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Stable Possibilities, LLC, integrates its specialty, Hippotherapy, into the patient’s clinical treatment, providing the most dynamic and productive treatment for our clients. The active and symmetrical movements of the horse provides the correct approximation of gait, facilitates more integrative perceptual motor skills, and provides the input into vestibular, tactile, and proprioceptive systems simultaneously.
For more information, email Susan Vergilio at susan@stablepossibilities.com.
Our Therapists:
 Susan R. Vergilio, OTR, is an Occupational Therapist certified in Hippotherapy, the use of the movement of the horse as a treatment tool. She obtained her certification through Western Michigan University’s Master’s Certification in Hippotherapy. WMU's certification program was the only university-based curriculum in the world.
A therapist for more than a decade and certified in Hippotherapy for several years, Susan is a registered therapist with the North American Riding for the Handicap Association and is also registered with the American Hippotherapy Association. Having made it her focus in collegiate studies and having attended numerous courses on neurodevelopmental treatment, her training has also included substantial work in treating patients of all ages with myriad neurological dysfunctions, including TBI, CVA, Parkinsons, dystonia, among others.
This work has lead her to the Professional Advisory Board for the Michigan Parkinson Foundation (MPF), an organization with which she has been affiliated since 1998. Through the MPF, Susan has had the opportunity to speak and educate other professionals and patients throughout the state with the Michigan Parkinson Initiative.
 Courtney A. Angell, OTR, is an Occupational Therapist with Stable Possibilities, LLC and is a registered American Hippotherapy Association Therapist She is also certified as a Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor with the North American Riding for the Handicap Association. She received her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan University and while she was attending the university she knew she had a goal of practicing hippotherapy so to obtain even more experience around horses she began working as an instructor at the nationally recognized Cheff Center, one of the founding centers for equine assisted activities and hippotherapy. She used her time to gain more experience by teaching children with disabilities how to ride the horse as a recreational activity (often called therapeutic riding but now properly referred to as equine assisted activities) During her employment there she was also able to observe hippotherapy in action.
She has been a North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) Registered Therapeutic horseback-riding instructor since 2005 and maintains this certification despite graduating and now practicing hippotherapy. She has been working with horses ever since she was a young girl saving every dime to send herself to horse camp! Courtney has worked with patients of all ages and a variety of diagnoses: Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Spinal Cord Injuries, just to a name a few. She is a passionate therapist who truly believes that the horse is the best therapeutic tool for most disabilities. Courtney lives in East Pointe, and always being the animal lover, has 2 dogs!
Note: As of late summer 2009 Courtney will be undertaking a professional travelling sabatical. We are looking forward to her return in early 2010.
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