Hippotherapy Program

Director, Carrie Minahan

During the summer of 2008, Equus began offering its first formal Hippotherapy sessions with Carrie Minahan.  At this point, Carrie has worked with 5 different riders, with plans to increase ridership in the next year.  Carrie writes about herself: “I have a Masters of Science in Physical Therapy with a clinical specialty in neurology, and I am currently matriculated at Sage Graduate School to get my doctorate in PT.  I am also a board certified Neurological Clinical Specialist.  I have been a PT for 14 years, originally getting my Bachelors in PT in 1994 from the University of Vermont.  I grew up with horses, and have enjoyed combining my work with play!  I have been involved with Hippotherapy for 5 years, and have both Level I and II certification from the American Hippotherapy Association.  My other part-time job is with Western MA Physical Therapy in Pittsfield, MA, where I specialize in adult neurology/vestibular dysfunction.  I live in Lee with my 6 year old daughter, husband, Waffle the cat, and Jake the dog.”

Instructors

In 2008, AMBER BAKER began apprenticing as an instructor with the program and she achieved her certification as Registered Level Instructor with NARHA in July 2009.  Amber grew up in Stamford, VT and has had horses since she was four.  She currently owns three horses: Augie, a Draft Cross, Chant, a Quarter Horse, and her newest, Ally, a Quarter Horse filly. .  She graduated from Southern Seminary College in Beuna Vista, VA in 1992 with an AS in Equine Business Management and is currently a senior at MCLA working toward a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing.  She lives in North Adams, MA with her four dogs, Dobermans Keegan, Dakota, and Sherman, and Cocker Spaniel, Shiloah.

SANDY BROWNis a Massachusetts Licensed Riding Instructor (since February of 2004) and a Certified Instructor at the Registered level with NARHA (since August of 2006.)  However, she has been riding, teaching, and competing since 1980 in many disciplines, primarily English ones (combined training/dressage, hunters, and jumpers) but she also has experience with western pleasure, gymkhana, and polo.  In addition, she honed her horsemanship skills by working on several horse farms in the Tri-State area in all aspects of horse care.  Sandy has been affiliated with Oakhollow Farm and the Equus Therapeutic, Inc. program since May of 2002, and is the Assistant Barn Manager for Oakhollow Farm and the Horse Manager for Equus.

Sandy is a 1983 graduate of the New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University, with a BS in Biology.  She is employed as a Veterinary Technician at Greylock Animal Hospital, in North Adams, MA.  She boards her Thoroughbred gelding, Reason to Shout, at Oakhollow Farm.  She lives in North Adams, MA with her two house cats, Chai and Sienna.

The horses for the program are carefully screened and trained.   They are very special animals who are trained to be safe and who enjoy working with special riders.

For more information about the program, call Sandy Brown at 413-458-0062. Our Board President, Mark Paquette, can be reached at 413-743-4965 or call Oakhollow Farm directly at 413-458-8427.

More detail on Hippotherapy as Physical Therapy

For information on the HERD!

Article about Hippotherapy from the Advocate Weekly