Rollins
Rollins, MT · Events
MaxPreps
Flathead Beacon
Lake County Leader
More than a ride: Horse assisted therapy helps patients
Off Baypoint Road in Polson stands a large horse farm, with equines greeting every car that drives down the gravel entrance road. Inside the barn sit saddles and helmets that are accompanied by toy bowling pins, Velcro balls and miniature bean bags. Here, horses Koda and Trixie anxiously await their patients for the day. Hobby Horse Place is a therapy center utilizing horses for horse-assisted therapy. Offering physical and occupational treatment, staff incorporate the horse's movement with the patient to help with therapy goals such as regulation, core strengthening, body awareness, balance and improved gross motor function. Debbie McGuinness, a registered physical therapist, opened Hobby Horse Place two years ago with the help of Wendy King, a certified occupational therapist assistant. Joining them is Shannon Harris, a master of occupational therapy, who has a background in working with horses and a therapy career with kids. “We both are therapists, we both work with horses, and we knew the benefits that this could offer for kids,” McGuiness said. Three years ago, the American Hippotherapy Association came to Montana and got it in writing for Medicaid, that gave me the green light.” Hippotherapy is a term for equine movement being included in
Char-Koosta News
CSKT Tribal Council Appoints New Pablo Representative
PABLO — On Tuesday, November 10, 2026, Levi Hewankorn was sworn into the Pablo representative seat on the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council that had recently been vacant. Tribal Chief Judge Brad Pluff was there to witness and sign the documents. After being sworn in, Hewankorn gave a...
