American Hippotherapy Association

02/26/2026

With just a few days left before the end of our early-bird conference pricing, there is no better time than today to share about our plenary speaker, Dr. Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD, Dipl., ACVSMR, FRCVS! ✨🗓️🐴

Dr. Hilary M. Clayton is a veterinarian, researcher, and lifelong horsewoman. After graduating as a veterinarian from Glasgow University, she worked in a mixed animal practice in Scotland for a couple of years before returning to Glasgow to complete a PhD. She then joined the faculty in the Department of Veterinary Anatomy at Glasgow University.

On Saturday, March 21st, Dr. Clayton’s presentation will focus on the physical connection between horse and client during treatment incorporating hippotherapy. Horses vary greatly in size, shape and quality of movement; equine anatomical characteristics that affect the rider’s comfort and connection with the horse will be considered first. The forces generated by the horse and transmitted to the rider will be described,focusing on the rhythmic three-dimensional movements of the horse’s thoracolumbar spine compared with those of the human pelvis during forwards walking.

📌Information on all our invited speakers and presenters can be found on our website, along with registration information. Check the comments or the link in our bio to head to our website and register today!

02/17/2026

Next up in our 2026 speaker introductions, we are excited to have Dan Manolachescu as our Keynote Speaker! 🎉 Dan is a Romanian figure known for his resilience and extraordinary life trajectory. Before his accident, he was a committed polysport athlete, actively involved in mountain climbing and multiple equestrian disciplines, including mounted archery, where he competed at a world championship level.

His life changed dramatically following a severe fall from a horse that resulted in tetraplegia. Confronted with a prognosis that implied permanent paralysis, Dan refused to accept functional limitation as a definitive endpoint. Through sustained physical rehabilitation and exceptional psychological resilience, he progressively regained mobility and returned to demanding physical activities, including alpine skiing, archery, and—most significantly—horse riding. His recovery culminated symbolically in the ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro, an achievement that reinforced both his physical recovery and personal philosophy.

📍On Friday, March 20th, Dan will be speaking from the perspective of a patient facing the dramatic consequences of a riding accident that resulted in tetraplegia. Dan shares a deeply human and motivational story of recovery, resilience, and adaptation—capturing the physical, emotional, and existential realities of long-term neurorehabilitation. In this context, therapy incorporating equines appears not as a miraculous cure, but as a stabilizing, motivating, and profoundly meaningful force that sustained hope, engagement, and purpose during the most difficult phases of recovery.

Early-bird pricing for our 2026 Conference ends in just 11 days, so head over to our website or visit the link in our bio to learn more about our Keynote Speaker and register for our virtual conference today!c✨🗓️🐴

02/15/2026

There’s just ONE more day to submit your nominations for our 2026 Conference Awards! The Horse of the Year and Therapist of the Year nomination due date is tomorrow, February 16th, at 11:59 PM MT. Award criteria and the online nomination form can be found on our website. Get your nominations in today for these two awards honoring two of our most prominent founders and leaders ✨🏆🐴

02/11/2026

We’re so excited to introduce our invited speakers for our 2026 Pre-Conference and Conference sessions! 🎉🎉🎉

📍First up, we have our Pre-Conference Speaker, Gillian Higgins of “Horses Inside Out.” Gillian is one of the leading equine anatomy and biomechanics educators in the world. Her work has improved the lives of thousands of horses, and she inspires equestrians from all disciplines. Gillian is passionate about horses, equine anatomy, and sharing all she knows for the good of the horse.

🗓️ On Thursday, March 19th, Gillian will be speaking over three sessions on how the horse’s back actually moves & examining where movement occurs along the spine, exploring how the horse’s back and limbs move in each gait, highlighting subtle variations in stride, rhythm, and mobility, and providing simple, practical polework and equine Pilates exercises designed to improve posture, core stability, flexibility, and strengthin equines. These presentations will have something for therapists, equestrians, and horse enthusiasts alike! Check out our story for some of Gillian’s videos 🤗

Please note that Gillian’s presentation will not be available for purchase after conference, so if learning from her is on your 2026 to-do list, sign up using the link in our bio or on the AHA, Inc. website today! Early-bird pricing ends at the end of the month ♥️

02/06/2026

Winter weather got you stuck inside?! 🥶❄️

Well, our educational offerings are heating up this February🔥!

We have so many virtual courses to take advantage of from the warmth of your own home (or stall 😉) over the next month, which ones are you signing up for?! 🗓️✍️🐴

02/04/2026

✨Conference 2026 Update!✨ We know it’s been a busy winter, so we’ve extended the deadline for our conference award nominations till Monday, February 16th! Award criteria and nomination forms can be found on our website.

02/02/2026

✨Join us for our first Lunch & Learn of 2026- “Whoa, No or Go The Horse Leader’s influence on Equine Behavior in EAS” 🥪📚🐴

Presented by Sharon Butler, BSVSc, DVM, CTRI, this presentation looks at research on how horses learn and communicate using non-verbal language and behaviors and the influence a horse leader can have on the equine to reduce stress behaviors which can improve outcomes for both human clients and the equine in an Equine Assisted Services setting.

Head over to our website or check the link in our bio for more details and registration info! 👩‍💻

01/29/2026

01/29/2026

*Webinar Update*📢 📢

Our NEW business course in collaboration with Kelsey Baas of Compleo Wellness has been rescheduled for April 17-19, 2026!✨

This intensive course is designed to guide you through the essential – and often overlooked – components of starting and running a successful business. Whether you are brand new to entrepreneurship or looking to refresh your existing skills and level up your current business, this 2-day live webinar provides the practical knowledge you need to succeed.

Learning outcomes:
📍 Participants will finish the course with a blueprint for their business.
📍 Participants will leave with three actionable marketing ideas
📍 Participants will complete the course with an understanding of financial KPI‘s and what to track to ensure sustainability

Head on over to our website for more information and to register for this course as well as our other 2026 educational offerings! 🗓️🐴📝

01/26/2026

Are you a graduate student interested in learning more about hippotherapy? Are you a clinical instructor working with clinical interns utilizing equine movement in their fieldwork rotations? Well, do we have something NEW for you!

We are SO excited to be able to offer a student discount on our 2026 Virtual Conference (something we’ve never done before😲)! Head over to our website and register today for this unique educational opportunity. We can’t wait to see you there!

01/25/2026

Did you get a chance to read the 2025 winter issue of EQUILIBRIUM yet!? ☃️📖🐴

We know many of you might be spending the day inside (whether it be the couch or the barn) due to the cold, so today is a great day to catch up some great articles written by our members and guest contributors. Did you have a favorite article from this issue?! Drop us a comment below and let us know which one! 👇