As she leads a mare around the arena in a circular pattern, an exercise technique known as lunging, Morgan Williams ’27 prepares the horse for an equine therapy session later that day. It's all part of her summer internship in Dublin, where the SUNY Potsdam exercise science major spent eight weeks working with horses and children with special needs.
“That was by far one of the most interesting tasks I got to do because by training these horses you improve the experience for the riders themselves,” she said. “This strengthens the horses’ backs and cores which improves their ability to properly carry riders.”
Learning the Ropes
Through ChildVision, an organization that offers equine-assisted activities for children with disabilities and special needs, Williams spent the summer of 2026 learning how to care for horses and help children improve their mobility, mindset and social skills.
“Equine therapy was completely new to me, but it was incredibly interesting. ChildVision in particular applied a method that had both psychological and physiological components. It was called the Horse Boy Method, which is a type of equine therapy that uses the movement of the horse to improve physical and cognitive abilities. I worked exclusively with children with disabilities, and I realized how incredibly fulfilling that was,” she said.
Each morning, Williams walked into the indoor arena, slipped into her work boots, cleaned the stables and groomed the horses to prepare for therapy sessions. When a young client arrived, she handed over the rope so the child could lead the horse around the arena, then helped the youngster into the saddle. From there, Williams oversaw a 30-minute session on a forested trail, passing over hills and bridges.
“The internship was the most fulfilling and rewarding thing I have ever done in my life. The staff at ChildVision taught me so much. I was instructed on daily expectations and tasks, but they taught me how to be a better person, someone who is more understanding,” she said.
Beyond the Barn
At the end of the day, Williams returned to University College Dublin’s campus, where she lived during the internship through the EUSA Dublin Program.
“The amazing part of working with that company was that it wasn’t just SUNY students, I met students from across the United States and different colleges like Colorado State University, University of Florida, Virginia Tech and so many more,” she said.
Together, the group traveled through the Irish countryside to Glendalough National Park, visited villages outside Dublin such as Blackrock and stopped at an Irish farm where Williams held baby lambs.
“EUSA also introduced us to different parts of Irish culture, we had a sports day where we learned how to play Gaelic football and hurling! Also, I went to Waterford and Wexford, Galway and the Cliffs of Moher. I still can’t get the image and feeling of standing at the edge of the Cliffs of Moher out of my head,” she said.
Cliffs of Moher
Ireland also held personal meaning for Williams. Extended family still lives on the farm where her grandmother grew up, which made the summer all the more special.
Williams first heard about the internship during her junior year at SUNY Potsdam, when Sarah Lister, director of the Center for Applied Learning, pointed her to the SUNY study abroad website. Further research led her to a SUNY Brockport program offered in collaboration with EUSA, which allowed her internship credits to transfer back to SUNY Potsdam.
Ireland’s proximity to England and Western Europe made travel easy, and Williams took full advantage of her surroundings, visiting 10 other countries and more than 15 cities during her stay.
“If someone wants to study abroad, one of the things I tell people is to travel, and make the most out of their time. It was a life-changing experience to say the least,” she said.
Next Stop: Sports Medicine
Now a senior, Williams is completing her degree in exercise science and playing her final season with the Potsdam Bears women’s soccer team, the sport that first brought her to the College. After playing soccer her entire life, she decided to attend SUNY Potsdam for athletics alone and choose her academic path once she arrived.
Photo by Sophia Pleat '26
“When I decided to pursue a degree in exercise science, the main goal was to find a career where I could help others, more specifically, athletes. As someone who has had injuries and has been through physical therapy, I realized how crucial it was to have people in this field. I wanted to be someone who could change another person’s (or athlete’s) life and pay it forward in a way,” Williams said.
With classes ranging from Performance Psychology and Performance Nutrition to Personal Training Fundamentals and Exercise Physiology, Williams has built the skills to succeed in her career. The internship in Ireland added a framework for working with clients.
“There are a lot of things that you can’t necessarily learn in a classroom, like how to interact and connect with others. More often than not, one thing missing in healthcare is proper bedside manner and how physicians treat their patients. By doing that internship, I was able to work with a wide variety of people and learned how to connect and interact with others when they were distressed or overwhelmed,” she said.
When Williams graduates next year with a strong foundation in exercise science training as well as scientific cornerstones like chemistry, she plans to pursue a career as either a physical therapist, physician assistant or doctor.
“My time here at Potsdam has been highlighted by the people I’ve met and the opportunities I have been given. I have received so many opportunities that have helped me in so many ways that I can’t even begin to describe,” she said. “I have also met some lifelong friends, and I have worked under incredible mentors who have taught me so much. Potsdam really makes you a person rather than the number you’d be at a larger college.”
Article by Jason Hunter