The Storm Harbor Equestrian Center, a therapeutic riding program, will soon see some upgrades.

An expansion at the center, which is on the campus of Slippery Rock University, will increase the facility to more than 23,700 square feet, extending the indoor riding arena by nearly 5,000 square feet to 15,200 square feet. The addition also adds six horse stalls, raising the total to 18.

Courtney Gramlich has managed the center since 2006 and is now overseeing the largest project in the program's 14-year history.

Storm Harbor provides equine-assisted activities and therapies for children and adults with disabilities, and serves people from more than six counties.

The center provides SRU students with field experience in assisting people with special needs. The Slippery Rock University Foundation also acts as a fiscal agent, coordinating donations and volunteers.

“With our programming and the amount of people in the building, we are busting at the seams,” Gramlich said. “In the last two or three years, we've noticed that the need for programming has increased.

“We've been able to secure more grant funding to add additional activities, and more people are realizing that the facility is here, all of which has resulted in more traffic and our need for additional space.”

Storm Harbor hosts about 120 riding lessons per week and overall clients can exceed 250 each week, according to Gramlich.

She said the expansion will allow more opportunities for concurrent programs and larger groups.

Gramlich said the construction could be completed by April 30 and should involve little disruption in daily activity. The majority of the center's client-based activity occurs in the afternoon and evening, and the construction work will mostly be done in the early morning.

Funding for the project came from two separate leadership gifts — from Gary and Anita Rathburn and Paul and Carolyn Rizza — totaling $900,000.

Carolyn Rizza, a former SRU professor and adviser to SRU's first intercollegiate horse show association team, has been involved with the project since its inception. The center is named after her husband's horse.

“He had the right name for a facility like that,” Rizza said.

Rizza is still active with the center as an adviser for the charity committee. She said that since the center's opening, it has greatly blossomed.

“I've known Courtney for years,” Rizza said. “She's done such a good job.”

Rizza said she believes wholly in the benefit of riding, and she's seen the results first hand.

“It's so meaningful,” she said.

Gramlich said therapeutic riding goes beyond equine-assisted activities.

“The riders are learning skills, but they're also getting a lot of therapeutic benefits,” Gramlich said.

She said some find freedom in motion, especially those in wheelchairs.

“Sitting on the horse, the hips and pelvis will move as if you're walking,” Gramlich said.

“They get a lot of independence when they get on the horse.”

She said for others with mental disabilities, the horses stimulates them in new or unique ways.

“They really relate to the horses,” Gramlich said. “Some of our riders don't have a lot of verbalization, but when they get on the horse, they talk a lot.”

Rizza said the center also creates lasting memories for volunteers, including nonstudent volunteers.

But for the SRU student volunteers whose futures align with the center's goals, the work provides excellent experience.

“It's got an education focus that most therapeutic places don't have,” she said.

Gramlich said that about three or four volunteers are needed, depending on the rider, to carefully monitor the horse, the rider and other factors.

She said during slower weeks, the center might only record about 40 volunteer hours — but on others, it can log 120 hours.

During a busy week when the university is in session, the center has recorded around 200 volunteer hours, according to Gramlich.

She said the center has plenty of help, horses and those in need of its services. Now, it only needs more space, and those plans are also under way.

“We're extremely excited,” said Gramlich, “It's been a couple years in the works to get it all going, and now that construction is starting, it's a thrill.”