2050 Tilden Avenue, New Hartford, NY 13413 | Phone 315 797-3114 | Toll-Free 1 888 578-8807
2050 Tilden Avenue, New Hartford, NY 13413 | Phone 315 797-3114 | Toll-Free 1 888 578-8807
NEW HARTFORD -The Root Farm, a center of excellence for equine-assisted therapies for more than 14 years, is aligning with the Sitrin Health Care Center, Upstate Cerebral Palsy/The Kelberman Center. This joint effort will result in a new facility that will significantly increase equine-assisted therapies and recreational opportunities for a diverse population including children and adults with disabilities, veterans, and injured servicemembers.
“Such a collaboration will enable the Root Farm to fulfill dreams frustrated for years by lack of resources,” said Dr. Alice Root, CEO and founding director of the Root Farm, currently located in Verona, NY. “The profound benefit of equine-assisted therapies and the horse-human partnership will become available to individuals and whole populations that the Root Farm alone could not reach.”
Root’s enthusiasm is shared by Richard Wilson, president and CEO of Sitrin, and Louis Tehan, president and CEO of Upstate Cerebral Palsy. “Sitrin’s master plan includes building an equestrian therapy center on its campus, and this partnership will enable us to move forward with the support, expertise, and solid reputation of the Root Farm,” said Wilson. “We’re very excited about this expansion, which will provide an array of equine-assisted therapies in one central location to benefit many people in need.”
Tehan added, “When Alice Root first approached us about a partnership, we were extremely honored; not only is she a leading expert on equestrian services, she also understands the tremendous benefits that horses – and all animals – have on the quality of life for people with special needs.”
The new equestrian therapy center at Sitrin will house up to 20 horses. New employment opportunities are also expected through various therapeutic disciplines, such as occupational, physical, and speech therapies. A development campaign will be launched to help fund construction of the equine-assisted therapy center.
