ARC Hippotherapy
Valerie Cooper
Valerie Cooper, MCSP, RDAC
Current Regional Physiotherpist for Grampian and Highland RDA
Recently retired from position as Riding Therapist at Camphill School Aberdeen
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Valerie is a Chartered Physiotherapist with over 30 years experience. She was a senior clinician in the field of neurological rehabilitation and has worked as a lecturer in Health Sciences at Robert Gordon University where she completed a PhD in e-learning. She is also a keen horse rider and a Riding for the Disabled (RDA) coach. She qualified in Hippotherapy after undertaking the post graduate course in Hippotherapy through the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Equine Actives (ACPEA). She is the regional physiotherapist for Grampian and Highland RDA and is actively involved in training of coaches both locally and nationally. She has also delivered hippotherapy at Camphill Murtle estate in Aberdeen.
Valerie with her horse, Hugo.
Fiona Melville
Fiona Melville, Chartered Physiotherapist
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Fiona joined the ARC Hippotherapy team in 2024, following the completion of her Advancing Therapy in Equine Facilitated Therapy course.
Fiona has worked as a chartered physiotherapist since 2002 and specialises in neurological rehabilitation, working within the NHS Grampion Specialist Rehabilitation Service. She also has experience working privately, with both adults and paediatrics.
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Fiona has always appreciated the impact horses can have on humans and believes they are ultimately the therapists. She loves to go horse riding and previously volunteered with the RDA.
Ceara Whyte
Ceara Whyte, Occupational Therapist
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Ceara joined the ARC Hippotherapy volunteer team in March 2023 and with her previous equine knowledge and Occupational Therapist background soon became a valuable member of the team. She became interested in using those professional skills to a greater degree and enrolled on an Advancing Therapy in Equine Facilitated Therapy course in September 2023. On completion of this course Ceara became a member of the ARC Hippotherapy Therapist Team in September 2024. Her input has been invaluable to the progress of the participant riders she works with.
