University of New Hampshire Therapeutic Riding Program
Durham, New Hampshire
The UNH Therapeutic Riding Program is run by the University of New Hampshire's Department of Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems on its Durham campus. It offers therapeutic riding and ground-based equine-assisted activities for children and adults with physical, cognitive or emotional disabilities from the community. UNH students help teach the classes as part of their hands-on training.
- Group therapeutic riding lessons
- Private riding lessons
- Ground-based equine-assisted activities
- Horse show at the end of each session
- Hands-on training for UNH students
- Children ages 5 and up
- Adults
- People with physical disabilities
- People with cognitive or emotional disabilities
- Riders with autism, cerebral palsy, stroke or muscular dystrophy
- Riders referred by Seacoast-area families and agencies
More about this center
About the Program
The program has been offered at UNH since 1989. According to the university, riders are referred by families and service agencies throughout the Seacoast area, and the riders include people with cerebral palsy, stroke, muscular dystrophy, autism and learning disabilities.
The program says sessions usually run five to six weeks in the fall and spring semesters, with one 45-minute lesson per week. Classes meet in an indoor arena rain or shine, and the last class of each session includes a horse show.
The Horses and Staff
The program uses the department's horses, a 40-stall barn and the W.C. Skoglund indoor arena. Program director and head instructor Madeline "Maddie" Cicatelli is a licensed occupational therapist and a PATH Intl. certified therapeutic riding instructor. She teaches with fellow instructor Abigail Wallace, a UNH graduate, along with UNH students and trained volunteers.
Getting Started
Registration is done online for each session. Families preregister first, and staff review every application and assign class days and times. Placement is confirmed by email, followed by an orientation appointment. The program says classes fill up very quickly.
Riders must be at least 5 years old, and riding classes have a weight limit of 150 pounds. A fee is charged. Scholarships are available, and families who need help with the cost can apply using the form on the program's website. Anyone who needs accommodations can call (603) 862-0131.
Location
Lessons take place at the UNH equine facilities on the Durham campus. The program's mailing address is the Department of Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems, Kendall Hall, 129 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824.
From public records, not yet reviewed by the center · Last updated Oct 2026 Suggest an edit
Common Questions
Answered from the center’s own website and public records.
Is the program only for UNH students?
No. Riders are children and adults with disabilities referred by families and agencies around the Seacoast area. UNH students help teach the classes as part of their training.
How do I sign up?
Preregister online through the program's website. Staff review applications, assign class times and confirm placement by email. Email equine.therapies@unh.edu to ask when the next session starts.
Are there age or weight requirements?
Riders must be 5 or older, and riding classes have a 150-pound weight limit.
How much does it cost?
A fee is charged, and scholarships are available. Email equine.therapies@unh.edu or call (603) 862-0131 to ask about current rates.
Location
Durham, New Hampshire 03824
Questions to Ask When You Call
The center is the best source for these answers.
- Are you running now, and taking new riders?Start here. We couldn’t confirm a current schedule.
- Which ages and needs do you work with?Ask about experience with your rider’s specific condition.
- Is a licensed PT, OT or speech therapist involved?Therapist-led hippotherapy is usually the only kind insurance may cover.
- What does a session cost, and are there scholarships?Many nonprofit programs offer sliding scales or sponsored spots.
- Do you have a mounting ramp or lift?Important for riders who use a wheelchair or need help mounting.