Barbara Heine
1946-March 30, 2010
Australia, Australia

Barbara Heine, a former executive director of the National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy (NCEFT) in Woodside, died March 30 at her home in Australia.

Ms. Heine and her husband, John, moved to Woodside from Australia in 1988. An excellent horsewoman and physical therapist, she began volunteering at NCEFT, eventually becoming executive director, then board president.

During her tenure at NCEFT, she oversaw the growth of the program from four to six patients a week to almost 80, and established the center as a nationally recognized therapy and educational center. She joined the board of the American Hippotherapy Association and in 1997 became president, a position she held for three years.

The Heines returned to Australia in 2000, where Ms. Heine continued her involvement in the field of hippotherapy, along with such philanthropic ventures as providing college scholarships to at-risk youth, say family members.