Nationwide Children’s Hospital Toledo Hippotherapy
Toledo, Ohio
The pediatric hippotherapy program once run by Mercy Health Children's Hospital in Toledo, Ohio, now operates under Nationwide Children's Hospital - Toledo. Its Clinical Therapies department lists physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology that use equine movement. Children start with a doctor's referral for a therapy evaluation.
- Physical therapy using equine movement
- Occupational therapy using equine movement
- Speech-language therapy using equine movement
- Other pediatric therapies at the Toledo clinic, including feeding therapy and sensory integration therapy
- Children with cerebral palsy
- Children with Down syndrome
- Children with autism
- Children with developmental delay
- Children with spina bifida or muscular dystrophy
- Children with traumatic brain injury
- Children with sensory processing disorder or genetic disorders
- Children with weakness from chemotherapy
More about this center
About the Program
This program began as part of Mercy Health Children's Hospital in Toledo. Nationwide Children's Hospital took ownership of that hospital in 2022, renaming it Nationwide Children's Hospital - Toledo. The hospital is located inside Mercy Health - St. Vincent Medical Center.
Sessions are hippotherapy: licensed physical, occupational and speech therapists use the horse's movement as a treatment tool toward each child's own therapy goals. According to the hospital's family guide, each session includes a therapist, a horse leader and two side walkers, and therapists, horses and staff are specially trained. The therapist controls the horse the whole time a child is on it.
Getting Started
A child's doctor requests a PT, OT or speech therapy evaluation. A therapist then assesses the child's physical, mental and psychological abilities to decide whether working with the horse is a good fit.
Children wear approved safety equipment, including a helmet and gait belt. The hospital says hippotherapy is not appropriate for children who are allergic to horses or have a history of animal abuse.
Cost and Insurance
Families should check with their insurance company about coverage for PT, OT and speech therapy. The hospital says it pays many program expenses, such as barn and horse lease fees and liability insurance. Call (419) 251-0070 with questions about scheduling or billing.
Location
The Nationwide Children's Hospital - Toledo Clinical Therapies office is at 3930 Sunforest Court, Suite 200, Toledo, OH 43623 (phone (419) 251-0070, fax (419) 251-0075). Hippotherapy sessions take place at barns rather than at the office. The hospital's hippotherapy family sheet (2022) lists locations in Whitehouse, Ohio and Temperance, Michigan; call the office to confirm where sessions are held.
From public records, not yet reviewed by the center · Last updated Oct 2026 Suggest an edit
Common Questions
Answered from the center’s own website and public records.
How do we get started?
Ask your child's doctor to request a physical, occupational or speech therapy evaluation, then call Nationwide Children's Hospital - Toledo Clinical Therapies at (419) 251-0070. A therapist decides whether hippotherapy fits your child's goals.
Does insurance cover it?
Because it is delivered as PT, OT or speech therapy, check with your insurer about coverage for those services. The hospital covers many program costs such as barn and horse lease fees.
Is this the same as the Mercy Health hippotherapy program?
Yes. Mercy Health Children's Hospital in Toledo became Nationwide Children's Hospital - Toledo in 2022, and the hippotherapy program continues under the Nationwide Children's name.
Location
Toledo, Ohio 43623
Questions to Ask When You Call
The center is the best source for these answers.
- Are you running now, and taking new riders?Start here. We couldn’t confirm a current schedule.
- Which ages and needs do you work with?Ask about experience with your rider’s specific condition.
- Is a licensed PT, OT or speech therapist involved?Therapist-led hippotherapy is usually the only kind insurance may cover.
- What does a session cost, and are there scholarships?Many nonprofit programs offer sliding scales or sponsored spots.
- Do you have a mounting ramp or lift?Important for riders who use a wheelchair or need help mounting.