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Kelly Peterson, M.Ed.

Founder/Executive Director

Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor

Hippotherapy was not a word I knew at the end of 1988 after waking up from an 11 day coma, on life support with 2 broken legs, head injury (TBI) and a broken jaw (wired shut for 56 days). While still in ICU I thought, "how cool would it be to put a child who can't walk on the back of a horse." I changed my major to Elementary Education, student taught 4 times in 4 areas for extra licensures to teach young children with disabilities.  Following an interest in technology and solving problems I earned a Master's Degree in Special Education Assistive Technology.  In 2015 I became a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (www.pathintl.org) therapeutic riding instructor because I believed in the power of the horse to help heal people. Since then, we had our first rider up for a pilot program Hippotherapy session December 1, 2016.  Let's fast forward to today, where we are able to offer Hippotherapy in combination with Occupational Therapy because of Anna Littlefield. Most importantly, our success continues due to a covered, heated arena made possible via a personal loan from a friend.  Named after our deceased son, The Paul Peterson Arena; a place of Comfort, Strength and Healing is unfinished yet operational.  Sessions have continued uninterrupted as of November 2024, let's repeat that in our minds, and WOW are we grateful! It's such a gift, it's a gift to give and it's a gift to receive.  With the newly constructed covered heated arena it won't have to stop giving. How cool!

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