Slippery Rock University is expanding its equine-assisted recreational therapy opportunities at the University’s Storm Harbor Equestrian Center, powered by a $76,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Betsy Kemeny, professor of recreational therapy, wrote and administrates the grant alongside Storm Harbor Director Courtney Gramlich, who leads the center, a vital regional sanctuary for veterans seeking recovery, connection and flourishing.
As part of a national VA initiative, the grant provides funding to adaptive sports programs for veterans and service members across the country, allowing recipients like SRU to enhance existing cost-free programs that support independence, well-being and quality of life for veterans.
“Equine-assisted services are powerful in all domains of physical, emotional and social health,” Kemeny said. “You can use equine-assisted services to help people from youth with autism to veterans that may have physical disabilities or mental health concerns such as PTSD. There’s a physical component, a cognitive component, as well as an emotional and social component.”
Since its establishment in 2005, the Storm Harbor Equestrian Center has served as a central hub for support, growth and development, both for students and community members alike across nine counties in western Pennsylvania. Through grants and donor support, the center has been able to provide weekly equine-assisted programs to veterans free of charge.
“Helping people is my mission,” said Gramlich, who graduated from SRU in 2000 with a degree in recreational therapy. “Programs like this help and get them involved and it’s what makes SRU and Storm Harbor a special place for people to thrive.”
Previous VA grants for equine programs at SRU focused on mental health initiatives, but the new grant centers around adaptive and therapeutic horseback riding.
“We’ll continue to work with veterans of all needs, whether it be physical, social or emotional,” Kemeny said. “This new grant expands our programming so that we can focus more on physical disabilities as well.”
“We have riders come in from all across Pennsylvania,” Gramlich said. “We are happy to service anyone that feels like this support might help them physically, emotionally, socially or cognitively.”
Storm Harbor hosted a group of veterans from the VA Pittsburgh on Oct. 27 to ride and groom horses, led by Haley Sherer ’15 a graduate of SRU’s recreational therapy program who is now a recreational therapist for the VA in Pittsburgh.
By merging physical movement with deep emotional connection, the programs at Storm Harbor rely on the unique therapeutic dynamic between rider and horse to foster genuine recovery. As Kemeny explained, this animal-human connection is the foundation of the entire program.
“The animal bond is where we start, because you’re bonding with an animal that connects with unconditionally and will respond to you in a nonjudgemental way,” Kemeny said. “Horses are also herd animals, which means that they are used to being in groups. They respond to the social environment.”
The tangible impact of Kemeny and Gramlich’s work is evident in participants like Noel Mitchell, one of Storm Harbor’s most frequent visitors who participates weekly in grooming, saddling, safety training and riding activities. Mitchell, a Slippery Rock resident, served in the U.S. Army from 1983-2001, retiring with the rank of Sergeant First Class.
“When I was in the Army, I had some stressful positions, and working with the horses calms me down,” said Mitchell. “My wife says that I’m a much nicer person when I come back from a ride.”
For veterans like Mitchell, heading to Storm Harbor isn’t just another weekly routine, it is a source of natural rehabilitation.
More information about the Storm Harbor Equestrian Center and the recreational therapy program can be found on the University’s website. More information about the grant is available on the VA website.
