Hold Your Horses presents AHA Inc. Approved Level I Treatment Principles 

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This 4 day course is an overview of the principles of hippotherapy, designed for therapists (PT, OT, SLP, PTA, COTA, SLPA) interested in utilizing hippotherapy in their practice.  The first day emphasizes the horse, and the importance of the quality of the horse’s movement working in treatment.   Using experiential non-mounted activities, the attendee will learn to interpret the body language of the horse, groom, tack and lead the therapy horse, recognize desirable conformation, soundness, movement quality, gaits, and understand training, conditioning and humane treatment of the therapy horse.

Building on these equine skills, the attendee will explore the dynamic system of therapist, patient, horse handler and horse as is applied in Hippotherapy.  Topics include: the history and development of hippotherapy in the US, understanding the biomechanical and sensory interaction of horse/human, horse selection, safety principles, patient and horse selection, precautions and contraindications, patient evaluation, maximizing the effects of equine movement including use of school figures and movement progression, the role of the therapy team members, documentation, business aspects and current research in the effects of equine movement.

Adaptive riding instructors, horse handlers, administrators and others interested in hippotherapy treatment principles are welcome to attend, teamed with their therapist.  Graduate occupational, physical and speech therapy students must be in their last semester of graduate school to be eligible to attend this course for credit.



Registration Information

Registration is limited.  Fee includes daily lunches.
Checks preferred, but of course the convenience of credit card is also accepted
Early registration on or before May 15, 2017
$800 for AHA, Inc. Member/ $875 for Non-AHA, Inc. Member

After May 15, 2017
$850 for AHA, Inc. Member/$900 for Non-AHA, Inc. Member

All attendees will receive a hard copy of the AHA, Inc. Level I Treatment Principles Manual.  The course fee also includes breakfast and lunch. During the course you will be on and/or working directly with horses. Please have appropriate clothing/footwear.  Helmets will be provided.  If your weight exceeds 180#, you may be excused from the mounted portion of the course.  Indicate any special restrictions on the registration form.

Cancellation Policies:  AHA, Inc. and the host facility reserve the right to adjust course dates, times and faculty to accommodate unforeseen circumstances including cancellation of the course due to insufficient registration up to 3 weeks prior to the scheduled start date.  Notification will only be made to advanced registrants.  Neither AHA, Inc. nor the host facility is responsible for any expenses incurred by registrants due to such adjustments.

Participant cancellation requests must be made in writing no less than 3 weeks prior to the course start date to receive a refund, minus a $115 administrative fee.  No refunds will be given for cancellations received within three weeks prior to the start of the course.

Course prerequisite:  Successful completion of the on-line “Intro to Equine Skills” test reviewing equine care and management.  Completion of the course must be at least 3 weeks prior to the start of the course.  AHA, Inc. staff will confirm with the host site that the test has been completed and passed.  The cost of the test is $35.00.  Click here for the "Intro To Equine Skills" test.

Faculty

Claudia Morin, MHE, OTR/L, HPCS

Claudia Morin, MHE, OTR/L, HPCS has a Master of Health Education degree in Occupational Therapy with over 30 years of experience in Occupational Therapy which includes direct service, academic teaching and consultation. She is in private practice and is President of CTM Occupational Therapy, LLC, specializing in the treatment of children with sensory processing disorders. Claudia is the founder & president of Blue Ribbon Riders, Inc., a Hippotheray/Equine Assisted Activities Program located in Grovetown, Georgia serving the Central Savannah River Area since 1982.

Claudia is a PATH, Intl Certified Riding Instructor, Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist and a PATH, Intl Registered Therapist. Claudia attended the Classic Hippotherapy Course held in Wilbad, West Germany in 1987 and participated in the development of the AHA Hippotherapy Courses. In 1991, Claudia received the James Brady Professional Achievement Award from PATH, Intl. She was recently recognized by the American Hippotherapy Association as the 2009 Therapist of the Year. Claudia uses a variety of teaching strategies in her courses and encourages active involvement of the participants. She adds the occupational therapy perspective to the clinical reasoning aspects of the course content.

Continuing Education

A certificate of attendance will be provided.  Contact hours total 27.  Courses are not pre-approved unless indicated otherwise.

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