SRU’s equestrian center gets accreditation

The center provides horseback riding programs for people with disabilities.

STAFF REPORT

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — The Storm Harbor Equestrian Center at Slippery Rock University has earned national recognition for its program.

A Slippery Rock spokesman said it is the only university-based equestrian center in Pennsylvania to receive a premier center accreditation from the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association.

The Denver-based center awarded the accreditation after an onsite visit that examined the center’s riding programs for people with disabilities, as well as its professionalism, cleanliness and educational effectiveness.

Only four other equestrian centers in Pennsylvania hold the premier center accreditation and none is in Western Pennsylvania, according to the association’s Web site. Ohio has 11 premier centers, the closest being The Camelot Center in Vienna.

“Accreditations are very important because they hold us to a national standard,” said Susan Hannam, dean of the College of Health, Environment and Science at Slippery Rock. “This NARHA designation makes us one of only a few colleges accredited at this level in the eastern United States. This has been a goal since we opened the center two years ago.

The recognition could lead to program expansion, said Courtney Gramlich, the equestrian center director. The center will be able to apply for more grants that are awarded only to accredited centers, she said.

Storm Harbor provides weekly therapeutic horseback riding for more than 55 community children and adults with disabilities.

Slippery Rock students, many in the university’s adapted physical activity program, assist with the lessons which are all conducted by a NARHA-registered instructor.

The center also serves as a site for camps, Special Olympics events and a program for veterans with disabilities.

The center houses 12 horses and has an indoor arena, classrooms and a tack room. It employs several Slippery Rock students.