Just days after announcing the closing of a therapeutic horse riding program at the University of New Hampshire that serves children affected by cerebral palsy and other disabilities, the dean of the school’s College of Life Sciences and Agriculture said the program would remain open pending further review.
The announcement that the self-funded program would be closed came as an upset to many parents, students and children. Money for the 20-year-old program is raised through fees and fundraising, and a review is being conducted to assess its financial future. The review will be submitted to the dean by July 1st, after which time a more definitive decision regarding the program will be made.
Therapeutic horse riding, also known as hippotherapy, has been shown to improve muscle tone, motor development, coordination and posture in cerebral palsy children. To learn more about hippotherapy, visit the American Hippotherapy Association website.