Surf and Turf Therapy

Surf and turf therapy was founded in 2018 by Dr. Jillian Stewart, a physical therapist and hippotherapy clinical specialist, who saw a need for additional opportunities for people with disabilities and their families to participate in activities within the community. Surf and Turf Therapy provides physical, occupational and speech therapy services to people with disabilities, targeting traditional, functional goals through non-traditional approaches, including surfing and horseback riding. These unique approaches offer unparalleled opportunities to address deficits in strength, stability, body awareness, coordination, safety awareness, tone management, flexibility, attention and sensory integration. The focus of treatment is to improve daily life skills, such as walking, postural alignment, talking, and writing, rather than simply teaching individuals how to surf or ride. Siblings and parents are also invited to join in treatment sessions, with therapy emphasizing fun, function and inclusion. Our goal is to serve everyone in need, regardless of their ability to pay. We started with just one horse, one therapist and a few surf boards in fall of 2018, but the community support and interest in services lead us to grow into a program with 12 horses, 3 Full Time staff, 3 Part Time staff, as well as quiver of boards to meet the needs of our patients and their families. We get new inquiries from interested participants on a weekly basis and have been experiencing consistent growth in demand for our services throughout our 6 years of service.