A ticket to ride:
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Alumna’s gift provides year round opportunities
torm Harbor Equestrian Center recently received a in the cold winter months to ensure that riding continues major boost from donors Anita Rathburn, ’72, and through temperatures below 30 degrees. It is hard her husband Gary Rathburn. Through their philfor riders and volunteers to continue programming anthropic support, the Rathburns helped to equip when the temperature reaches 30 degrees or below. the indoor riding arena with a radiant heating Many of our riders do not have physical activities system. Prior to the Rathburns’ gift, riders could other than riding, so for them, stopping lessons not participate in lessons when temperatures in the winter is a really hard thing to do.” dipped below 30 degrees Fahrenheit. The The radiant heating system is attached to the Rathburns, who understand that warmth is a ceiling and runs the entire length of the riding matter of the heart and not just the thermostat, arena. Radiant heat is eco-friendly and needs saw an opportunity to help. to be turned on just prior to and during riding The Rathburns’ initial interest in Storm lessons to take the chill off the arena. Gramlich Harbor was sparked when Anita Rathburn described the effect as making the riders “feel like received a call at their Tulsa, Ok. home from a the sun is radiating down on them.” SRU student calling on behalf of the Annual Fund Storm Harbor provides equine-assisted activities to Phonathon. During the conversation, the student caller 85 riders each week. Equine assisted activities promote recognized Anita Rathburn’s interest in special education and balance and help with gross motor, language, social and self-help shared news of a University initiative that might be of interest: the skills, as well as build confidence in the riders. In addition to providStorm Harbor Equestrian Center, and its positive impact on chiling invaluable experiences for riders, the center provides experience to dren with disabilities. Storm Harbor’s mission is to provide equineSRU students who work alongside the professional instructors and see assisted activities for individuals with disabilities. firsthand the benefits that equine assisted therapy has While Rathburn had contributed to the Annual for participants. We toured Storm Fund Phonathon in past years, this conversaThanks to the Rathburns, riders like SRU’s Patty Harbor and I tion inspired her to make a $1,000 gift to Storm Hladio, director of financial aid, now can saddle thought it was a Harbor to support its life-altering work. up even during the coldest months of the year. great program and Previously, Hladio rode once a week but had to Not long after the Phonathon conversation that piqued her interest, Rathburn contacted Courtney great facility. It also forego lessons in frigid conditions. Gramlich, director of the Storm Harbor Equestrian “I find it very exciting to be both physically and has great people Center, to arrange a tour. Gary Rathburn, senior mentally challenged,” she said. “Even though I have heading it up. vice president for Alliance Resource Partners, a an irreversible, progressive muscle disease, it has been diversified coal producer and marketer, made reguamazing to see how horseback riding has strengthlar trips back to the Pittsburgh area. Anita Rathburn decided to join ened some of my core muscles, which has made it easier to perform him on a trip and reconnect in person with her alma mater. some basic day-to-day activities.” “We toured Storm Harbor and I thought it was a great program “I am so appreciative to the donor who thought about the need and great facility,” she said. “It also has great people heading it up. to heat the barn in the winter,” Hladio added. “I get so much When we realized that the facility could not be used during the benefit from riding, but when the temperature is exceptionally colder months, I was disappointed because I know how important low, my body doesn’t tolerate the cold and I end up canceling the constant repetitive practice can be.” lesson. With the heated barn, I’ll be able to ride year round.” “We were very interested to find out that a heating system had been Ryan Campbell, now 15 years old, began riding at Storm talked about but that financial support wasn’t in place,” Rathburn Harbor when he was 9. Campbell was diagnosed with autism said. “This was the opportunity that Gary and I were looking for, and spectrum disorder at the age of 3 and had very poor gross motor we were pleased to jump in and make it happen. I am very pleased skills when he first came to the center. He had a difficult time and feel very blessed to be able to do this. It would be very exciting to running and sitting upright in a chair at school. After beginning see this program grow and become available to more people.” weekly riding lessons at Storm Harbor, the change in his physical Gramlich said, “The radiant heating system will help tremendously state was almost immediate. “It was often difficult for Ryan to continue his riding during Photo at left: Ryan Beunier with Smooch. the winter months,” said his grandmother Kathleen Strickland. “The arena was so cold classes were often canceled, and even Photo top center: Gary and Anita ’72 Rathburn.
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