Hippotherapy — the use of horses in therapy — combines two of Erica Kennemer’s great passions.
“I am amazed at the effectiveness and the profound impact horses have on people: socially, physically and mentally,” she said.
Born and raised in Searcy, Kennemer earned a bachelor’s degree from Harding University in 2009 and a master’s degree in occupational therapy from the University of Texas at Galveston in 2012. After a few years of diverse occupational therapy experience, she founded HorsePlay Hippotherapy & Therapeutic Riding Inc. as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2018. Two years later, she achieved certification as a hippotherapy clinical specialist.
In 2021, she and her husband, J.D. Kennemer, opened Therapy Monkey, which has pediatric clinics in Conway and Morrilton.
Getting HorsePlay up and running presented some of the usual challenges for startups like funding and equipment, so Kennemer “had to learn the intricacies of grant writing, fundraising and building relationships with donors and sponsors.” And while any business requires proper staffing, hippotherapy is highly specialized, requiring her to invest in comprehensive training and recruitment.
Kennemer said her management philosophy is “deeply rooted in the principles of care, innovation and community,” including continuous learning and ethical, transparent leadership.
Children with disabilities have been HorsePlay’s primary mission field, but new programs for adults with traumatic brain injuries and stroke recovery are being added this fall. Mental health therapy for domestic abuse victims and veterans are also being added.
Kennemer is a Giveback Partner with T.H.I.N.K. Coffee, the Conway coffee shop that supports special needs children and families. She identified its owners, John and Jo Keith, as business executives she admires for “their unwavering commitment to using their business as a force for good in our community.”
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