Polish Equine Facilitated Therapy Association PEFTA

Polish Hippotherapeutical Association (PHA) was established in 1992 in Cracow. It was founded by medical doctors, rehabilitation specialists, psychologists, pedagogues, horse riding instructors and horse breeders. They all knew that developing hippotherapy was an important way of helping people afflicted by illness and disability. The organization consists of 283 members, and is divided into three regional units. In 2021, PHA changed its name to Polish Equine Facilitated Therapy Association (PEFTA).

The mission of PEFTA is:

• to promote equine facilitated therapy as a specific therapeutic activity focused on improving physical, emotional, cognitive and/or social aspects of human life 
• to improve and unify knowledge and skills of equine facilitated therapists
• to provide its members with access to professional literature and information about the development of equine facilitated therapy  in Poland and abroad.

Basic forms of activity:

• Training programs for equine facilitated therapists
• Promoting best equine facilitated therapy centers in Poland
• Projects focused on promoting safe and responsible equine facilitated therapy 
• Creating and publishing informational and educational materials.

Anna Strumińska President - Biologist, Horse Riding Instructor
Joanna Kozik Vice President – Physiotherapist, NDT-Bobath Therapist, Sensory Integration Therapist, Equine Facilitated Physiotherapist,
Michał Stogniew Vice President – Music Therapist, Hippotherapy Instructor
Marta Woińska – Treasurer – Psychologist, Equine Facilitated Psychotherapist
Andrzej Wojciechowski Secretary - Horse Riding and Hippotherapy Instructor, Mountain Horse Tourism Guide

Barbara Gąsiorowska Board Member – Pedagogue, Sensory Integration Therapist, Equine Facilitated Therapist 
Małgorzata Górniewicz Board Member - Special Educator, Horse Riding Instructor, Equine Facilitated Therapist 
Marian Jaroszewski Board Member – Pedagogue, Equine Facilitated Therapist
Alicja Paszkiewicz Board Member - Doctor of Physical Culture Science, Physiotherapist, Sensory Integration Therapist, Equine Facilitated Physiotherapist 
Michał Pluta Board Member - Doctor of Agricultural Science, Horse Riding and Hippotherapy Instructor 
Ewa Polańska Board Member - Physiotherapist, Sensory Integration Therapist, Neurodevelopmental Therapist, Equine Facilitated Physiotherapist, Horse Riding Instructor