Enhancing Therapeutic Riding with OT Principles with Veronica Smith

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Veronica Smith, occupational therapy assistant student, developed a unique activity book featuring 15 client factor-specific activities designed to integrate occupational therapy (OT) principles into therapeutic riding sessions. These activities are structured to be accessible and feasible for certified therapeutic riding instructors while promoting social participation, physical function and sensory processing in pediatric clients.

The goal was not to replace occupational therapy services, but rather provide guidance to therapeutic riders and offer a way to see when children would benefit from referral to occupational therapy for more in depth focus on these client factors. This should result in improved interdisciplinary collaboration between OT and therapeutic riding instructors. See Veronica's research poster here!