Storm Harbor Equestrian Center Slippery Rock University

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

04/14/2026

📚🐴 Exciting News from Storm Harbor! 🐴📚

We’re thrilled to share a brand-new program we’ve been piloting this semester in partnership with the Slippery Rock University College of Education—Books in the Barn!

This unique initiative pairs young readers (grades K–2) with some very special listeners…our horses. During structured reading sessions, children read aloud in a calm, judgment-free environment, helping to build confidence, improve motivation, and strengthen reading skills in a fun and meaningful way.

Not only are we supporting early literacy, but we’re also beginning to collect data on student engagement and motivation, with the goal of growing this into a larger research-based program in the future.

We’re so proud to be part of innovative, community-focused programming like this and can’t wait for an official launch this fall!

Stay tuned for more updates—and maybe a few adorable reading buddies 🐎💛

04/14/2026

📚🐴 Exciting News from Storm Harbor! 🐴📚

We’re thrilled to share a brand-new program we’ve been piloting this semester in partnership with the Slippery Rock University College of Education—Books in the Barn!

This unique initiative pairs young readers (grades K–2) with some very special listeners…our horses. During structured reading sessions, children read aloud in a calm, judgment-free environment, helping to build confidence, improve motivation, and strengthen reading skills in a fun and meaningful way.

Not only are we supporting early literacy, but we’re also beginning to collect data on student engagement and motivation, with the goal of growing this into a larger research-based program in the future.

This collaborative effort brings together an incredible team:
✨ Mrs. Diane Papa, Dr. Sara Tours, Dr. Luqing Zang, Dr. Whitney Angelini
✨ SRU alum Ally Gilmore
✨ Current education student Kate Chesters

We’re so proud to be part of innovative, community-focused programming like this and can’t wait for an official launch this fall!

Stay tuned for more updates—enjoy some pictures of our adorable reading buddies 🐎💛

04/05/2026

A big congratulations goes out to English equestrian club rider Emilie Harrison for advancing to the IHSA national horse show in intermediate equitation over fences! Way to go Emilie!!! The IHSA national horse show is at the Tryon international horse park in NC. We wish her the best of luck!! GO ROCK!