Horses can Help Author
Gina Taylor, MS, OT, HPCS is a New Jersey licensed occupational therapist. She received her Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy from Philadelphia University and a Bachelor of Science in Equine Studies from Averett University. She is currently a Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist (HPCS), PATHI Registered Therapist and Registered Riding, Vaulting and Driving instructor. Gina had actively pursued a career involving horses and people with disabilities since 1999 when she trained a horse for the World Special Olympics and began student teaching in therapeutic riding. Gina returned to school in 2003 to complete a degree in Occupational Therapy that has allowed her to provide hippotherapy services at ManeStream (formerly Somerset Hills Handicapped Riding Center) in Oldwick NJ. Gina continues to expand her knowledge and the knowledge of others in the Equine Assisted activities and therapies field through fieldwork student supervision, conference presentations and her involvement with the American Hippotherapy AssociatioPATH International.
Gina has presented at both the state and national level on equine assisted therapy and the use of language in equine assisted activities and therapy.
Presentations include:
2007: NJ State Occupational Therapy Conference: Occupational therapy: Hippotherapy and Equine Assisted Therapy
2007: NARHA National Conference: The Liability of Language(co-presenter Nichola Redmond)
2008: AOTA National Conference: Emerging Area of Practice: Understanding Equine Assisted Therapy
2009: NARHA Region 2 Conference: Use of the COPM in Equine Assisted Therapy (co-presenter Robby Devry)
2009: AHA International Conference: Power of Words(co-presenter Sarah Pictor)
2009: Paper accepted for FRDI: DIR Approach in Equine Assisted Therapy for people with autism
2009: NARHA National Conference: A Safe Ride(Understanding NARHA Precautions and Contraindications), presentation, Program Evaluation Worksheetand Age Checklist Worksheet.
Gina plays a special role in the American Hippotherapy Association and NARHA. She is currently an apprentice faculty member and shares her knowledge with other therapists through teaching AHA Inc. Approved courses, including the Sensory Connections course. Currently, Gina holds a position on the AHA Board of Directors as Education Chairperson. She is highly motivated to help AHA succeed in their mission and spread the understanding and use of hippotherapy to other clinicians. Gina serves on the PATHI Health and Education advisory helping to develop educational materials and guidelines to improve the professionalism in the field of Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies.
In occupational therapy Gina is the owner of a private practice, Epona Therapy Services, LLC. She is certified in Sensory Integration, including administration of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT). Gina has a Certificate of Mastery in Basic DIR Theory and Floortime.