AHA COORDINATING FACULTY
Liz A. Baker, PT, HPCS
PO Box 371
Wertham, MA. 02093
(H) 508-384-3169
(W) 508-384-1439
liz.baker@state.ma.us
Liz is a PT and HPCS whose involvement in hippotherapy began in 1986. In 1987 she studied hippotherapy at the Rommel Klinik in Wildbad, Germany, and is a current Legacy Member, Founding Member and Past President of the AHA. Liz has taught at many American and International Conferences over the past fifteen years, notably Denmark, Brazil and Japan; she organized and presented, in both Brazil and Japan, week long adapted versions of AHA's original Introduction to Hippotherapy. She has been extensively involved with NARHA as a Board member, Executive Vice President, and Health and Education Committee Chair from 1987 2000. In 2000, Liz was the recipient of NARHA's most prestigious award, The James Brady Professional Achievement Award. Liz has been with Greenlock Therapeutic Riding Center, in Rehoboth, MA, since its inception in 1989; she also continues to practice hippotherapy with her Wrentham Developmental Center clientele.

Terri Barnes, PT, HPCS
PO Box 19161
Colorado City, CO 81019
(H) 719-676-3888
(WK) 719-549-7673
(C) 719- 369-7369
(H) ctbarnes@ghvalley.net
(WK) teresa.barnes@pueblocityschools.us
Terri, a Colorado licensed physical therapist, graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch with a BS in physical therapy and has served as adjunct faculty for Texas Women’s University.  She was part of the team of therapists selected to attend the Advanced Hippotherapy Training in Wildbad, Germany.  A founding board member of the American Hippotherapy Association, she has developed and taught curriculum on hippotherapy for over twenty years. Additionally, she has served as AHA vice president and as education chairman. While serving on the NARHA education committee, she assisted in the development of curriculum for Therapeutic Riding Instructors.

Terri presented on hippotherapy at the World Physiotherapy Pre-conference in London, England and has given a lecture tour through out England and Scotland, which was sponsored by the Riding for the Disabled Association.  A frequent speaker at the National NAHRA conferences, she was also a speaker at the International Therapeutic Riding Congress.

Terri began and implemented three different programs in Texas that incorporated hippotherapy.  She began a pilot program affiliated with a state institution and over the course of two years was able to build a million dollar facility and develop a program that many of the 1000 residents could utilize.   Terri then began work on developing a hippotherapy program that was a partnership between a physical therapist and a neighboring horse facility.  Later, Barnes Therapy was formed in 1992 as a private practice that incorporated the use of hippotherapy for PT’s, OT’s, and SLP’s.

Joann Benjamin, PT, HPCS
4736 Halbrent Ave.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
(H) 818-907-0971
joannbenjamin@vdn.com
Joann practices PT in the Los Angeles area, specializing in applications of Hippotherapy and Feldenkrais(R) for children and adults. She directs the Therapy Services at Ride On, a NARHA premiere accredited center, and maintains a practice working in Early Intervention. She is a Board Certified Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist and a NARHA Registered Therapist. She has taught hippotherapy internationally, and has worked with the AHA faculty committee in developing the Hippotherapy curriculum. She was a founding member of the AHA and served on the Board of directors, as Secretary. She enjoyed a long tenure with the NARHA Health and Education Committee as the PT representative. She currently serves on the American Hippotherapy Certification Board and is an International Classifier/Instructor for the Para Equestrian division of the USEF and FEI (Federation Equestrian International).

Bonnie Cunningham, MA, PT, HPCS
399 Swiss Hill Rd. N.
Jeffersonville, NY 12748
(H) 845-482-4949
(F) 845-482-5371
BDC1M@aol.com
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 NARHA Registered Therapist, a NARHA 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 hippotherapy as part of a therapeutic riding program and in private practice. She has just completed her term as President Ex-Efficio of American Hippotherapy Association, Inc. Bonnie is currently the Executive Director of the AHA.

Ruth Dismuke-Blakely, MS/CCC-SLP, HPCS
Skyline Therapy Services
PO Box 2225
Edgewood, NM 87015
505-281-1811
skylinetherapy@aol.com
Ruth is a speech/language pathologist and professional horsewoman involved in hippotherapy since 1978. She owns Skyline Therapy Services, an outpatient clinic specializing in the transdisciplinary applications of hippotherapy. Ruth has published research, presented at numerous conferences and workshops and was a featured speaker at the Ninth International Therapeutic Riding Congress in Denver, 1997. She served on the Board of Directors of the American Hippotherapy Association and is a consultant to the NARHA Health and Education Committee. She is regarded as a leader in the field of
hippotherapy as a treatment tool.

Lori Garone, PT, HPCS
20 Dakota Street
Hicksville, NY 11801
C-516.376.7292
lgarone@americanhippotherapyassociation.org
Lori Garone, PT, HPCS is a physical therapist, licensed in New York, New Jersey and California. She is a board certified Clinical Specialist in Hippotherapy.
A 1990 graduate of Touro School of Health Sciences, Lori holds a Bachelor of Science inCommunity Health and a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy.
She presently is on the American Hippotherapy Association Board of Directors and holds the office of Vice President. She serves as Chairperson for the Education Curriculum Development and is Chairperson for the  Nominating Committee.  Lori is also a Registered Therapist and Registered Instructor with the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association.
Lori has previously served on the AHA Board of Directors from 1999 -2005 as well as Education Committee Chairperson from 2001- 2005 and Practice and Standards Chairperson from 2001- 2008.
Lori has a private practice on Long Island, New York since 1990, Physical Therapy In Motion, and incorporates hippotherapy into her patients plan of care.
She also helped develop as Clinical Director at SDTC, Sullivan Diagnostic and TestingCenter, The Center for Discovery’s, Milligan Hill Equine Assisted Therapy  and Activity Program which incorporated hippotherapy into patients plan of care as well as Equine Assisted Therapy and Activities incorporating the environment of the horse for residential patients, daycare program and work related experiences.
From 2005-2007, Lori served as Interim Executive Director and Program Director at The National Center for Equine Facilited Therapy.
Lori was one of two therapists chosen to represent the United States in 1991 at the First Symposium of Physiotherapists and Riding Instructors which took place in Surry, England. Lori has trained successfully up to Fourth Level Dressage and is a life long horsewoman.

Lisa Harris, PT, HPCS
4440 Kearney Road
Lexington, KY 40511
lharris@qx.net
After graduating from Auburn University with a BS in Animal Science, Lisa received two degrees from the University of Kentucky: an MS in Vet Science, specializing in Equine Biomechanics and an MS in Physical Therapy. She has published an article on Equine Biomechanics in the Journal of Veterinary Science, and has presented in the US and Canada material from her MS Thesis. Lisa and her colleagues presented their MS PT Research Project comparing a human walking to sitting on a horse at the walk at the Ninth International Therapeutic Riding  Congress in Denver in 1997. She currently practices physical therapy in an outpatient, private practice setting in Georgetown, Kentucky. She served on the AHA Board of Directors for 7 years as the Research Chair and the editor of HIPPOTHERAPY. She is a Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist and a NARHA Advanced Therapeutic Riding Instructor. Lisa initiated and coordinates the NARHA accredited hippotherapy program at Central Kentucky Riding for Hope which is partnered with Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital. She teaches a hippotherapy lab each year at the University of Kentucky. Lisa is a graduate ‘A’ pony clubber. She has Evented through the Intermediate Two Star Level and has coached young riders through Preliminary Level.

Barbara Heine, PT, HPCS
PO Box 166
Mt. Macedon, Victoria 3441, Australia
(613) 5426-3855
bheine@bigpond.net.au
Licensed physiotherapist in the States of Victoria and South Australia, Australia.

Barbara has a Diploma of Physiotherapy (equivalent to a Bachelors degree in Physiotherapy) and is a Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist (USA).

Past NARHA Certified Instructor, Registered Level
Coordinating Faculty, AHA
H-RDAA (Hippotherapy -Riding for the Disabled Association - Australia) Assessor, Level I and II
Sole senior faculty for H - RDAA (Hippotherapy - RDAA)

Barbara became a member of NARHA and AHA in 1992 and has been a Life Member of both organisations since 2000. Positions held in AHA include Chair of the AHA Education and Workshops Committee, Vice President and President from 1997 to 2000.

In Australia, Barbara is a Board member of Riding for the Disabled Victoria (RDAV), Chair, Hippotherapy - RDAA Ð National Hippotherapy Committee of Riding for the Disabled Australia.

Barbara is an associate member of FRDI (Federation, Riding for the Disabled International).

Barbara was the Executive Director of the National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy, Woodside, CA from 1990 to 2000. She currently has a small private physiotherapy clinic in Victoria specialising in hippotherapy. She serves as consultant to RDA Therapeutic Riding programs throughout Australia.

Barbara was awarded the NARHA Region 11, Volunteer of the Year in 1994. She was the 1999 recipient of the San Mateo County Mounted Patrol, Horseperson-Citizen Award for her services to the community through the NCEFT Hippotherapy program.

Mary Helene Chaplin, PT, HPCS
P.O. Box 943
Portsmouth, RI
(C) 401.378.3954
mhchaplin@cox.net
Mary Helene is licensed in RI and MA as a physical therapist. She has a B.S. in physical therapy is a NARHA Registered Therapist, and is a Board Certified Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist.
She has been a member of NARHA and AHA since 1998. She is also RI state AHA liaison since 2003.
Mary Helene has been utilizing hippotherapy in her physical therapy practice since 1998 at Greenlock Therapeutic Riding Center in Rehoboth, MA. She continues to practice there, year round, 3 days per week with a primarily pediatric population from age two through adolescence. Mary Helene teaches for the American Hippotherapy Association, primarily at Greenlock. She frequently mentors and supervises therapists seeking hands on experience utilizing hippotherapy for their NARHA Registered Therapist Status as well as for the AHA Inc educational prerequisites.
Mary Helene is currently working as a consultant to a human service agency providing Early Intervention PT services, as well as PT support to home based staff and families of school age children with developmental delays and to adults with developmental delays living in group homes in the community.

Carol Huegel, PT, HPCS
3038 SW 91st Terrace
Gainesville, FL 32608
352.331.3966
Hippopt@aol.com
Carol is a 1978 PT graduate from the University of Florida, She is NDT certified and has worked primarily with pediatric clients. Carol attended her first NARHA Workshop in 1982. She volunteered at a therapeutic riding center for several years, then developed her own hippotherapy practice in her backyard “It’s GREAT!” (Gainesville Riding through Equine Assisted Therapy). Carol then co-founded Horses Helping People, Inc., a not-for-profit organization. Carol serves as a clinical instructor for physical therapy and assists students from a variety of programs around Florida. She is a NARHA Registered Therapist and Riding Instructor and a Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist. She is the new Chairperson of the American Hippotherapy Certification Board as of 2008

Pippa Hodge, BSR, SCSP, MCPA, HPCS
5039 236th St.
RR #13
Langley, BC, Z2Z2RS, Canada
(W) 604-534-5347
Pager 604.667.4119
pippah@telus.net
Pippa is a Physiotherapist specializing in Pediatrics. She works as a consultant in the school district and infant development programs. She was instrumental in developing Valley Therapeutic Equestrian Association, where she treats adults and children using hippotherapy. She is an examiner for the Canadian Therapeutic Equestrian Association (CANTRA) and is a member of the CANTRA Medical Committee. She has been active in therapeutic riding since the early 1980’s. Pippa has taught workshops in the UK, New Zealand, Australia and in the USA, as well as most Provinces in Canada. Pippa is a founding member and board member of the American Hippotherapy Association and attended the Rommel Klinik, in Germany. In 1990 she produced a video “Analysis of Horse & Human Movement” which has sold internationally and won first prize for research in the1997, 2nd Festival du Fiolm Hanid Cheval in France.

Karen McPhail Gardner, MOT, OTR, HPCS
31115 Hegar Road
Hockley, TX 77447
D-281.744.6420
E-936.931.1266
Cell-281.744.6420
Sire: 281.356.7588 x208 Fax 281.356.9462
mcgard@flash.net
Karen has a Master’s in Occupational Therapy and is Director of Therapy for SIRE, Inc., near Houston, Texas. She is a Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist (HPCS), NARHA Master Instructor and Driving Instructor. She practices pediatric and aquatic therapy at the  TEAM Approach and is an adjunct professor for the OTA Program at Tomball College. Therapy interests include sensory integration and neurodevelopmental techniques. She isa member of AOTA, TOTA, Houston  Area Carriage Association, Lone Star Dowsing Club, Clear Gem and Mineral Society. Karen is a past President of American Hippotherapy Association, Inc.

Claudia Morin, MS, OT, HPCS
P.O. Box 828
Grovetown, GA 30813
(H) 706.854.0644
(W) 706.831.0129
CMorin515@aol.com
Claudia has a Master of Health Education degree in Occupational Therapy with more than 20 years of experience in Occupational Therapy which includes direct service, academic teaching and consultation. She is currently employed at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia as Manager of Occupational Therapy. Claudia is a NARHA Certified Riding Instructor, an AHA Registered Therapist and a member of NARHA since 1980. Claudia has been providing hippotherapy and therapeutic riding experiences for children with special needs in the Augusta area since 1982 and is founder and President of Blue Ribbon Riders, Inc. Claudia attended the Classic Hippotherapy Course held in Wilbad, West Germany in 1987 and participated in the development of the
hippotherapy curriculums including the Introductions to Hippotherapy and the Intermediate Hippotherapy Course for the American Hippotherapy Association. Claudia has experience with teaching all three levels of the curriculum. Ms. Morin  is a charter member of AHA and served on the Board of Directors as President, Vice-President, Newsletter Editor, Pre-Conference Planning Chairperson, and Certification Task Force; most recently as a member of the Hippotherapy Certification Board. Over the years, Claudia has served NARHA as a member of the Accreditation Committee, On-Site Accreditation Task Force and the Medical  Committee. In 1991, Claudia received the James Brady Professional  Achievement Award from HARHA. Claudia uses a variety of teaching strategies in her workshops and encourages active involvement of the participants. Her years of involvement with AHA and NARHA add depth and a more global understanding of the therapeutic riding industry to her workshops. In addition, Claudia adds the occupational therapy perspective to the clinical reasoning aspects of the course content

Inactive Coordinating Faculty:
Nancy H. McGibbon, MS, PT, HPCS
Santa Rita Ranch
Box 647
Green Valley, AZ 85622
(H) 520-625-8678
(F) 520-625-2160
(E) nhmcgibbon@gmail.com
Nancy is a licensed physical therapist with an advanced master’s degree in neurologic physical therapy. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings, including acute care, rehabilitation and private practice, and has been using hippotherapy in her practice for 25years. She completed hippotherapy training at the Rommel Klinik in West Germany in 1987. A founding member of the American Hippotherapy Association (AHA), she was the first President of AHA and a member of the AHA Board of Directors. Nancy is presently chairperson of the American Hippotherapy Certification Board and Director of Therapy Services at Therapeutic Riding of Tucson.
Nancy has served as faculty for AHA hippotherapy workshops as well as NARHA national and regional workshops. She has presented papers at state, national and international conference on hippotherapy research and theory, therapeutic riding, and motor learning. Her equestrian background includes English and western riding, and she is a dressage enthusiast. Nancy received the American Hippotherapy Association ‘Therapist of the Year’ Award in 2004 and the Woman of Distinction Award, 2004 from Soroptomist International of Desert Tucson for work in the field of therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, and hippotherapy research. Nancy is presently doing clinical research on cerebral palsy in conjunction with  the University Of Arizona Department Of Pediatrics.
Two of her hippotherapy research studies have been published in scientific journal.

AHA ASSOCIATE FACULTY
Lesley Lautenslager, MS, OTR
1550 Raymond Street
Plainfield, IN 46168
(C) 317.319.1058
(W) 317.217.3070
llautensot@yahoo.com

Lesley is the founder and former Executive Director of TherAplay. She earned her Master of Science degree from the University of Indianapolis and spent seven years in the industrial rehabilitation setting where she developed two work reconditioning programs for CARF accreditation. Lesley has also worked extensively in upper extremity rehabilitation and pediatrics, focusing in the area of sensory integration. She has been an active equestrian for over 20 years and was a ten year member of the Hamilton County 4-H. Lesley has also competed successfully in the areas of hunter and dressage. She is a North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) advanced instructor. Lesley has been incorporating the use of the horse as a tool in therapy for seven years.
She has been involved in the therapeutic riding industry since 1984. Lesley was responsible for incorporating the special needs riders into the Hamilton County 4-H Horse and Pony project which successfully completed its first year in 1999. She has participated in the Governor's Council for Infants and Toddlers and is active with Indiana Therapeutic Riding and Driving Committee through the Indiana Horse Council.

Steve McKenzie, PT, HPCS
19103 27th Drive SE
Bothell, WA 98012
(H) 425.205.5059
steve@littlebit.org
Steve McKenzie has a Master of Science in Physical Therapy from Columbia University and is a Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist as well as a NARHA Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. Steve is a staff therapist at Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in Woodinville, WA and also works part time at Cascade Children’s Therapy in Mill Creek, WA. He currently serves as the Chair of the NARHA Health and Education Committee, AHA Washington State Representative, and Co-editor of the Horse, Humans, and Health Department of Palaestra Magazine. Steve enjoys going on trail rides, team penning, and playing soccer.

Bethany Nugent, MSPT, HPCS
1704 Winston Court
Woodstock, GA 30189
(C) 404.644.3917
(E) 678.494.6616
blnugent@bellsouth.net
Bethany is a licensed physical therapist and founder of Bethany’s Equine and Aquatic Therapy Services, Inc. (BEATS). An equestrian and swimmer since childhood, she found a natural fit in combining her love of these activities with her career as a therapist. Bethany has been practicing hippotherapy and aquatic therapy since graduating from the Master’s program at Ithaca College in New York in 1995. She is a Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist. Bethany is the founder of the Georgia Hippotherapy Club, an organization that promotes education and networking among therapists practicing hippotherapy in Georgia. She is the Georgia state liaison to the American Hippotherapy Association, Inc., a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, and a classifier for disabled riders.

Becky Lundeen, CCC-SLP, HPCS
2523 14 _ Avenue
Rice Lake, WI 54868
715.859.6670
jimnbeck@citizens-tel.net
Becky is a Speech Language Pathologist for13 years, the owner of Speech Therapy Associates of Northwest WI. She has developed and founded Nature’s Edge Therapy Center, Inc., a nonprofit rehabilitation center utilizing Hippotherapy, Animal-Assisted and Horticulture Therapy in a ranch setting.
She is a Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist, a NARHA Registered Therapist & Instructor, Animal-Assisted Therapy Instructor, Team Evaluator and Pet Partner through the Delta Society, a member of PAN-People and Animals & Nature. She has presented at the International Conference of ASHA, and at NARHA and locally specializing in Augmentative Communication, Dementia/Alzheimer Communication Building and leading at a 15 member Stroke Club.

ADJUNCT FACULTY

Donna Spencer-Burring, TRI/HP
74-140 El Paseo, Suite 109
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(C) 818.970.6394
Cowgirlie1025@yahoo.com
Littlebits1960@yahoo.com

Judy Rector, BHSAI, Adjunct AHA Faculty
P.O. Box 432
Ignacio, CO 81137
(C) 970.563.9389
jfaverino@gobrainstorm.net

Judy is a lifelong equine professional, receiving her British Horse Society Assistant Instructorship from Crabbet Park, England.  She has managed a variety of different show barns and given riding instruction for over thirty-five years.   Judy has trained and shown in many different disciplines including dressage, hunter/jumper and western events.  For the past twelve years she has been president of the Four Corners Horseman Association and is on the New Mexico Quarter Horse Association board.  Her students frequently qualify and compete at the youth and amateur select Quarter Horse World.  Besides teaching and training, Judy is recognized judge for open and breed shows, which reflects the respect of Judy in the equine world. 

Judy presented her equine flexibility exercises at the International Delta Society conference.  At the AHA pre-conference in conjunction with the NARHA National conference, she presented on desirable conformation qualities for the therapy horse. She has been published on her suppling exercises to improve movement and longevity for the therapy horse.  For the past sixteen years Judy has assisted in teaching a variety of courses for numerous hippo-therapy and therapeutic riding programs across the country.  As a strong supporter of AHA, Judy looks forward to her involvement in the growth of AHA.

Gina Taylor, MS, OTR/L
Epona_therapy@hotmail.com
Equitherapy@gmail.com
Bound Brook, NJ

Gina Taylor, MS, OTR/L 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 currently a NARHA Registered Therapist and Registered Riding and Driving instructor. Gina had actively pursued a career involving horses and people with disabilities since 1999 when she trained a horse for the World Special Olympics and began student teaching in therapeutic riding. Gina provides hippotherapy services at Somerset Hills Handicapped Riding Center in Oldwick NJ. Gina continues to expand her knowledge and the knowledge of other therapists about hippotherapy through fieldwork student supervision, conference presentations and her involvement with the American Hippotherapy Association.

SPECIALTY FACULTY

Meredith Bazaar, MA, CCC-SLP, HPCS
Starlight Farm
97 Ricker Drive
Ringwood, NJ 07456
meredith@msbtherapy.com

Meredith S. Bazaar is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and lifetime equestrienne. Meredith is the founder of MSB Therapy, which provides speech and language treatment and evaluation using the treatment strategy of hippotherapy. She is located at Starlight Farm, where she includes the movement of the horse into her treatment as well as in her office in Ringwood, New Jersey where she evaluates and treats incorporating various other treatment strategies. Her previous experience as a speech-language pathologist includes Montefiore Medical Center, as well as in a sub-acute care center and a private ear, nose, and throat practice. She has provided Early Intervention services and consulted for boards of education. Meredith also managed a day program for individuals with traumatic brain injury and provided residential care for United Cerebral Palsy of New York State. She has lectured at New York University and international conventions and supervised graduate interns from Columbia and NYU. Meredith began riding horses at age 8 and began her competitive equestrian career at age 13. She has competed in the Washington International Horse Show, the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, the National Horse Show, the USET Medal Finals, and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Finals. She was the founder and President of the Equestrian Club at George Washington University where she earned her BA in speech and hearing. She earned her MA in speech-language pathology at Northwestern University. Meredith is a registered member of AHA, NARHA and ASHA.

APPRENTICE FACULTY

Linda Frease, OTR
2229 Black Oak Court
Sarasota, FL 34239
(H) 941.379.8682
lafrease@verizon.net