The purpose of Reining Potential is twofold, to provide therapeutic services using animals (equine movement) and nature to children with disabilities so they can reach their full potential, and to provide funding support for families so their children can participate in the therapeutic activities without financial burden. The vision of Reining Potential of Texas has been a dream and passion of Dr.
Susan Zapf, pediatric occupational therapist, for many years. She has seen the benefits of using a horse and nature in therapy early on in her career when she was involved in the Human Animal Partnership in Texas and worked as a Recreational Therapist using animals in therapy. She saw how the impact of animals and nature could provide comfort and healing to individuals with psychological impairments. Dr. Zapf dreamed of a therapy program like the previous Hope Therapy program at Moody Gardens that used animals and horses for healing; however, that program had stopped providing the therapeutic riding or therapy services to the community. Currently there are no therapy programs that provide “hippotherapy” services within a 40 mile radius of the clear lake area. Please Note: (Hippotherapy services must be provided by a licensed occupational, physical, or speech therapist), while there are therapeutic riding programs, these programs typically are not using “therapists” to design the needed treatment for the child nor trained in health care interventions. Along with her professional experience, Dr. Zapf also experienced the effects of using a horse in therapy with her own son, CJ who was born with a heart disorder, motor and speech delays that impacted his development. Early on, Dr. Zapf had CJ participate in a therapeutic riding program to help gain his muscle strength and motor planning along with facilitating his speech. Because she was a therapist, she could help facilitate therapy strategies and support the therapy component of his development. Dr. Zapf’s pediatric clients and families also knew of her passion to use a horse in therapy and many of her clients have asked her to start a program for many years. Along with her professional and personal experience, Dr. Zapf is also a researcher and started to review the literature over the past 10 years while working with three doctoral students on their capstone programs on developing a “hippotherapy” riding program using a horse as a tool in therapy. Dr. Zapf worked with students on finding evidence and was impressed to see the research outcomes on the use of equine movement in improving speech, motor, social, and sensory and self-regulation, and psychological benefits of the horse. In July of 2021, Dr. Zapf was gifted her first horse so that she could start this much needed program and took a leap in faith to start Reining Potential of Texas. Hippotherapy Certification and will be completing her final certification in April 2022. She has a desire to help others benefit from the use of a horse and has teamed up with Amy Reynolds of Loving Heart Ranch to provide the therapy services at a covered arena and barn. While Dr. Zapf has been fronting the initial expenses of the program startup, two parents approached her and expressed their interest in helping fund the program through the development of a nonprofit corporation. Due to most insurance companies not covering services that use equine movement and due to the extensive costs that many parents acquire while trying to get therapy services for their child, Reining Potential of Texas can help provide some financial relief. Dr. Zapf knows first-hand the extensive cost of therapy, as she had to pay for most of her son’s therapy services out of pocket, even though she had private insurance and payed a hefty premium. Most people are unaware of the cost a family pays so their child with disabilities can receive the much needed services that can help them be successful in life. Because of this dedication, her son CJ is now graduating from a 4-year college and has been successful, due to early intervention, and yes, the use of a horse. Dr. Zapf hopes to provide the same support to other children and their families in the Clear Lake area. Reining Potential of Texas is in the initial stages of a startup program and currently has six children receiving services. As the program expands, we hope to provide more services to children using the use of nature, and outdoor experience, and equine movement.
