AHA is saddened to inform its members of the death of Barbara Heine, PT on March 30, 2010. Barb had been diagnosed with Mantle Cell Cancer in August 2009 and has been battling the disease since that time.

While living in the United States, Barb served as Executive Director of NCEFT in Woodside, CA.

Barb’s contributions to hippotherapy in the states and in Australia have been numerous. Barb served as education chair for AHA and for 3 years as AHA’s President. For all the therapists and instructors who have taken the AHA courses, you have all been the recipients of the educational tapes that Barb produced while at NCEFT.

Barb was instrumental in putting together the Level II course and the Long Lining course. Barb developed a manual for Australian therapists on hippotherapy and is credited with training, establishing and the credentialing of Australian hippotherapy programs.

The International Scholarship Fund was subsidized by Barb and through her generosity therapists in Russia, China and Mexico have been able to take the Level I AHA course.

Barb was one of the founding members of the American Hippotherapy Certification Board. In honor of Barb’s superior and vast equine skills, AHA had established the Barb Heine Horse of the Year award.

For the hippotherapy community, the loss of Barb will be a void impossible to fill. To Barb’s children we send our deepest condolences.