The High Hopes
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Inside this
Fall 2007
Living Through Loss & Bereavement ~-
BoardChainnan& ExecutiveDirector Message SpotlightOn Success The Faith for the Journe y
The Spiritof Giving The Gift that Jack Built
Thissummer,
Wa'j!,to Give Shop & Give High Hopes Wishes
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In accordance witli the Americans witli Disabilities Act, Tlie High Hoi:,es Rider is available in alternative formats upon request. Please contact Judie Driscoll at Ext. ~9.
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H I G H H O P E S-· Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
Phone: 860.434.1974 Fax: 860.434.3723
www.highhopestr.org
five children who had experienced a recent loss, participated in a pilot wo rkshop on Loss and Bereavement. The program was designed to help the young people, aged 9 through 17, work through various aspects of their loss using equine and expressive arts therapies. It is well known within the High Hop es community that equine activities benefit the minds, bodies and spirits of people wit h, and witho ut, disabilities. As stated by Instructor Barbara Abrams, "t here is something cathartic that occurs ... in caring for an animal as large and powerful, yet gentle and understanding, as a horse." Similarly, arts therapies, which include sto rytelling, art, music and dance, enable a person to express themsel ves in a format other than words, when words are simply not enough. As Abrams describes, both therapies provide a welco me and vita l means of "express ion of pain, grief, sadness to surface in a natural way, witho ut having to call upon words." The program was designed and run by Kristin Mason, High Hopes Special Programs Coordinator, and Barbara Abrams, w ho specializes in Expressive Arts Therap ies, wit h the assistance of several vo lunteers . In the mornings, the participants took part in equine activities such as herd observation, eq uin e behavior, horse care and learning how to "join up" as partners with their horses. Then they did vaulting exercises, first on a barrel and then on horseback, demonstrating great focus and bravery every step of the way. After riding in the arena, their week culminated in a trail ride that represented their "New Path" whi le astride
their personally decorated horses. For the arts activities, each day the part icipa nt s brought mementos and photographs which they incorporated into a scrapbook, using paint and collage techniques. And, in line w ith the Native American theme chosen by the instructors, the participants made dream catchers and selected a "totem animal" that represented certain aspects of their lives and personalities. In addition, the participants learn ed to stretch themselves, both lite rally and figuratively, during a special yoga session. Finally, they experienced the power of ritu al in a storytelling circle in which they added to the story by impro vising on a variety of percussion instruments allow ing them to experiment in finding new "voices" for themselves and building strength and support in a common creative endeavor. Throughout all of these activities, the participants were provided w ith many new experiences and challenges, as we ll as firm guidelines and loads of encouragement . It was clear by the end of the week that they had gained confidence with their newly deve loped horse skills, increased the ir bond and trust and found expression for their feelings in the creation of bold persona l statements in the various art activities. Barbara Abrams summed it up in her statement, "the horse's mag ic never disappoints me." Indeed, this works hop was evidence once again of the ho rses' magic coming through. Moreover, the wo rkshop succeeded in combi ning that magical power with the transformative power of the arts a true recipe for growth that High Hopes intends to explore in the future.
Founder
essa
High Hopes Board of Trustees Officers
from the
Board Chairman & Executive Director
A New Chapter For High Hopes
Trustees
t truly does seem like only yesterday that I stood in front of the High Hopes Board of Directors (at the time, now called Trustees) in the indoor riding arena, as they welcomed me aboard as their new Executive Director. There I stood, teeming w ith energy and enthusiasm . I felt so very fortunate and proud to be give n such an extraordinar y opportunit y to lead the charge of a nonprofit organ ization so beloved by its community, and so unique in its mission to share human gro w th and development w ith others through a wonderfu l, big hea rted anima l.
I Honorary Trustees
It w as 1995, and High Hopes was about to host the Equestrian competitions of t he Special Olympics World Games. This put High Hopes even more boldly in the hearts and minds of the community of Southeastern Connecticut and people throughout the field of therapeutic riding - the High Hopes horses, staff , volunteers, board and facility made a highly visible contribution to therapeutic rid ing at large, hosting more than 200 riders from 35 nations , and the special equestrian w orld took notice. A nd so began a new chapter fo r High Hopes.
Chairmen Emeriti
Advisory Members
Over the next 12 years, High Hopes realized signif icant growth, not only in its capacity to provide programs to people with disabilities at a newly renovated and expanded facility, but in its fund development as well as organizational development and professional maturity - the High Hopes Staff and Volunteers are held in the highest regard throughout the wor ld for their knowledge and expertise as therapeutic riding professionals.
High Hopes Staff
Today, as I turn over the reins to my successor, Kitty Stalsburg, who has skillfully served as the Program Director for 18 years, yet another new chapter for High Hopes begins. It's a moving story for me, as Kitty opens this new chapter for Hig h Hopes, for someone else is being given that golden chance to grow and develop professionally in the capacity of High Hopes' Executive Director, just as I was 12 years ago. W ith a passion for serving the nonprofit sector and for mento ring ot hers t o do the same, I am heartened and gratified to know that, for someone who has dedicated t heir life's work to therapeutic riding, there is a career path within this organization that continues to provide professional growth, challenge and upward mobility. After all, High Hopes has always stood behind its commitment to professional education and training, and to upholding and promoting professional standards in the field of therapeutic riding. So as High Hopes embarks up on a new chapter of leadership in quality programming in Equine Assisted Activities, I feel I once again stand before the entire High Hopes family with the pride of knowing that we exemplify our commitments through our actions and that I, in some small way, have contributed to our distinction as a professional model in the t herapeutic equestria n f ield . Here's to yet another new chapter for High Hopes and to the st rength that commitment brings when we all share in human growth and development for others, ~ through the enormous heart and wo nder s of the horse. t deceased
11currently
serving as a Trustee
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The Faith for the Journey and a ha lf Faith and her parents, Denver and Rob, took up part ial residence at Boston Children 's Hospital
to camp. Four days after a week- long hospita l stay, Fait h ar r ived at High Hopes! Her mo m describes her j oy in
whi le she went t hro ugh numerous surgeries , and treatments of rad iat ion and chemotherapy.
this way, "She knew she w as the re because she was better and she kn ew she w as go ing to continue to get
One of the "per ks" of being at Bosto n Children's is that patients get to paint the windows of their room however they w ish during their stay. Faith's room
We all have times when w e need something to hold on to . We need something to look for w ard to - to bel ieve that th ings w ill get better . It 's called faith . And fo r on e young lady, it ' s not just how she lives her life , it 's her name . Faith Mcca skey is an 8 year old w ho t ook part in High Hopes' Inclusive Summer Camp this year. " It was really f un and everyo ne w as rea lly nice and t he horses w ere prett y, and did I say it was fun?!" was t hi s spry one's answer to t he question, how was your time at High Hopes. But t hen again, t his was something she had been dreaming of for a long time, so this was just a realization that this dream had really come true. This part of Faith and her family 's journey begins in 2006 when a random accident led them to the doctor 's office to have Faith 's eyes checked out fo r damage that may have resulted from a hit to the head. While they were assured that the blow from the baseball bat did not cause injury, they were shocked to learn that doctors found a tumor lying on Faith's bra i n. While everyone was surprised that she was not . show ing other signs of this tumor's presence, surgery and treatment were needed imm ed iate ly. For t he next yea r
proud ly displayed a portrait of horses, plus the logo of the St. Louis Cardinal s (w hi ch her Dad may have influen ced a bit! ) When Faith w as w ell enou gh t o come home bet we en treat m ents, she t oo k part in pri vate riding lessons. Whil e thi s activit y was ta xing t o her bod y as it fou ght t o stay strong th rou gh t he chemo, it w as the prize th at made th e trial s of tr eatm ent s w orth w hile. As Faith 's t reat ment s neared an end and t he fam ily prepared t o move back to t he M idwest (due to Rob's reassignment wi t h the Coast Guard), her one w ish was to 3tte nd summ er camp at High Hopes. Her faithful friends (aka "family") , t Grace Fellowship Evangelical F¡ee Church enthusiastically sponsor 2d her participation. Approximately 10 days before camp was due to begin, Faith's blood counts plummeted and the family was informed that she would need a transfusion. This was her first through this whole ordeal and a scary prospect for someone who had already been through a lot and just wanted to be DONE wi t h everything! High Hopes' Inclusive Summer Camp became t he goa l that would pull her throug h t his last procedu re. She knew t hat if she had the t ransfusion, she wo uld get stronger and if she was st ronger, she'd mak e it
better!" Faith 's favorite part of t he week w as groomi ng horses and t rail rid ing, since it w as something she had alw ays w anted to do and had never been able to do before . She also liked t he fa ct that peop le at High Hopes didn 't really ta lk to her about cancer. "Usuall y w hen we go out , everyo ne stops us and t alks - bla h, bl ah, blah . I'm rea lly ready to j ust put it behin d me now", she expl ained. And th at 's w hat she go t t o do. Fo r on e week, she w as a pal t o Filly, w ho w as "sweet, nice and not stu bborn " and even put up w ith being decorated w ith red beads and a braid ed ta i l! In the end, she was just a kid w ho loves horses, and w hen asked w hat she thought other kids should know about High Hopes, she replied, "They should go! There's nothing more fun t han that!!"
The •
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The Gift that Jack Built
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ver the years High Hopes has been the recipient of many generous donations in support of our programs and participants. While we value all of these contributions equally, gifts from the parents of our riders are especially heartfelt. Last year High Hopes received a substantial grant from a newly formed foundation that brought a smile to our hearts and gave our staff and volunteers a renewed belief in the positive impact our mission has on the lives of our participants and their families. For nearly three years now Jack LiPuma has been riding at High Hopes with Regional School District 17 and the group from Killingworth Elementary School. According to his parents, Beth and Joe, Jack enjoys his time at High Hopes tremendously and looks forward to each Wednesday with great ant icipation. They report that his time at High Hopes has been fun yet, more importantly, has had a strong, positive effect on Jack at home and school. Last September, Beth and Joe started a non-profit organization called The Jack Foundation to help benefit and raise awareness for children wit h disabilities . To kick off the start of the foundation, Jack's parents hosted a golf tournament wh ich far exceeded their initial fundraising goal and allowed them to help
a variety of different organizations right from the start . High Hopes was grateful to be made one of their fund ing priorit ies and the foundation's grant was used for vital operating support. In addition , The Jack Foundation gave the Killingworth school district funds to alleviate the financial responsibility for any family enrolled in the High Hopes program. With this doubly generous gift , Beth and Joe have helped to ensure that the students of Regional School District 17 can continue to receive the benefits of High Hopes for many years to come.
e-Show ~ Family Day The High Hopes A nnua l Horse Show and Fam ily Day is always a special celebra ti on but this year we had added excitement and family fun w ith a Country/Bluegrass concert performed by the nationally renowned Amy Gallatin and Stillwaters and a delicious barbecue supper, all taking place under a beautiful blue sky. The day was dedicated to the Spirit of the Horse and to kick off our celebrat ion, we were treated to a performance by two members of the Quinn ipiac Dancers, a Native American dance team that is part of the Order of the Arrow of Boy Scouts. After a year of hard work, this was the day for our part icipants to demonstrate their skills before friends and family and we congratulate them all on their efforts and amazing accomplishments! High Hopes would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our generous sponsors, our wonderful, dedicated volunteers and to our participants and their families - all of whom made this year's Horse Show a record breaking success!
proceeds during that week will go to benefit the programs at High Hopes, so go stock up on breeches, riding gear and horse care items and help High Hopes in the process!
T
he holidays are coming before we know it and if you're looking for some end-of-the-year ways to share with High Hopes, here are a few ideas:
Shop & Give Fox Ledge Tack Shop at 29 Daniels Road East Haddam (860-873-8949) wi ll hold their Annua l Anniversary sale October 6-13th • Ten percent of all
Shagb ark Lumber & Farm Supply at 21 Mount Parnassus Road East Haddam (860-873-1946) w ill display a Christmas tree with various items that High Hopes needs that can be purchased in the store and donated for our use. The Country Supply website (www.countrysupp ly.com) donates a percentage of your purchases to High Hopes every time you enter our Care Code (high hopes) at the end of your order. You give to our programs EVERYtime you shop- it's sort of like Christmas all year round!!
High Hopes Wishes ...
T
he High Hopes Wish Tree will once again be raised in our Participant Lounge after Thanksgiving and it will be decorated with ornaments of paper cut-outs with a picture or description of the items w e are wishing for. Some are specific to certain horses, like a new bridle for Buddy or a grooming brush for Big Al. Other items are needs for our barn and our therapy programs , as we ll as office needs. Items can cost as much as $500 and as little as $1. You're sure to find a need to fill every desire to give! Throughout the year we attempt to list specific wish list items in the High Hopes Rider, but there are often ongoing needs between publications. If you have items you think may be of help to High Hopes, please contact Sara Qua at 860-434-1974 Ext. 22 or squa@highhopestr .org Items currently on the High Hopes Wish List are:
• 3 or 4 free-standing hay mangers to be used in the paddocks • Stall mats • Beverages for voluntee rs & staff (coffee, hot chocolate , etc.) • Paper supplies (napkins, paper cups, etc .) • Cleaning supplies • Hand tools: shovels, rakes, hammers • Lap top computers; with wireless access, Windows XP or higher or Mac !Books
Me and My Budcly written by High Hopes Volunteer and Sam Buddy Sarah Hill Canning
M
y barn buddy is CodyC0dy's Mean Machine. He was chosen for me a littl Ei over three years ago . When I was asked to be a barn buddy, it seemed daunting, yet it was a great privilege . When I beg~n, Cody lived in the "Yellow" field, and was definitely the "low man" 0f the ¡yellow herd . I was a little nervous about caring for a horse. I had been around horses as a child, but not so much as an adult. What if he did not care for me? What if I was not good enough? What if I found I did not like this white horse, who was really a gray? Nevertheless, I took on this exciting new challenge. I was read y to learn.
So, we began. I groomed him and babied him . Amy (Gardner) would wat ch me, and offer tips on how to massage him, or tell me w here he migh t like t o be rubbed. Each week I wo uld read about clean ing and groom ing , and add something new to our sessions. Originally, Cody did not like his ears or mouth touched. I decided that this would be someth ing we would work to overcome, but Cody did not know ityet. As I worked with Cody, I began to understand what he liked and what he did not care for. In the spring I learned how to bat he Codya lesson that has become
inva_luable, at least from the human standpo int . I also learned how to vacuum him, yes, vacu um him, and he loves it! He is much cleaner after our time togetherbut not for long . Often, when I return Cody to his pasture, he will take off, giving me a bit of a canter, and then stop, sniff around and roll , first one side, and then the other . So much for being clean! Holly (Sundmacker) is a terrific horse ¡resour ce, and she often shares and explains medical things . One winter one of Cody's hind feet had an abscess. Holly showed me how to soak his hoof in a large pan . I thought the hardest part wou ld be getting the
foot in the water and keeping it there , but Cody w as surprisingly good about it. We would stand in the aisle with a steaming pan of water, Epsom salts and Betadine , wi th one foot immersed . I groomed , wh ile he soaked-the perfect spa treatment . We have gotten so we have a rout in e. I do the same things, following the same patterns each week. Cody has learned to expect it . We wash his face with warm wate r-taking the sand out of his eyes. We scrub his teeth with a face cloth, and move to his lips and cheeks, emptying them of old grass and hay. (I surely don't want to be responsible for cavities!) We wash up his nose. We brush and rub his earsand now he even leans int o me when I do this. He rela xes fully w hen I rub his belly and lets out a long sigh. We shave his muzzl e, and he nuzzles the clippers. He loves hi s neck to be curried and he is patient when I trim his mane. When we are all done , he looks 50 handsome. I am very sure-at least on Tuesday afternoons-t hat Cody is no long er the low est horse in the pecking orde r in the Yellow paddock -his selfesteem has to be improved ! So what is it to be a barn buddy? It is absolut ely the best. How very fortunate it is that / was asked to be a barn buddy!
Big Bad VooDoo Daddy In Concert u;ith High Hopes!
of our tir eless volu nteers who rearranged things so that the entire evening could take place indoors. Guests enjoyed hors d'oeuvres donated by nearly 30 local restaurants while viewing and bidding on the fabulous auction and bout iq ue items. Next came a delicious dinner and, finally, the swing dancing began! The two dance floors flanking the band were filled throughout the night with guests of all ages. Our Scholarship Challenge took place during intermission and raised a record breaking $55,000, in much needed assistance for many of our participants. This spectacular evening was made possible by the hard work of nearl y 200 vo lunteers, the generous support of our corporate sponsors (led by Essex Savings Bank and EssexFinancial Services), our ticket buyers, wine and food donors and by our auction and boutique donors and bidders. Congratulations and many, many thanks to all!
Horse Farm of Environmental Distinction
T
his year, High Hopes is a recipient of the Horse Farm of Environmental Distinction Award sponsored by the Connecticut Horse Environmental Awareness Program. Since 2002, this prestigious award has been given to farms in CT which excel in managing horses to protect the environment. We are honored to receive this recognition.
New High Hopes Website Debuts
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ur new website is LIVE!!¡!!! You can
check it out at www.highhopestr.org and see all the exciting new features and opportun itie s. Many thanks to our designer, Dana Evans, our editorial team, Heather Northrop and Jennifer Johnson and our professional editor, Emily Boro, for donating many hours of their time and expertise to the design and implementation of our new website.
ETV Production for High Hopes Essex Television Group has once again been incredibly generous in lending their talents to create and produce a wonde rful film piece for High Hopes, highlighting our work with individuals who have mental health disabilities. We are grateful for their help in bringing recognition to our important partnership with the CT Valley Hospital and other mental health facilities throughout PRODUCTIONS the state.
XPLORE
Please join theHigh HopesFamily) BOARD, STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, PARTICIPANTS, FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS
IN CELEBRATION OF
Alison Zack Darrell's
Contributors to the High HopesRider Fall 200 7 Photos& Articles:Barbara Abrams , Jessica Calcat erra, Sarah Hill Can ning, Ali son Zack Darr ell, Judie Driscoll, Emily Knight, Wendy Knight, Kristi n Maso n, Al den Rockw ell Mu r phy, Heather Leigh Northr o p, Sara Qua, Kitt y Stalsburg , Tony Thu rst on Editor. Heather Leigh Northrop
Designer:
TWELVE YEARS OF COMMITMENT AND LEADERSHIP AS OUR
Kelley Cahill
EXECUTOR DIRECTOR, AT THE
33rd Annual Meetingof High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
This newsletter is underwritten by
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2007 AT 3:00 PM THE SIS GOULD CENTER FOR THERAPEUTIC RIDING AT HIGH HOPES
36 TowN WooDs RoAo, OLD LYME Sig n language incerpreracion will be availab le upon request . Please reserve chis accommodatio n and rep ly by Monday, Octobe r 15 at 860-434- 1974
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