Chaos Theory, Oscillations, and Equine Movement

Session Description:
Research in fields other than our own (therapy utilizing equine movement) can provide insights and a much broader evidentiary base into how the use of equine movement works to produce the results we see in our clients. Chaos theory demonstrates how small inputs can build into significant changes, while neuroscience’s study of brain oscillations explains how different processing centers coordinate and adjust when they receive new information.When we engage our client’s systems using equine movement we can provide incoming information that initiates more typical motor and sensory responses. These more typical responses represent a more efficient neural pattern and the brain reorganizes around this efficiency. This process represents neuroplasticity and leads to optimized performance of the affected systems and reduced energy expenditures. We can understand then, the importance of producing the highest quality and most appropriate movement plan from our equine partners to affect the greatest change in our clients.

Intended Audience:
This course is an intermediate course for therapists (PT, PTA, OT, COTA, SLP, and SLPA). 

Learning Outcomes: 

• Describe how principles from chaos theory and neuroscience help explain client change through equine movement.

• Explain how equine movement can elicit more efficient motor and sensory responses, supporting neuroplasticity.

• Apply strategies for selecting the most appropriate equine movement plans to optimize therapeutic outcomes.

Presenter Biography:

Jane Burrows PT, DPT, HPCS is the Director of Facilities Management at Special Strides in New Jersey. She brings her 50 years of broad experience to bear on the development of educational materials and resources for therapists utilizing equine movement as a clinical intervention. After earning her Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist credentials in 2010, she proceeded to lead the American Hippotherapy Association (AHA) as President in 2015. Jane has made presentations at AHA conferences since 2015 and PATH conferences since 2016. She is a contributing author to Hippotherapy Magazine in a continuing series on equine health and training. Jane is an APTA credentialed clinical instructor and together with Susie Rehr has co-authored and presented courses on various topics including sensory integration, cerebral palsy, and autism spectrum disorder. In 2024 she co-founded an educational company, Dynamic Foundations in Practice. Jane is one of the key researchers involved in the development of the Weight-carrying Capacity Assessment Protocol (WtCAP).

Co-Presenter Biography:

Susie Rehr is the Executive Director of Special Strides and has been a physical therapist for 38 years. She has provided physical therapy services to the pediatric population integrating hippotherapy treatment principles for the past 27 years. Quality care, clinical education, educational presentations, published writing, and national involvement are hallmarks of her career. She has presented 6 different times at the AHA conferences since 2011 on a variety of topics such as clinical education, postural control, and breathing, EMR’s, and postural responses to equine movement. She has written numerous articles for the Hippotherapy Magazine as well as serving as the editor for 7 years. Clinical education, academic presentations and guest lectures at several universities round out her presentation background. From 2011- 2017 Susie was on the Board of Directors of AHA, Inc. as the Treasurer and later the Vice President. Over the past 9 years, she has developed educational materials for adaptive riding instructors to enable them to explore the world of (dis)abilities. May 2023 Susie earned her Master of Science in Organizational Leadership. June 2024 Susie co-founded a new educational company Dynamic Foundations in Practice.

Presenter Disclosure:

Financial: Jane Burrow and Susie Rehr are independent contractors for AHA, Inc. and does not receive a fee from AHA, Inc. for instructional services.

Non-Financial: Jane Burrow and Susie Rehr are members of the AHA, Inc.