Hippotherapy Program
RET Meridian Physical Therapy
(253) 841-3041
(253) 841-3041
John Payne, DPT, OCS
Physical Therapist
Dupa Midnight Films. Executive Producer: Nathan Corpus
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John received his B.S. from Brigham Young University in Exercise Physiology. He then went on to receive a Masters of Physical Therapy at the University of Utah. He moved to Washington where he worked in a private practice in outpatient orthopedics and then returned to the University of Utah a year later to complete a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. John has worked in outpatient orthopedics for 16 years and has a board certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS). He enjoys employing manual therapy skills with exercise and movement to help his patients restore their active life styles. John is a busy father of four and enjoys the outdoors; hiking and camping when he can but most of his time he can be found working on home improvement projects around his house and farm. He also owns and operates a horse boarding facility, where he performs hippotherapy. Education: Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Physiology from Brigham Young University Masters and Doctorate in Physical Therapy from University of Utah |
Courtney Courbertier, PT, DPT, CLT
Physical Therapist

About Ann Viviano, MS OTR, MA CCC-SLP, HPCS
Occupational and Speech Therapist
Ann is a Meridian occupational therapist as well as a speech therapist with extensive experience in combining occupational therapy and speech pathology. Ann received her Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from Colorado State University. She then went on to receive her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan University, and in Speech-Language Pathology from University of Northern Colorado. In addition, she had Neurodevelopmental Therapy Training in Pediatrics from the Bobath Centre in London. Ann’s work experience as a pediatric therapist and her love of horses led to her passion for hippotherapy.
Education:
Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan University
Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from University of Northern Colorado
Bachelor’s Degree, Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University
Certifications:
Neurodevelopmental Therapy Training in Pediatrics, Bobath Centre, London
Completed an Equine Science Certificate
Occupational and Speech Therapist
Ann is a Meridian occupational therapist as well as a speech therapist with extensive experience in combining occupational therapy and speech pathology. Ann received her Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from Colorado State University. She then went on to receive her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan University, and in Speech-Language Pathology from University of Northern Colorado. In addition, she had Neurodevelopmental Therapy Training in Pediatrics from the Bobath Centre in London. Ann’s work experience as a pediatric therapist and her love of horses led to her passion for hippotherapy.
Education:
Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan University
Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from University of Northern Colorado
Bachelor’s Degree, Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University
Certifications:
Neurodevelopmental Therapy Training in Pediatrics, Bobath Centre, London
Completed an Equine Science Certificate

Julie Barber, PTA
Physical Therapy Assistant
Physical Therapy Assistant
Adaptive Riding Program

About Maddy DeMaris, CTRI, PATH Int. BA (Psychology), WSU
Fully Certified PATH International Riding Instructor
Maddy has been around horses since she was eight years old and has very fond memories of one of her first ponies, Miss Marbles. She has worked at horse camps with multiple horses and children and competed in Polo at college level. As well as teaching on our adaptive program, Maddy is the barn manager at Sundance Circle Hippotherapy. She knows the horses fantastically well, which enables her to flawlessly match horses to riders. Maddy is passionate about adaptive riding and says:
"I love helping people gain a level of riding skills and independence that they can use throughout their riding career, and transfer into their daily life."
Fully Certified PATH International Riding Instructor
Maddy has been around horses since she was eight years old and has very fond memories of one of her first ponies, Miss Marbles. She has worked at horse camps with multiple horses and children and competed in Polo at college level. As well as teaching on our adaptive program, Maddy is the barn manager at Sundance Circle Hippotherapy. She knows the horses fantastically well, which enables her to flawlessly match horses to riders. Maddy is passionate about adaptive riding and says:
"I love helping people gain a level of riding skills and independence that they can use throughout their riding career, and transfer into their daily life."