OTD Capstone Projects

Abstract

This capstone project was created in partnership with the staff at Saddle Up! in Franklin, TN. Saddle Up! is a PATH accredited non profit organization that offers hippotherapy, adaptive riding and various horsemanship lessons and opportunities for children and youth with various disabilities to learn and engage with horses. The primary goal of this project was to address a need for improved child and family participation in various aspects of lessons and therapy sessions. The focus was to develop a functional communication and visual schedule system that was accessible and easily understood by all staff. This system included a wide variety of both visual and auditory supports that staff could adapt to meet the individual needs of their riders. Additionally future expansion at Saddle Up! led to a need for new sensory spaces and activities to include in a new therapy room and Equine-Assisted Learning classroom. Finally, a home exercise program was created to help children in the adaptive riding program improve their physical skills, like strength and balance, that would translate into improved riding performance.

Publication Date

Spring 4-4-2026

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Elena Espiritu, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR

Department

Occupational Therapy, School of

College

Health Sciences & Nursing, Gordon E. Inman College of

Document Type

Poster

Degree

Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Degree Level

Doctoral

Degree Grantor

Belmont University

Keywords

Occupational Therapy; Hippotherapy; Adaptive Riding; Therapy; Disabilities; Children; Equine Assisted Activities

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