COLSA looks to scratch therapeutic riding program

The College of Life Sciences and Agriculture is threatening to cut its Therapeutic Riding Program, which has been running since 1989. But many people are hoping the cancellation won’t go through.

The college will review the program’s revenue, cost and benefits before COLSA dean Tom Brady makes a final decision on the program.

TRP offers horseback riding lessons for children and adults with physical, cognitive or emotional disabilities. Using riding skills and therapeutic activities helps to treat vestibular and neurological issues, which can help the client with walking and balance. The program also helps individuals who have sensory integration or hyperactivity issues, like ADHD and autism.

“A rider with hypertonia relaxes on a horse while a rider with hypotonia strengthens and increases muscle tone by changing the size and type of horse,” said Cindy Burke, director of Therapeutic Riding. “There are also a lot of social benefits and emotional benefits like increasing independence, self-confidence and self-esteem due to the close relationship with the horse.”

According to Brady, COLSA will be asked to develop a sound financial plan that can assure the continuity of the program in the future. “If such a plan is not feasible then alternatives, including closure, will be considered,” said Brady.

Brady added that the TRP and the Equine Sciences Program are expensive to maintain and draw few undergraduate majors.
Since the program is self-funded, Burke doesn’t understand why it may be cut. She said the program doesn’t receive funding from the university but raises money by hosting dinners and silent auctions.

Cutting TRP affects students majoring in Equine Sciences because it is one of three concentrations within the major.

“Students doing their undergraduate work here work and learn in that program with real clients and horses,” said Burke. “You cannot learn that from a book and the academic classes will suffer.”

Senior Cheyenne Herbert, a certified TRP instructor, has been involved with the program since her freshman year. “I know what a difference this program makes to not only the riders but to the volunteers and the parents who are watching these kids grow and progress,” said Herbert.

If the program is cut, many students will not receive teaching hours or become certified instructors. “Cutting this program is going to destroy the changes and learning of future students,” said Herbert.

Not only will the students be affected, but the community dedicated to the program could also suffer. There are riders who have been with TRP for years and it has alleviated their disabilities over time.

“We have many stories,” said Burke.

UNH and Franklin Pierce Law Center to hold open forum

The UNH-Franklin Pierce Law Center Merger Exploration Working Group is holding an open forum on Friday, May 15 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in the MUB Theatre II. All members of the community are welcome to attend.

UNH President Mark Huddleston appointed this Exploration Working Group to identify and analyze the issues salient to a possible merger between UNH and FPLC.

The Working Group aims to articulate foreseeable costs and benefits of a potential merger and seeks comments on its draft report before sending its final version to President Huddleston. Members of the Working Group will begin the Open Forum with a brief presentation before fielding questions and comments. Anyone unable to attend this meeting should e-mail Nick Smith ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) with comments.

Franklin Pierce Law Center approached UNH in January 2008 to explore an affiliation or merger relationship to help FPLC achieve their strategic goal of becoming a Top 100 law school. Unlike other law schools that have sought a merger due to financial reasons, FPLC is financially sound. UNH and FPLC staff completed some preliminary work including site visits to Penn State and Michigan State who have recently merged with independent law schools.

In November 2008, Huddleston appointed an Exploration Working Group to further evaluate the prospects of a merger relationship and provide a written recommendation to him in spring 2009. The UNH/FPLC Exploration Working group has been meeting regularly, accumulating information, and meeting with constituents including FPLC faculty and staff. The final draft report developed will be submitted to Huddleston by the end of May.