all participants who pay for and
attend the entire four day course. Courses are not “preapproved” for CEU’s.
****Prerequisite for the course: You must provide your
Level I completion certificate to the host facility at
registration. Intro and or Intermediate course
certificates are not equivalent and will not be accepted
in place of a Level I course. Attendance at an AHA, Inc.
Level II Hippotherapy Treatment Principles course is
limited to licensed OT’s, PT’s, or SLP’s who have taken
the AHA, Inc. Level I course.
****Cancellation Policy: AHA Inc. and the host facility
reserve the right to adjust program dates, times and
faculty to accommodate unforeseen circumstances; we
will only notify advanced registrants of any program
changes. Neither AHA Inc. nor the host facility are
responsible for any expenses incurred by registrants
due to such adjustments. AHA Inc. and the host facility
reserve the right to cancel a course due to insufficient
enrollment or unforeseen circumstances up to 2 weeks
prior to start of the course. If a participant wishes to
cancel; cancellation notices must be provided in writing
from participants up to 2 weeks prior to the course start
date to receive a refund minus a $50 administrative fee.
No refunds will be given for cancellations received
within two weeks prior to the start of the course.