Horse Jobs – Rehabilitation Therapist

horse with rehabilitation therapistRehabilitation therapists have a genuine desire to help paired with a tenacious nature and years of schooling. This is an incredibly hands on field which requires not only physical strength but a great deal of interaction with the animals.

Therapists are working with animals in pain, often due to a tramua of some degree. This requires a steady hand and a level of compassion for animals who have been injured emotionally as well as physically. This also means the ability to calm owners with high stress levels.

This is a position which benefits from an aptitude for physiology and applied science, independent thinking and strength of character and countenance.

A calm demeanor, endless patience and an in-depth knowledge of horse anatomy are pivotal characteristics of a good rehabilitation therapist.

Job Description

Using active exercises to facilitate restoration of normal function in injured animals. This includes a wide variety of techniques and applications tailored specifically to meet the individual needs of each animal.

Responsibilities

  • Handling a variety of animal temperaments
  • Treatment & rehabilitation following injury & surgury
  • Development of treatment plan & goals
  • Use of ultrasound, hydrotherapy, ice, massage and mobilization techniques
  • Advise regarding injured athlete animals in training
  • Determining proper feeding & nutrition for healing
  • Often charged with total care of rehab animals
  • Exercise on a number of levels, hand walking, line work, balance exercises and under saddle
  • Immediate first aid & health concerns

Requirements

Not only must candidates have graduated high school and college, but they must also carry a masters degree in rehab therapy.

Rehab therapists must also take a national exam and be licensed by the state in which they practice.
*Licensing and laws vary from state to state

Applicants may also have

  • A clinical doctorate in physical therapy
  • Certification in clinical specialty
  • Electrophysiological testing & measurement certification

Resources

A few places to start if you are interested in a career as a rehabilitation therapist.

*Links open in a new window
American Physical Therapy Association
The Canadian Horse & Animal Physical Therapists Association

The Right Job For You?

If this isn’t your dream job, there is a long list of different careers that involve horses. Each one requiring a different skill set, schooling requirement and amount of contact with the animals.

Image from The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture

8 Responses to “Horse Jobs – Rehabilitation Therapist”

What's Yours?

  1. Hello, My name is Kelsea Lander. I am currently in 10th grade. I am very much interested in perusing a career that is mainly involved with Equine. I was wandering if you knew any colleges around the Western Pennsylvania area?

  2. Emily says:

    Hello, My names Emily and i’m in the 11th grade in high school. i have been around horses for a long time, and couldnt see my self be doing anything else. I am from kentucky and was wondering if there were any good schools around to help me become a Rehabilitation therapist

    • Katie says:

      Hi Emily
      I’ve been looking at educational opportunities also, and one that I have found in Kentucky is an internship at KESMARC. It is a horse rehab facility. Check it out at kesmarc.com. I’m looking into doing this internship myself =)
      God Bless,
      Katie

  3. Chloe says:

    Hello, My name is Chloe and im actually from Australia, NSW and im going into 11th grade at high school and I was wondering if you could tell me a bit more on becoming a Rehabilitation Therapist for horses? Im am very interested and have been around horses for a long time.

  4. kristen says:

    Hi. I am in 8th grade and absolutely must have a career involving horses. Does Mississippi State University in Starkville, MS have the courses i need to become a rehabilitation therapist? If Not, What are some good colleges that do?

  5. Caoimhe says:

    Hey. I’m in fourth year in Ireland. I love horses and I want a job concerning them, and I’m interested in rehabilitation therapy. Is there any colleges in Ireland I can go to?

  6. chad wenger says:

    I live in ohio and wondered if there were any colleges in ohio i could go to to find a job in the horse indestry

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