What’s New in Extension
Equine-Assisted Services, delivered by the Mississippi State University Extension Service, are now housed at the Mississippi Horse Park in Starkville. From left are Olivia Holden of Southaven, a senior interdisciplinary studies major; Hannah Leflore of Brandon, a junior wildlife, fisheries, and aquaculture major; Amy Knight, an MSU communication instructor and mom of Cameron Knight, therapeutic riding participant; Narsis Whigham, Extension agricultural technician; Lori Irvin, Equine-Assisted Services coordinator; and Abby McBride of Ashland, a senior biochemistry major.
Equine-Assisted Services moves to Mississippi Horse Park
Compiled by Leah Barbour • Photos by Kevin Hudson
Horse riding for children. Horse riding for veterans. Horse riding for special needs and behavioral health.
When a person connects with a horse, a whole range of physical, emotional, cognitive, and psychological benefits can occur, and the Mississippi State University Extension Service offers Equine-Assisted Services with 11 horses that serve about 200 people annually.
Services include a therapeutic riding program for children with special needs, equine-assisted learning for children with special needs, equine-assisted learning for adolescents focusing on behavioral health, the MSU Veterans’ Horsemanship Program, and Veterans Mental Health Support Services.
Until fall 2024, services were based at the Elizabeth A. Howard Therapeutic Riding and Activity Center in West Point. The program moved to the Mississippi Horse Park in Starkville.
