Campus Location
Abilene Campus (Residential)
Date of Award
12-2025
Document Type
OTD Capstone
Department
Occupational Therapy
Degree
OTD
Faculty Advisor
Lesyle Morris
Site Mentor
Lawrence Lobpries
Capstone Coordinator
Leslye Morris
Specialization
Administration
Focus
Hippotherapy
Abstract
The intention of this capstone experience was to promote the use of hippotherapy as a treatment strategy in the occupational therapy profession from an administrative and educational standpoint. Hundreds of research studies have indicated the effectiveness of hippotherapy for a variety of ages and diagnoses. However, there are still barriers that prevent hippotherapy from being more accessible and well-known, both by practitioners, client families, and the community. The project was executed at a startup psychotherapy clinic preparing to offer equine-assisted services in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The mutually beneficial partnership led to the creation of a generalized administration plan for an occupational therapist aspiring to start a hippotherapy-based private practice, as well as several other educational resources to support the capstone site in their future development. By promoting greater awareness of hippotherapy and providing a means to address administrative barriers, the capstone project aimed to bridge the gap between occupational therapy and increased accessibility and understanding of hippotherapy as an effective treatment strategy.
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