"Hippotherapy" was not a word I knew at the end of 1988. The idea of it came to me as a freshman in college after waking up from an 11 day coma, on life support with 2 broken legs, head injury (TBI) and a broken jaw (wired shut for 56 days). While still in ICU I thought, "how cool would it be to put a child who can't walk on the back of a horse." I changed my major to Elementary Education, student taught 4 times in 4 areas for extra licensures to teach young children with disabilities. Following an interest in technology/problem solving I earned a Master's Degree in Special Education Assistive Technology continuing occupational, physical, and speech therapy plus computer adaptations for studnets while in the classroom. In 2006 we bought 120 acres (Upper Oak Farm) in order to start Acorn Hill. In 2015 I became a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl) Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) because I believe in the power of the horse to help heal people. Since then, we moved to MN and had our first rider up for a pilot program Hippotherapy session December 1, 2016 (see TV 4U Lakeland Public TV). Let's fast forward to today, where we are again able to offer Hippotherapy with occupational therapy because of Anna Littlefield. Good news rolls on! A personal loan allowed us to break ground for a covered, heated arena July 2024. Named after our deceased son, The Paul Peterson Arena; a place of Comfort, Strength and Healing is unfinished yet operational (see TV 4U FOX9 News).  Sessions are uninter-rupted as of November 2024. WOW! So grateful! It's such a gift, it's a gift to give and it's a gift to receive.  With the new covered heated arena it won't have to stop giving. How cool is that!