Licensed Therapy Program

Exceptional Equestrians is currently offering licensed Physical and Occupational Therapy utilizing the equine as a therapy tool.

EE is extremely fortunate to be working with therapists Sandy Rafferty, Dana Kulik and Melanie Martin. Sandy Rafferty is an Occupational Therapy who is one of the founders of therapeutic riding with more than 45 years of experience. Dana Kulik is an Occupational Therapist Assistant and horse owner with more than 10 years of experience working with equines! Melanie Martin is an Occupational Therapist Assistant who actually interned with EE and loved it so much she came back to work here!

EE's licensed therapy program is most appropriate for clients who require targeted interventions. Participants in this program are NOT typically learning riding skills. They are receiving hands on physical and occupational therapy services utilizing the movement of the horse. We recommend that clients between the ages of two and four begin with EE in the licensed therapy program.

The term hippotherapy refers to how occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology professionals use evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning in the purposeful manipulation of equine movement to engage sensory, neuromotor, and cognitive systems to achieve functional outcomes. In conjunction with the affordances of the equine environment and other treatment strategies, hippotherapy is part of a patient's integrated plan of care. -American Hippotherapy Association, 2015.

Meet Our Therapists

Sandy Rafferty, OT

Sandy was instrumental in the founding of Exceptional Equestrians in 1991. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Occupational Therapy and a Master of Arts in Special Education, and is a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship Advanced Instructor, Mentor, Evaluator and previous Board Member. Sandy’s is a PATH Int'l James Brady Award winner and a AHA Level 2 therapist.

Dana Kulick, COTA

Dana is a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant. Dana has been doing hippotherapy for 15 years. She loves being a part of helping individuals of all ages reach their fullest potential.

Dana enjoys spending time with her family and taking care of all her animals. She believes animals can provide therapy for people in so many different ways!

Melanie Martin, COTA

Melanie is the newest addition to our therapy team! Melanie completed her fieldwork at Exceptional Equestrians and really enjoyed pairing OT with horses! Melanie is a lifelong horse person who spent several years working in Colorado on a ranch. She has a background in early childhood education. When not at EE, Melanie can be found with her two horses!

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