Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hippotherapy?
(Greek – hippo = horse) It is the use of the horse’s movement and the equine environment by licensed occupational, physical and speech therapists to achieve treatment goals. (more)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hippotherapy?
(Greek – hippo = horse) It is the use of the horse’s movement and the equine environment by licensed occupational, physical and speech therapists to achieve treatment goals. (close)
How many horses do you have?
We have three therapy horses.
Do I need a prescription?
After your child’s initial evaluation, the therapist will prepare a treatment plan and submit it to your child’s physician for approval and signature. With the physician’s signature, this treatment plan becomes your child’s prescription. We must have a treatment plan signed by your child’s physician to provide therapy services.
Will insurance cover treatment?
Many insurance companies cover the services we provide. We are members of the Blue Shield and First Health/CCN provider networks.
What happens if I don’t have insurance?
If you don’t have insurance, you can apply for a therapy scholarship. These are available on the basis of need for every child who qualifies. 75% of the children currently receiving therapy at Mountain Valley are on scholarships.
Is there a waiting list?
There is a waiting list for every therapist. If you are interested in equine assisted therapy for your child, we recommend that you come for initial screening and get on the wait list as soon as possible.
Where are you located?
We are located in the hills between Monterey and Carmel. We provide directions once you have made an appointment for your initial screening.
Can I observe a therapy session?
Our therapies are a medical procedure and, out of a respect for patient confidentiality and effective therapy, we generally do not permit session observation. The exceptions are for health care professionals and members of NARHA and AHA.
What is your annual budget?
Our budget for 2007 is $245,000.
How are we funded?
We are funded by a combination of patient fees, philanthropic contributions and donated services.
How do I get my child started?
Contact us to schedule an initial screening by clicking on "connect," then clicking on "therapy sign-up." Fill out the parent, child and name and address forms, then click on the "submit query" box. We will contact you to schedule an initial screening.
