HorseAbility’s Mission is to improve the lives of individuals with Special Needs through Equine Facilitated Interactions.
HorseAbility is proud to be one of only two Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) Premier Accredited Centers on Long Island. This prestigious title is awarded to centers that demonstrate excellence in providing quality professional equine-assisted activities. This voluntary process recognizes PATH venters that have met established industry standards.
Our Core Values
HorseAbility’s core values emanate from being a center of excellence in the important world of equine therapeutic service providers. The predominant ideologies of our center are:
Impact
Leadership
Professionalism
Education
Collaboration
Approachability
Belonging
Progress
Honesty
To make a difference, our entire staff understands and embraces these qualities. HorseAbility is a unique blend of compassion, commitment and courage.
Our Vision
HorseAbility’s vision is to be a leader in advancing and implementing continued education, while further developing innovative programming by embracing and sustaining the best business practices in the equine therapeutic industry.
Our long-term view is to partner with our local community to provide hope and opportunity, stimulating positive change in the lives of people.
Our vision for the future is to continue to develop as an educational center that will partner with institutions within the community. We have become more formally affiliated with SUNY College at Old Westbury to offer equine activities that align with their courses, resulting in a new minor curriculum path.
This new program, courses and workshops in conjunction with SUNY are available to college students as well as to our current staff and volunteers, who are interested in a specialized certificate program in the field of Therapeutic Horsemanship and Activities.
Our History
HorseAbility began in 1993 when founder Kathleen (Katie) Kilcommons McGowan lent her horse to a friend and physical therapist who used hippotherapy as a treatment modality for a child with cerebral palsy. When Katie saw the child’s physical and emotional connection with the animal and how her treatment accelerated through the use of the horse, Katie knew she had found her calling. Combining her education, her love of children, and her relationship with horses, she forged her own trail to start this wonderful organization.
HorseAbility converted from a sole proprietorship to a New York Not-for-Profit Corporation with IRS 501(c)(3) status in 2001. Since that time, HorseAbility has significantly increased its operations and expanded its organizational structure.
Our Facility
HorseAbility is located on the beautiful campus of The College at SUNY Old Westbury. We are situated on 20 acres, boast three outdoor riding arenas, ample paddock space, and a quarter-mile grass track. Our new home is nestled in between sprawling hunt fields and a tranquil golf course. As local history enthusiasts know, the campus of SUNY Old Westbury is the former estate F. Ambrose Clark – industrialist, sportsman, philanthropist, and avid horseman. Although his home, Broad Hollow House, burned down in 1968, the stables remain.
2018 marked a momentous milestone for HorseAbility as we completed the construction of our indoor arena. Our indoor ring allows for us to provide uninterrupted, consistent treatment sessions and riding lessons twelve months a year.
There is still space for multiple classrooms and therapy rooms in our Brick Barn. This facility will allow us to further expand our current programs and increase with new programs. We are currently fundraising to update and renovate the 100 year old, 27,000 square foot building.
