The original Root Farm on College Hill in Clinton, NY was established by Elihu Root,
who believed that exposure to farm life and animals was essential to the wholesome
upbringing of his children and grandchildren. He left the farm to his children: Elihu,
Edith and Edward. They, in turn, gifted it to Hamilton College in 1951. The original
Root Farm house is now a student residence; the horse and cow barns are the pub and
mail center.
Alice Root, the great grand daughter of Elihu the first, fostered the vision and established
Mud Creek Farm Center for Equine-Assisted Therapy in Vernon Center, NY, where special
needs children and adults received the benefit of equine/caprine/canine/feline and
avine-assisted therapy. After seven years, the transition to a free-standing, full time
facility became possible in the summer of 2004, and the legacy began to mature.
The new site for The Root Farm in Verona, NY will continue to fulfill Elihu Root's belief
in the value of exposing children to farm life and animals. As the new home of The Root Farm
Foundation and Center for Equine-Assisted Therapies, it perpetuates the legacy of public
service and philanthropy.
Root Farm Programs
Hippotherapy is a treatment strategy devised and implemented by a licensed physical,
occupational or speech therapist that uses the movement of the horse as a treatment tool.
The primary focus of Hippotherapy is to achieve functional goals, such as range of motion,
muscle control, and sensory processing.
Adaptive Vaulting is vaulting modified according to the physical, cognitive, or emotional
limitations of persons with disabilities. Lessons are conducted by a vaulting coach who has
a familiarity with the needs of both horses and persons with disabilities. The student is either
on a lead line or in a lunging circle.
The Sibling Program welcomes able-bodied siblings to participate with their special needs brother
or sister. Generating positive interaction for the special needs family, the Sibling Program
individualizes adaptive vaulting exercises to challenge the ability of each child. Lessons are
conducted by a vaulting coach who has a familiarity with the needs of both the persons with disabilities and the horse.
The Driving Program exposes at-risk and special needs adolescents to the skills of harnessing a horse,
donkey or mule; hitching the animal to a cart, and driving in an indoor arena or outdoor track. Taught
by a certified Driving Instructor, the driving program builds self-confidence through attention to task,
problem solving, and skill mastery.
HARNESS Helping
At-
Risk
Nurture
Extra
Special
Skills.
A therapeutic driving program designed for at-risk adolescents.
Day Rehabilitation is designed for special needs adolescents and adults. Participants are exposed
to all aspects of the care and handling of horses, from the ground up, and sessions are individualized according to need.
Root Farm Vaulters is an integrated handicapped / non-handicapped club, registered with the AVA (American Vaulting Association)
that practices twice weekly at the farm. The club develops the skills necessary to participate in community demonstrations
and compete in AVA recognized events. Membership is available for individuals and families.
© 2008
| Angels for Children
| P.O. Box 249
| Washington Mills, New York 13479
| 315.292.8761
| contact us
