Horse Jobs – Rehabilitation Therapist
Rehabilitation 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
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?
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
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
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.
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?
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?
easy dean
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