History — American Hippotherapy Association, Inc.

It all begins with an idea.

1569- Merkurialis of Italy writes on ‘The Art of Gymnastics’ mentioning the horse and riding.

1950’s-1970’s

1952- At the Helsinki Olympics, Liz Hartel wins a silver medal in equestrian sports and tells the world how riding has helped her recover from polio.

1969- The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) is established in the United States

1980’s-1990’s

1987- A group of 18 American and Canadian therapists go to Germany to study hippotherapy and begin development of a standardized curriculum on hippotherapy.

1992- Formation of the American Hippotherapy Association (AHA)

1994- AHA establishes therapist registration and set standards of practice for integration of hippotherapy into treatment

2000’s and Beyond

2003- AHA Inc. becomes an independent 501(c)3 and incorporated the organization in Florida.

2011- AHA, Inc. receives letter of support from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)

2016- To address the growing needs of our membership, new committees are formed and resources revised

2019- AHA, Inc. became an approved continuing education credit provider with ASHA and AOTA.

2025- Writing new strategic plan

1780- Tissot of France in his book ‘Medical and Surgical Gymnastics’ regards riding at the walk as the most beneficial gait. He is also the first to describe the effects of too much riding as well as contraindications.

1960’s- Therapeutic riding centers develop throughout Europe, Canada and the US. The horse begins to be viewed as an adjunct to physical therapy in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria; this endeavor is called ‘hippotherapy.'

1970’s- Occupational therapists, physical therapists, and and speech-language pathologists in the United States begin to develop treatment uses for the movement of the horse.

1988-1992- Further development of standardized curricula on hippotherapy by the "National Hippotherapy Curriculum Development Committee"

1993- American Hippotherapy Association is approved as the first section of NARHA (now PATH Intl.)

1999- The American Hippotherapy Certification Board (AHCB) is established and the first Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist (HPCS) examination is given.

2007- AHA, Inc.'s first national conference is held in Atlanta, GA and AHA, Inc. hires its first Executive Director, Bonnie Cunningham, PT, HPCS.

2012- AHA, Inc. receives letter of support from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)

460-377 B.C.- Hippocrates in ancient Greece writes a chapter on ‘natural exercise’ and mentions riding.

2017- AHA, Inc. receives letter of support from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

2020- During the COVID-19 Pandemic, AHA, Inc. develops online courses and webinars to make learning more convenient and safe for healthcare professionals

Our Founding Members

Elizabeth Baker, PT
Terri Barnes, PT
Jane Copeland Fitzpatrick, PT
Gertrude Freeman, PT
Barbara Glasow, PT
Pippa Hodge, PT
Carolyn Jagielski, OT
Molly Lingua, PT
Nancy McGibbon, PT, HPCS
Linda Mitchell, PT
Claudia Morin, OT
Marcee Rosenzweig, PT

Before 1900’s

Previous Presidents

Name
Years (Term)

Nancy McGibbon, PT, HPCS 1992 - 1997
Barb Heine, PT, HPCS 1997 - 2000
Jane Fitzpatrick, PT 2000 - 2001
Bonnie Cunningham, PT, MA, MPA, HPCS 2001 - 2005
Karen Gardner , MOT, OTR, HPCS 2005 - 2007
Meredith Bazaar, MA, CCC, SLP, HPCS 2007 - 2011
Deb Silkwood Sherer, PT, DHSc, HPCS 2011-2013
Jane Burrows, DPT, HPCS 2013 - 2015
Steve McKenzie, MSPT 2015- 2017
Tina Rocco, MS, CCC, SLP, HPCS 2017 - 2020
Lauren Janusz, MOT, OTR/L, HPCS 2020 - 2022