Therapeutic Horseback Riding and Hippotherapy

While each of these stables/farms comes recommended by at least three SPED PAC members, we cannot in any way guarantee the result.  It is important to check their references, review their credentials, and interview them to understand whether their skills and approach are a good fit for your child.

Hippotherapy is a treatment that uses specially trained physical and occupational therapists in strategies that utilizes equine movement.  Hippotherapy uses the multidimensional movement of the horse; from the Greek word "hippos" which means horse.  In the controlled hippotherapy environment, the therapist modifies the horse's movement and carefully grades sensory input. Specific riding skills are not taught (as in therapeutic horseback riding); but rather a foundation is established to improve neurological function and sensory processing of the rider.

Name

Town

Telephone

Type of program / population

Faculty,  certifications, etc.
Iron Stone Farms Andover
 978-475-4056 Hippotherapy for individuals with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities Fourteen acres, includes three homes, stables, a physical therapy arena, streams and ponds, pasture and woodland. A herd of thirty-five horses.
Windrush Farm Therapeutic Equitation, Inc. (WFTE) Boxford
 978-682-7855
 Hippotherapy for riders physically and emotionally challenged. Marjorie Kittredge, founder and president is a certified instructor of riding for the handicapped, a licensed advanced riding instructor in Massachusetts and an American Horse Show Association Dressage, Combined Training and Driving judge, as well as a former president and founding member of NARHA. (presented at SPAN meeting, 2002.)
Puritan Farm, Helping Children with Autism Ride Today (HART) Groton 978-448-9657
HARTProgram@aol.com		 Hippotherapy and recreational therapy.  Focus on individuals with Autism/PDD.

 The program is administered by Linwood McDaniel, a certified Occupational Therapist and early intervention specialist.  Mr. McDaniel has assembled a team of licensed therapists, special education teachers and certified riding instructors
Puritan Farm,
Rocking Horse Riding Program
Groton 508-943-0682
rockinghorsego@yahoo.com
 Hippotherapy and recreational therapy for individuals with physical, mental, social, emotional, or learning disabled conditions.
Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Lincoln 781-259-1177 Hippotherapy and therapeutic horseback riding for individuals with physical, mental, social, emotional, or learning disabled conditions. Indoor ring, outdoor ring and sensory trails.  Debby Sabin Kanzer, program director is a licensed riding instructor and NARHA certified therapeutic riding instructor, and a certified and licensed occupational therapist.
Friends for Tomorrow Lincoln
 781-259-8909 Therapeutic riding program All the teachers are NARHA certified and  work toward physical, communication, and socialization goals.
Flying High Farm Lunenburg 978-582-7103 Animal-assisted psychotherapy incorporates animals into the mental health and psychotherapeutic.
Specializes in mental health issues, rather than physical disabilities.
All activities are facilitated by Christine Randle, LICSW; ARICP Licensed Riding Instructor and NARHA Certified Registered Therapeutic Instructor
Greenwood Farm Therapeutic Riding & Driving  Sherborn





 508-479-6232
tasnow@rcn.com
 Therapeutic riding program The lessons are conducted with a leader, two side-walkers and a NARHA certified riding instructor.  Terry Snow, NARHA Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor.  Will  helps to improve your childs communication and social skills while bonding with human and animal friends.
(Aug/05 added a program at Dana Hall School in Wellesley)





NARHA=North American Riding for the Handicapped Association
To find a Hippotherapy and therapeutic horseback riding near you, that is not on our recommend list, check the NARHA website, it has a list of their members by region/state, for Massachusetts, click here.

Go to SPED PAC homepage
  

 Last updated February 26, 2006
By Melody Orfei
o.mel@verizon.net