Louise Barrett

HCPC No: PH48816

Overview

Louise graduated from University College London in 1995 with a First Class Honors degree. Since then she has had a varied career in the NHS and private practice, leaving the NHS in 2005 as an Extended Scope Practitioner specialising in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. Trained as a Pilates instructor in 2005 and went on to specialise as a certified equestrian Pilates instructor in 2012 in the United States. Her passion for horses led her to become involved with the Riding for the Disabled Association in 2012. Very quickly Louise realised that this was an area she wanted to pursue and after becoming an RDA coach in 2013 she went onto train and hippotherapy completing her course in 2014. Louise works closely with the RDA as a regional physiotherapist and delivers training for the east region RDA. Louise is a national para classifier and attends regular hubs profile riders for competition. Recently Louise has completed a postgraduate diploma in equine facilitated learning Equi-Scotia CIC.

Determined to follow her passion, Louise founded the charity REACH (Rehabilitation, Education Assessment and Centre for Hippotherapy). As CEO and clinical lead plus self-employed specialist physiotherapist Louise has established a thriving charity at her home in Essex starting off with her children's ponies and a few volunteers to becoming a successful small charity. The charity has grown and now has 12 members of staff including nine coaches, an occupational therapist, two physiotherapists, nine equines and over 60 volunteers offering a variety of Equine Assisted Therapies including therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, carriage driving, alternative education using groundwork facilitate learning programs six days a week. REACH is a member group of the RDA.

Louise has been involved with a ACPEA working in this field since 2014. Louise was vice-chair from 2015 to 2021 and Chair of the training and education subcommittee from 2017 to 2021. Louise has been involved with the delivery of the hippotherapy course and training days. Louise is a physio lead tutor for the multidisciplinary postgraduate training in Equine Facilitated Therapy. Louise is also involved as a specialist physio/biomechanics trainer and assessor for the RDA Princess Royal advanced coach training program.

Specialisms

Sports and Exercise Medicine  · Adult Musculoskeletal  · Equine Facilitated Physiotherapy  · Hippotherapy  · Equine Assisted Therapy

Contact information

07791188473 | lblees2003@googlemail.com

Kelvedon Hatch