Please go to the AHA Faculty List on the Education pull down tab to read the bio’s of the AHA Inc Faculty when deciding to host a course or to attend a course.

Level I Equine Skills

The Level l courses are mandatory to become eligible for NARHA Registered Therapist Status.

• This course is mandatory to be eligible for NARHA Registered Therapist status. However, therapists may waive the Level I Equine Skills course if they have documentation of horse skills such as:
  • Pony Club Levels
  • USDF Bronze Medal
  • NARHA Certified Riding Instructor
  • CHA Instructor

An attendee must complete a waiver form (provided by The AHA Coordinating Faculty) signed by a horse professional, showing basic equine skills. It must then be submitted to the AHA Coordinating Faculty teaching the course prior to the course for approval.

This 1 1/2 day hands-on course targets therapists with minimal to no horse experience in non-mounted equine skills. Participants will work with horses in teams of two to four, with a faculty/student ratio of 1:6, allowing an opportunity for demonstration, practice and individualized feedback and instruction. The curriculum may be utilized only under conditions set forth by AHA, Inc.

Course Objectives Include:

• Correctly interpret the “body language” of the horse. Identify and name key anatomical points of the horse.
• Recognize elements of desirable conformation of the horse.
• Identify, describe the function of, and demonstrate proper use of grooming equipment.
• Identify key parts of the horse's tack.
• Demonstrate safe and proper tacking and un-tacking of a horse.
• Recognize and describe the four natural gaits of the horse.
• Recognize desirable qualities of the horse's movement.
• Recognize unsoundness in a moving horse.
• Recognize the signs of stress/burnout in the horse.
• Demonstrate safe, correct leading techniques with basic school figures.
• Demonstrate kind and humane treatment of the horse at all times.

Level I - Treatment Principles

This 2 1/2 day course is designed for entry level therapists utilizing hippotherapy as a treatment strategy and those in or working with hippotherapy teams. Hands on practicums are available in this course. It can be attended by graduate occupational, speech and physical therapists. Horse handlers and riding instructors who are members of the Hippotherapy Team are encouraged to attend with the treating therapist on their team. The curriculum may be utilized only under conditions set forth by AHA, Inc.

Course Objectives include:

• Know and understand the definition of Hippotherapy.
• Understand how the horse's movement affects human systems - A System's Approach.
• Describe possible responses of a patient to the movement of the horse's walk.
• Describe the unique contributions of the horse's movement as a treatment strategy and potential benefit for the patient.
• Understand the importance of the hippotherapy horse's suitability and movement.
• Describe the appropriate methods of horse handling during a hippotherapy session.
• Describe the selection and use of hippotherapy equipment for the horse and patient.
• Identify all factors that contribute to safety in the hippotherapy session.
• Identify key considerations for patient selection for hippotherapy including specific contraindications and precautions.
• Describe the key elements of patient evaluation and treatment planning.
• Describe methods of maximizing effects of hippotherapy, including school figures and movement progressions.
• Describe safe methods of transitioning on and off the horse.
• Have a working knowledge of potential emergencies and appropriate procedures.
• Describe the roles of the hippotherapy team members.
• Understand the business aspects related to hippotherapy including documentation, record keeping, reimbursement issues and insurance.
• Demonstrate kind and humane treatment of the horse at all times.

These courses are mandatory to become eligible for NARHA Registered Therapist Status.

The Level II Curriculum is designed for licensed PT's, OT's and SLP's. AHA, Inc. recommends therapists have at least 2 years clinical experience in their field treating and handling patients incorporating a variety of treatment strategies in a non hippotherapy setting

AND

100 hours or 6 months treating and handling patients incorporating hippotherapy as a treatment strategy as part of a total plan of care for patients prior to taking the Level ll Treatment Principles Course.

Prerequisites apply. Level ll Equine Skills is mandatory to be eligible for NARHA Registered Therapist status and cannot be waived if the participant is attending the Level ll Treatment Principles. All Level II Equine Skills participants must complete Level I Equine Skills. If a waiver was obtained for Level I Equine Skills it must be produced to register for Level II Equine Skills.

Level II - Equine Skills

This 2 day hands-on workshop targets therapists, horse handlers, volunteers or anyone interested in the training and handling methods for a Hippotherapy horse. Participants must have taken the prerequisite course, Level I Equine Skills or, have attained waived status from Level I Equine Skills, before taking this course. It gives the therapists and the Hippotherapy Team the training principles needed and how they are applied in a hippotherapy session to improve your horse and the efficacy of hippotherapy as a treatment strategy. The curriculum may be used only under conditions set forth by AHA, Inc.

Course Objectives Include:

• Recognize the importance of a common horsemanship knowledge base for the therapist, horse professional and all members of the hippotherapy team.
• Identify preferred conformation and understand the relationship between conformation, movement quality and soundness for the hippotherapy horse.
• Demonstrate the ability to access a horse for soundness, regularity and evenness of gait, straightness and flexibility.
• Demonstrate the ability to access horse behaviors including those resulting from stress and/or discomfort.
• Identify and convey to the horse handler the necessary skills required to produce quality movement when leading, lungeing or long lining the hippotherapy horse.
• Understand training techniques for a hippotherapy horse including groundwork, desensitization, and conditioning.
• Understand the principles of good nutrition, veterinary and worming protocols for horses in a hippotherapy program.
• Understand the importance of and be able to identify handling and riding skills that are necessary to maintain and/or improve the hippotherapy horse.
• Create and understand the importance of having a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly schedule for the hippotherapy 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 hippotherapy program.
• Identify lameness and illness in the hippotherapy horse and explain appropriate prevention through veterinary, farrier and nutritional and training protocols.

Level II - Treatment Principles

This 2 1/2 day course 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 hippotherapy treatment strategy as well as an introduction to the Hippotherapy Conceptual Framework Theory. Therapists will be treating actual patients within a Hippotherapy Team, including video taping 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). The curriculum may be used only under conditions set by AHA, Inc.

The AHA Education Committee recommendation is to have at least six months and 100 hours of experience of 1:1 patient treatments incorporating hippotherapy as a treatment strategy before taking Level II Treatment Principles. Therapists who have more hours in less months may submit a written request documenting their background and number of hours they have completed to the AHA Education Committee to be considered in less time then the six month requirement.

Course Objectives Include:

• Develop a hippotherapy treatment plan based on a disablement model.
• Select objective outcome measures for pre and post testing.
• Select appropriate horse and equipment for a specific patient.
• Practice modifications of equine movement as a primary method of enhancing patient treatment outcomes.
• Understand the relationship between treatment and functional outcomes.
• Identify appropriate functional outcome measures for hippotherapy patients.
• Review best practice guidelines for documentation, HIPAA compliance, and written and verbal communication among Hippotherapy Team members, other medical professionals and third party payers.
• Engage in group problem-solving using video review and discussion as a model for collaborative treatment practices.
• Be introduced to the following concepts as a foundation for advanced clinical problem solving:
  • Clinical Reasoning
  • Hippotherapy Conceptual Framework
• Recognize and discuss indications for alternative positions and equipment.
• Recognize the importance of setting discharge criteria and establishing discharge planning, including potential for transitioning to community based programs.

Long Lining: Maximizing Your Horse's Potential

This 2 day advanced level hands-on course is designed for the horse handler involved hippotherapy sessions. The horse handler can be a NARHA Instructor, equine specialist, horse trainer, therapist or volunteer who is part of the hippotherapy team with basic lungeing and ground skills. The curriculum may be used only under conditions set by AHA Inc.

Course Objectives:

• Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of all safety aspects of lungeing and long lining.
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the fit, care and application of all the equipment.
• Ability to produce quality movement on straight lines and school figures when long lining.
• Demonstrate ability to grade movement at the walk on long lines.
• Understand the concept of starting a horse on long lines.
• Understand the principles of alternative leading methods.
• Demonstrate the ability to teach a novice person to correctly lead a horse for a hippotherapy session.

The Core Connection:The Link Between Hippotherapy and Core Control

Postural Control and Core Stability are believed to be crucial for normal function, whether it is balance, reaching or walking (typical PT goals), upper extremity control or ADL performance (typically OT), or speech production and oral motor control.(typical areas for SLPs). Without good trunk control, even attention, arousal or interaction with the immediate surroundings is made more difficult. Listed amongst the many benefits of Hippotherapy is the ability to influence Postural Control and Core Strength. After all, the horse directly impacts the pelvis and spine when we sit on his back. His movement brings sensory information proximally and causes motor responses at the pelvis and trunk.

In this course, we will explore the concept that there is an inevitable Connection between Hippotherapy and the horse’s influence on the Core. We will also look at the immediate Connection between postural control and the functional improvements we are looking for in our patients, whether we are looking at it from a PT, OT, Speech or transdisciplinary focus. This AHA one-day course is open to all therapists and therapy assistants who use Hippotherapy as a treatment strategy; intended as an advanced course following the AHA Level II curriculum. Lecture, video and discussion will guide us to explore these very key Core Concepts and Connections. The curriculum may be utilized only under conditions set forth by AHA, Inc.

Course Objectives

• Describe the terminology related to Core Stabilization.
• Describe the neurophysiologic basis of Core Stabilization (sensory and motor control required for Core Stability) and the basic developmental process which leads to Core Stability.
• List some of the common conditions in which Core Stability is impaired.
• List some common indicators of poor Postural Control and reduced Core Stability as related to impaired function.
• Describe how human function is influenced by Core Postural Control using Dynamic Systems Theory.
• Describe the influence of equine movement on the Core – sensory and motor.
• Discuss how we can impact function of the Core using equine movement.
• List five specific strategies for impacting function through the Core using Equine movement.
• Describe why influence of the core can impact so many domains of human function.
• Develop treatment options using Hippotherapy to improve patient function related to Core Stability..

Business Aspects of Hippotherapy: How to setup a Practice Incorporating Hippotherapy

This 2 day course will offer the therapist the basics for how to start a Private Practice which incorporates hippotherapy as a treatment strategy. It will include the following topics: business plan, organizational structure of the business, start up budget, location and clinic requirements, staffing, CPT code for setup, reimbursement/cash business, contracts, wellness programs/ support personnel and programs for the community and families, for profit/nonprofit and marketing. It will discuss contract therapists in the EAT field and the administration of Best Practice in the EAT profession.

The curriculum may be utilized only under conditions set forth by AHA, Inc.

Intended Audience

Program Directors, Administrators will benefit from attending this course as it also will discuss options for riding programs who are interested in offering a PT/ OT or SLP Therapy program which incorporates HPOT as a treatment strategy on site.

Course Objectives

• Understand the process for starting up a private practice incorporating hippotherapy.
• Understand the process for determining the type of business structure is best for your practice.
• Understand the process for developing start up budget/ business plan/ break even analysis.
• Understand how to set up contracts with a variety of programs and the importance of a wellness program for your practice.
• Understand Billing Reimbursement/ CPT Coding Fee set up/ Cash flow.
• Know how to develop the growth and expansion of your practice.
• Understand the Best Practice administration in the EAT field.
• Understand basic marketing techniques.
• Understand the importance of an exit plan.

Maximizing Communication for the Non-SLP

This course is designed to provide a more comprehensive understanding of speech and language systems, breakdowns in communication, and effective strategies for improved communication with special needs populations in the hippotherapy setting. Participants will participate in practical exercises designed to facilitate better understanding of communication.

The curriculum may be utilized only under conditions set forth by AHA, Inc

Intended Audience

This course is intended for Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Therapeutic Riding Instructors, Medical Professionals, Horse Handlers, Parents, Volunteer.

Course Objectives

Participants will:

• Demonstrate an increased awareness and understanding of communication
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of the anatomy and physiology of speech and language systems
• Identify communication breakdowns and strategies to address them
• Understand the impact of equine movement on communication
• Learn how to achieve effective communication