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Renee Anderson has been a physical therapist since 2017. She worked in an orthopedic outpatient setting until early 2021, and then started to work at HETRA (Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy) as a therapist utilizing horse movement in her treatment. She loves to see the progress her participants make after riding horses and developing trusting relationships from having the same participants every week.
Dr. Kaiti Otte is a licensed occupational therapist and PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. She serves as the Lead Therapist and Education coordinator at HETRA (Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Center) in Gretna, NE where she has been practicing occupational therapy, partnering with the healing help of horses for over 7 years. HETRA’s mission is to improve the quality of life both physically and emotionally of adults and children of all ability levels through equine-assisted services. When she is not in the arena, you can find Kaiti presenting at conferences, coordinating online webinars or hosting guests on her podcast helping everyone to understand that what HETRA does is so much more than Just a Pony Ride.
Webinar designed specifically for those in OT/PT/SLP to learn more depths about Hippotherapy and how it is effective: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/introtohippotherapy
Listen to the HETRA podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/notjustaponyride
https://hetra.org/
https://pathintl.org/
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At HETRA, the Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Center in Nebraska, Katie Ott and Renee Anderson are making significant strides in equine-assisted therapy. Katie Ott, a licensed occupational therapist, and Renee Anderson, a physical therapist, leverage the unique benefits of working with horses to provide transformative therapy services.
Katie Ott, who holds a doctorate in occupational therapy and is a PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, began her journey as a ranch kid. Managing horses for a children's therapy session profoundly influenced her, inspiring her to specialize in pediatric clinical therapy at HETRA.
Renee Anderson, a physical therapist with a lifelong love for horses, discovered her passion for equine therapy while volunteering during her studies in Missouri. She joined HETRA in 2018 and became a part-time permanent staff member in 2021, balancing her professional and family life.
Founded in 1989, HETRA has grown to become the only PATH Premier Accredited Center in Nebraska and one of the largest in the Midwest. The center offers a variety of services, including occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), speech therapy, and mental health services.
HETRA extends its services beyond traditional therapy by offering adaptive and therapeutic riding for individuals with diverse diagnoses. These sessions emphasize developing horsemanship skills, such as trotting, loping, and reining, while delivering therapeutic benefits and tracking progress through specific short-term and long-term goals.
As a nonprofit organization, HETRA continuously evolves to meet community needs, offering programs tailored for:
Therapy at HETRA begins with a comprehensive evaluation, similar to any clinical setting. This initial session includes a complete health and physical examination and standardized tests to set therapy goals and match the child with the appropriate horse.
Session StructureUpon arrival, a dedicated team comprising a horse leader and two sidewalkers is ready to support the rider. Sessions typically last 30 minutes, during which the rider experiences over 10,000 movements or perturbations.
Each session starts with a warm-up to connect the rider’s mind and body to the horse, followed by goal-oriented activities. The session concludes with a cool-down, dismount, and expressions of gratitude to both the horse and the volunteers.
Insurance Coverage For Equine TherapyWhile Medicaid is beginning to support equine therapy, with Colorado leading the way, most insurance companies still classify it under experimental procedures and do not cover it. At HETRA, Katie and Renee do not bill insurance but ensure that no one is turned away due to inability to pay, thanks to diligent fundraising efforts.
Katie and Renee document their sessions using therapeutic codes, goals, and clinical language akin to traditional clinics, aiming for their notes to be indistinguishable from conventional OT sessions. This approach, combined with ongoing research, helps them demonstrate the impact of their work and advocate for broader acceptance within the healthcare system.
Matching Horses With ClientsSelecting the right horse for each rider involves evaluating various factors, including the horse’s movement, temperament, and suitability for the rider’s specific needs. Horses undergo extensive desensitization training to handle unexpected stimuli and therapeutic equipment.
HETRA also employs tools like the Equisizer to ensure the safety and comfort of both horses and riders. Careful monitoring and customized coping strategies are implemented to manage any session challenges.
Therapists must observe clients' behaviors to ensure a safe and effective session. Additionally, creativity is essential for adapting tools and equipment to achieve therapeutic goals.
The learning curve can be steep, especially for therapists without prior experience with horses. However, with patience and guidance from mentors, therapists can effectively incorporate these elements into their practice.
For therapists considering a career change or following their passion, Katie and Renee’s advice is to go for it. Pursuing what you love is worth stepping out of your comfort zone.
For families and caregivers, the therapy journey can be challenging. Whether it's music, art, or equine therapy, finding an activity that is both enjoyable and beneficial is crucial for a successful therapeutic experience.
BORING, BUT NECESSARY LEGAL DISCLAIMERS
While we make every effort to share correct information, we are still learning. We will double check all of our facts but realize that medicine is a constantly changing science and art. One doctor / therapist may have a different way of doing things from another. We are simply presenting our views and opinions on how to address common sensory challenges, health related difficulties and what we have found to be beneficial that will be as evidenced based as possible. By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or your children. Consult your child’s pediatrician/ therapist for any medical issues that he or she may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Rachel Harrington, Harkla, Jessica Hill, or any guests or contributors to the podcast, as well as any employees, associates, or affiliates of Harkla, be responsible for damages arising from use of the podcast.
Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you.
This podcast should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including but not limited to establishing “standard of care” in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of any statements or opinions made on the podcast.
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