Barn Raising

Michael Turton

Four huge copper covered cupolas await installation at the Therapeutic Equestrian Center construction site. Michael Turton A new, Philipstown-based nonprofit organization is developing facilities and programs to help people with disabilities, both children and adults, using a unique form of therapy—riding horses. The Therapeutic Equestrian Center (TEC), a private facility, is under construction on Route 301, east of Route 9, between Glynwood and Stonecrop Gardens. The building will occupy more than 28,000 square feet and include a 20-stall, Dutchdoor barn; indoor riding area; grooming stalls; therapy offices; and administrative offices as well as meeting spaces, storage barn, and an apartment for the barn manager.

Leslie Nice Heanue is the president of TEC, established four years ago. TEC was her vision. "I have always been inspired by horses. When I have faced difficult times I've turned to horses, and to be able to share that magic with the community is a wonderful opportunity," she said.

Patients will include children and adults dealing with autism, stroke, or other disabilities such as multiple sclerosis, Down syndrome, spinal cord injuries, and muscular dystrophy.

TEC will employ "hippotherapy," a form of physical therapy practiced by licensed occupational, physical, and speech therapists trained to use horses and their environment to help riders regain physical strength, mobility, and coordination. Patients can improve muscle tone, balance, posture, respiration, and body awareness. Part of the therapy's success lies in the horses' rhythmic, and repetitive gait— which is similar to a human's walk. The rider responds to the horse's movements with movements similar to that of human pelvic movement when a person is walking.

Therapeutic riding can not only help patients improve physically—it also aids mental and emotional development and can improve participants' concentration, learning and verbal skills, self confidence, and self esteem.

"I've seen non-verbal children become verbal, and adults who needed to strengthen their legs improve their stamina tremendously," Nice Heanue said of equestrian programs similar to what TEC will offer. "It's an amazing gift...and we can offer programs year-round in the indoor riding area."

Similar programs are conducted at two centers in eastern Putnam—Pegasus and Green Chimneys—as well as at Winslow, a center in Orange County. "The centers support each other. We don't see each other as competitors," Nice Heanue said, adding that Putnam alone has some 13,000 people with disabilities.

Construction should be complete by May, followed by a period of planning and program development, with programs getting underway in September. Pre-program planning will include working with the horses to ensure they are acclimatized to the environment—and each other.

The facility is being constructed by King Construction, a Lancaster County, Penn., company specializing in building premier equestrian facilities. Ms. Nice Heanue, who also acts as the site foreman, has been very impressed by the Amish company and its workers. "The quality of their work, their work ethic, and their honesty has been outstanding," she said. "And it's not just about the barn's style and looks—they have the experience and they know about functionality—and with us it's safety first." Nice Heanue had a pretty good idea as to what she wanted the building to look like, and worked with King 's designer, Georgia Hickey, who "helped reinforce my vision with functionality."

Nice Heanue said that wherever possible she also employed local contractors. "We've gone to great lengths to reduce costs, and they really stepped up," she said.

When complete, the multimillion dollar facility will employ six full-time and four part-time staff.

The project was awarded a N.Y. State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) grant toward the cost of installing energyefficient lighting at the facility. Other "green" initiatives included using birch trees that had to be cut down to make benches and simple saddle racks. TEC will be putting its horse manure to good use— trading it with neighboring Glynwood in exchange for hay for its horses.

TEC will rely heavily on community volunteers, and as many as 25 people have already signed on. Nice Heanue said that jobs will range from acting as greeters to working in the barn or with the horses. Information on TEC's volunteer program can be found at myfeettakewings.org

Local residents can also help establish TEC's library. Used fiction and non-fiction books, DVDs and CDs about horses or horse-related stories can be donated through the Desmond Fish Library in Garrison. Eighth grade students at the Garrison School are pitching in to help organize the collection. Because TEC is a registered 501(c)(3) organization, it can issue tax receipts for cash donations received. Information about how to donate is available at the same website.

TEC will seek accreditation from the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA).Information is available at their website: narha.org