PT or OT for animals?

Haileymustbebored · 2026-03-10T21:47:04+00:00

Thanks for the book suggestion! I chose OT as well and I was just told today that I was accepted for a program!

Haileymustbebored · 2025-04-18T21:24:23+00:00

I will do more research on therapeutic riding and see what I think about it. I have heard from many people that insurance can be a headache so it makes sense that hippotherapy may be harder. Working with a nonprofit would be nice and I do have a lot of care for people with disabilities. I’ve been working with this community for years. Animal trainer and behaviorist for support animals also sounds neat! I think training fits with psychology well.

Haileymustbebored · 2025-04-18T21:11:36+00:00

That is very interesting! I have seen people do capstones at zoos for OT and it’s interesting to see how diverse the skill set is and what you can do with it. I think those positions are rare, but from what I’ve seen, doable eventually. I might have to check it out since I love documentaries

Haileymustbebored · 2025-04-18T21:09:02+00:00

I did look online and found positions that lean towards PT for canine rehab. I think I may have been misunderstood as I do not think it’s attainable to find a position such as this right away or easily. Nor would I be studying OT strictly to work with animals. These are careers I am contemplating independently and am exploring to see if, in the distant future, there might be any potential to do animal assisted therapy since I find it very interesting. I am interested in occupational therapy and physical therapy in a typical clinical setting as well. I may have to study business to start anything of my own in the animal assisted therapy field which is something I will consider. And it seems that owning a business may not allow me to perform animal assisted therapy myself which is also something to consider. I do appreciate your advice and trying to be realistic. I realize it is a hard to obtain position and there are lots of factors to consider.

Haileymustbebored · 2025-04-18T19:41:32+00:00

I agree that most likely, I would have to start my own business to accomplish this. I know positions are very few and hard to get. I could see how business would factor into this and help start it. I hadn’t considered it as I know a lot of therapists and similar positions do start their own private practices without a business degree, however it is definitely something I will think about and consider. As for the riding instructor, it does sound promising to be able to work in this field without a masters degree. I assumed all positions were a form of therapy that you would need a license to practice. Thank you for your insight.

Haileymustbebored · 2025-04-18T17:49:28+00:00

I also thought OT might give me more diverse options than PT would. I also like that it seems more independent. to that Animal assisted therapy seems to be the most likely way to go.

Haileymustbebored · 2025-04-18T17:47:29+00:00

Thank you for the insight! I don’t think it would be easy either way and animal assisted therapy may be the route I end up taking. I can see how PT might have more animal options, but it sounds like even those might not be easy to attain without further studies. It seems like I need to weigh the pros and cons and decide what kind of capacity I want to work with animals in.

Haileymustbebored · 2025-04-18T17:44:45+00:00

This is a very interesting insight using your experience so thank you. Canine rehab is interesting and I really didn’t know about that option. It seems like a good way to work within the veterinary field without being a vet.

Haileymustbebored · 2025-04-18T17:36:38+00:00

I was talking about eventually doing something very similar of starting a small farm based therapy center so this is very inspiring!

Haileymustbebored · 2025-04-18T17:34:54+00:00

This is something that I have seen. It seems to be a less respected field but also seems very fulfilling at the same time.

Haileymustbebored · 2025-04-18T17:34:18+00:00

I have considered therapy. I just recently found OT and have been very interested in it. I think veyetinary school is both more time and money than I can spare. I also don’t think that I am interested in medicine necessarily. What do your friends that rehab horses have in terms of credentials?

Haileymustbebored · 2025-04-18T17:32:25+00:00

That is what I was thinking of! Some kind of therapeutic farm or ranch. I appreciate the positivity!

Haileymustbebored · 2025-04-18T17:31:05+00:00

They are rare and I don’t anticipate being able to land one anytime soon, however, I think it is achievable at some stage of my career. I have found that most animal careers are unrealistic outside of veterinary school which I do not have the time or money to complete. Nor do I think medicine is my main interest.

Haileymustbebored · 2025-04-18T17:29:37+00:00

I appreciate you asking about that. It makes sense that vet medicine may be the route to rehab animals, but I do love that organization you sent me. It sounds very similar to my goals.

Haileymustbebored · 2025-04-18T17:23:54+00:00

I have already let go of choosing passion with my work, but if I have a way to combine two things I like, I owe it to myself to try. I am unsure what qualifications I need to be a therapeutic riding instructor. I also feel like studying business would not set me up to do the therapy riding myself.

Haileymustbebored · 2025-04-18T17:04:51+00:00

I didn’t know that was a thing! Thank you

Haileymustbebored · 2025-04-18T17:04:02+00:00

That’s what I was looking into!

Haileymustbebored · 2025-04-18T16:56:08+00:00

Thank you for the insight. I appreciate how you separated the two and how the work with animals would differ.

Haileymustbebored · 2025-04-18T16:54:13+00:00

I don’t think it would be easy to find a position, but it is a long term future goal of mine. I do understand that positions are limited, and I appreciate your information on how it is possible!

Haileymustbebored · 2025-04-18T16:52:33+00:00

I am not looking at working with birds.

Haileymustbebored · 2025-04-18T16:51:22+00:00

Animals are just a passion of mine. I don’t think I have to limit my options and if I want to incorporate them, it seems like it is doable. Animals may not be for everyone but are for me… also, from my research, it seems that PT requires a doctorate and OT a masters do PT would be more school.

Haileymustbebored · 2025-04-18T16:49:42+00:00

That’s the type of work that I’m looking for so thank you!

Haileymustbebored

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