Storm Harbor Equestrian Center Slippery Rock University

06/22/2026

Who can identify staff and student workers!?

Edit: pictured in post: Ella, Brynne, Victoria, Rachel, Kenzie, Shay, Chelsea, Courtney, Kelly, Deb

06/12/2026

The Carolyn Carruth Rizza Memorial Garden is in full bloom! Visitors can sit and relax, listening to the water trickling and an occasional nicker from one of the horses. 🪻🌼🌸🐴 Have a great weekend! Camp Rock starts Monday!

06/10/2026

Our dreamers of Quality Life Services-New Castle both share a passion for horses. Amy and Lynn shared a dream to the Storm Harbor Equestrian Center Slippery Rock University. Amy said horses have always been a big part of her life and was in her glory to be around and ride them again. Lynn was thrilled just to be in the presence of the beautiful horses and getting to ride was very exciting. They both stated that their day out doing something different was a dream come true.

05/27/2026

Mark your calendars for the Sunset Serenade on October 2! Our theme this year is America 250!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🤠

04/29/2026

Rachel McDermitt is having a great Spring Semester! A dedicated student worker at SHEC, recently elected Captain of the Western Equestrian Club at Slippery Rock University and a standout in her major. Keep blazing the trail to success Rachel!

CHP students Rachel McDermitt (Criminology & Social Work) and Caleb Hankee (Psychology) presented preliminary results from their research Recovery Lifestyle at the PA Criminal Justice Educators conference in Greensburg, PA. They are working with Drs. Yvonne Eaton-Stull (Social Work), Chris Streidl (Social Work), Catherine Massey (Psychology), Sarah Kuehn (Criminology/Criminal Justice) and Daniel Eaton (PSU-Nursing) on this interventional research.

04/29/2026

Whitney Angelini, PT, DPT, HPCS, CTRI has been busy! Angelini recently presented at Equine Affaire in Columbus, Ohio on the
physical effects of horseback riding, emphasizing the biomechanics of riding and exercises designed to improve rider steadiness in the saddle. Her work focuses on helping riders better understand the connection between body mechanics, posture, and balance for improved performance and function. Additionally, she recently earned the Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist (HPCS) designation, an advanced specialty certification for licensed therapists that recognizes extensive knowledge, clinical reasoning, and expertise in the therapeutic use of equine movement as a treatment tool within therapy practice. The credential requires professional experience, direct clinical treatment hours using hippotherapy, and skilled
horsemanship.

Whitney along with Betsy Kemeny, Professor and Program Director of Recreational Therapy, at Horses and Humans Research Foundation - Presented “Steady in the Saddle: Adaptive Riding as a Fall-Reduction Intervention for Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease” with fellow SRU colleague Dr. Betsy Kemeny. Shared findings from a pilot study exploring how six sessions of adaptive riding may help improve gait, posture, balance confidence, and postural control in adults with Parkinson’s disease. Their work highlights mounted equine-assisted services as a promising and innovative approach to fall prevention.

Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist (HPCS) designation - Angelini became a board certified hippotherapy clinical specialist which is an advanced specialty certification for licensed therapists that recognizes expertise in the therapeutic use of equine movement as a treatment tool within therapy practice.

We are grateful to have Whitney as part of the SHEC team!

04/29/2026

Skills are not left out of lessons when we are outside enjoying nice sunny day! skills Storm Harbor Equestrian Center Slippery Rock University

04/28/2026

Thank you for getting our fence in perfect repair!

04/25/2026