Michigan Abilities Center
A Non-profit NARHA Member Center
About Us
The Michigan Abilities Center (MAC) provides innovative, enjoyable, and rewarding state of the art equine assisted therapy, learning, and wellness programs that focus on strengths and abilities, not disabilities. MAC's therapy programs are customized to achieve meaningful goals, improve function, promote wellness, enhance self-esteem, and empower children, adolescents, and adults who have physical, mental, emotional, or learning challenges.
Contents
Mission StatementProgram Description & Services
Facility Tour
Meet MAC's Staff
Meet MAC's Horses
Mission Statement
Improve the physical and emotional well being of clients and their families
by providing innovative, effective, enjoyable, and rewarding therapy and recreational
programs (including equine-assisted therapy, comprehensive therapy services, experiential
learning, recreational riding, and other activities). Provide customized programs to achieve
goals, improve function and quality of life, promote wellness, foster successful interpersonal
relationships and life skills, enhance self-esteem, and empower children, adolescents, and adults
who have physical, mental, emotional, or learning challenges. Promote healthy and wholesome lifestyles,
enjoyable and efficacious therapeutic activities, and an appreciation
of nature and history. Focus on abilities and strengths to facilitate functional gains and meaningful outcomes,
objectively document the efficacy of interventions, & promote excellence in therapeutic practice & research.
Program Description & Services
Equine assisted therapies, including hippotherapy, therapeutic riding, equine facilitated learning, and other therapeutic and recreational activities are offered year-round for clients and their families.
Clients of all ages with special needs are served with meaningful and enjoyable state of the art programs that focus on strengths and abilities, not disabilities.
Customized therapeutic, educational, and recreational experiences utilize innovative and rewarding strategies to achieve meaningful goals.
Life skills and independence are promoted via applied learning and training opportunities.
Precision Teaching & applied behavior analysis enhances learning, provides feedback, and objectively documents the efficacy of interventions.
Physical therapy services, including hippotherapy, are provided by an experienced physical therapist to facilitate meaningful functional gains.
Equine assisted therapies, including therapeutic riding and equine facilitated learning are provided by experienced therapeutic riding instructors.
Facility Tour
MAC is located at a beautiful 60-acre farm with scenic riding trails, historic barns, farm animals, & abundant wildlife.
MAC has a variety of program horses that range from miniature ponies to full sized horses. This variety of equine sizes, movement, and personalities enables an optimal match between horses and riders to facilitate desired movements and interaction during therapy sessions.
Facilities are wheelchair accessible and include large indoor & outdoor arenas with a mounting platform that can be accessed via a ramp or stairs, convenient parking, and a heated observation room.
Enjoyable farm activities and learning experiences are available for individuals or groups, including traditional riding lessons, support groups, & day camps.
Special events are held at MAC, including Fun at the Farm, Christmas in July, and a Haunted Barn & Halloween Party.
Meet MAC's Staff
Executive Director & Physical Therapist
Kathleen A. Hinderer, PhD, MPT, PT (Kathy)
Dr. Kathy Hinderer has over 25 years of experience as a physical therapist and has considerable clinical experience treating a broad spectrum of disabilities across the lifespan. She obtained her BS degree in physical therapy from the University of Michigan, her Masters of physical therapy (MPT) and MS degrees from the University of Washington, and her PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Michigan in the Center for Human Motor Research. She completed a fellowship in developmental disabilities and is certified in neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) and sensory integration (SI). She has conducted several research studies and has co-authored professional publications, including four chapters in leading rehabilitation textbooks. She has served in a leadership capacity for several local and national organizations and is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM), North American Riding for the Handicap Association (NARHA), and American Hippotherapy Association (AHA).
Equine Program Director & Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Jennifer England
Jennifer has over 30 years of equine experience, including riding, showing, and teaching therapeutic and traditional lessons to children and adults.She teaches and trains both English and Western disciplines. She is certified by the North American Riding for the Handicap Association (NARHA). In addition to her equine expertise, Jennifer has a Master of Science degree in Education with a major in counseling. Her career has included working in business and higher education. Jennifer has taught career classes and worked with children, teens, young adults as well as adults throughout her career.
Instructor Intern
Bethany Pohl
Bethany is interning at MAC to become a NARHA therapeutic riding instructor and assists with horse handling. She also has over 10 years of experience as a tutor, including students with special needs. In addition to her love for horses, Bethany contributes her artistic and creative talents at MAC.
Meet MAC's Horses
MAC currently has 10 horses and 2 ponies, which provide a wide variety of sizes, movement, and personalities. This variety enables MAC to match clients body proportions and select horses that provide optimal movement facilitation and interaction styles. MAC's smallest pony is our adorable miniature pony Misty. MAC's largest horse is a draft horse named Jessie.