2002-2003 (Winter) Newsletter

Winter 2002/2003 Volume 1, Issue 1

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the top three award winners.

Candidates were selected by a team of AQHA committee members for the first cuts, and the final three contestants were selected by AQHA members who voted for the horse of their choice via the AQHA website.

We were all invited to attend a special reception and award ceremony held at the AQHA World Championship Horse Show in Oklahoma City on November 22, 2002.

Inside this Issue

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

And the Award Goes to ...

We Welcome Three New Board Members We Remember ...

The Journey: From Emotions to Advocacy 2002 Lord Creek Farm Hunter Pace We Say Farewell and Good Luck to Melissa Everett

Cody & CurtisMastroianni PhotoCredit. KristinElliottLeas

Cody TakesSecond Place in the MD Barns Silver SpurAward Contest!!!

By Helene Fenger Director of Development

Calendar of Events This Newsletter is Underwrlllen by:

•

'

We welcome your articles, ideas and suggestions.

Please contact Judie Driscoll@x19 or Helene Fenger@x22 to submit.

High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc. 36 Town Woods Road, P.O. Box 254 Old Lyme, CT 06371-0254 Phone: (860)434-1974 Fax: (860)434-3723 Web: www.highhopestr.org

The American Quarter Horse Association and MD Barns Corporation partner in sponsoring an annual contest - The MD Barns Silver Spur Award - to highlight the many positive qualities of the American Quarter Horse. The award honors those American Quarter Horses that have had an impact on the lives of others or that have been cast in the public spotlight through prominent accomplishments. This year, among hundreds of nomination letters submitted by individuals and organizations throughout the country, Cody's story was chosen to be one of

While Cody could not attend (we thought the trip was just a little too far for him), Linda Almeida and I took two framed photographs of him to the ceremony . As we walked into the arena, the announcer told Cody's story to the audience , while one of his photos was projected onto a large screen for everyone to see. The crowd cheered for him and, needless to say, when they announced his name as the first runner up, it was a "K leenex moment" for us all. Cody won a $5,000 gift certificate to MD Barns, a beautiful plaque, a bouquet of roses , and an engraved silver AQHA belt buckle. And, of course , a kiss from all of his friends!

I extend a heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped Cody achieve his welldeserved moment in the sun: Kristin Elliott Leas, our Barn Manager , for telling me about this contest and supplying great photographs of Cody; Carolyn Jagielski, our physical therapist , Linda Almeida, a member of

28 Years of Changing Lives Through Therapeutic Riding

Continued on Page 6 ...

Executive Director's News

By Alison Zack Darrell Executive Director

AlisonZack Dam:!!& Honey Photo Credit: Kristin Elliott Leas

As we reflected upon the accomplishments of our past fiscal year at our Annual Meeting on October 6, 2002, I was heartened and warmed by the many faces of our riders, volunteers and families that attended this traditional annual gathering, braving the hay bale seating and chilly conditions of the indoor riding arena, to celebrate High Hopes.

Our Annual Meeting gathering is a special time for me because it's not an ordinary "Annual Meeting" with lots ofreporting and Board business.

It's quite extraordinary to me, in fact, because we don't give financial reports - they are published and presented to the Membership in the Annual Report. And we don't even keep Robert's Rules of Order handy.

We bring in interesting speakers such as this year's Dr. Lawrence Kaplan, an orthopedic pediatrician who's provided medical care for many of our rider families, who give meaningful talks; we showcase one or more of our riders and horses with program demonstrations; we make special recognitions in the form of Annual

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Awards to our riders, volunteers and horses, and we highlight the treasured moments of High Hopes' past year with enjoyable audio visual presentations. This year's presentation was thoughtfully crafted

by Helene Fenger, Director of Development, and had us all deeply touched by the little miracles that constitute our every day life at High Hopes.

Our Annual Meeting has never really been about business, we accomplish that quickly with a two-minute report from the Committee on Directors and a quick vote by the Membership for the new slate of Directors. It's always been about the heart of what we do, and celebrating the people that make that heart beat!

One of those people at this year's Annual Meeting was Jessie Roberts.

It is through the generosity of Jessie and her late husband, John, that High Hopes has a permanently endowed home. The Roberts sold High Hopes its land back in 1989, and continued to donate eight of the ten annual land payments back to High Hopes' Endowment fund, for a total contribution of$117,000. This being such an extraordinary and meaningful contribution to the mission of High Hopes, we recognized Jessie with a gift, a wood carving depicting the Sis Gould Center on its beautiful land, in th is, the year ofour final land payment.

Our Annual Meeting would not happen without the help of many volunteers and friends. I'd like to extend a special and warm thanks to Penny Nelson, Laureen Scranton, Sally Aubrey, Karen Danielson, Kenny Melzen, Town and Country Greenhouses of Preston, Tiffany Farms, A&P Supermarket, Aleia's, Cloud Nine, The Driscoll Family, John Sturges, Ring's End/Niantic

Lumber, The Bee & Thistle Inn, Bill Nelligan and Cheryl Heffernan.

On the subject of Annual Meetings, I'd also like to convey to all of you just how proud we are to have had our Program Director, Kitty Stalsburg, serve as the President of the NARHA Board of Directors for the past two years. Her term concluded at the NARHA Annual Meeting which was held in Chantilly, VA on November 21. She was honored by many of her High Hopes family members who were in attendance at the NARHA Annual Conference, and we thank her, on behalfofthe High Hopes Board and Staff, for not only her leadership as Program Director of High Hopes, but for her outstanding leadership for our National Association. ♌

"From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a ,, Arthur Ashe lifi le.

Alison Zack Darrell & Jessie Roberts accepting her wood carving depicting the Sis Gould Center at the 2002 High Hopes Annual Meeting Photo Credit: Petra B. ShC!lrer

HIGH HOPES HAPPENINGS

Program News

By Killy Stalsburg Program Director

volunteering, please give us a call. We are offering monthly Volunteer Orientations and ongoing training sessions to accommodate the needs of our volunteers. If you are interested in learning a new skill or trying

We gratefully acknowledge the many helping hands and hooves that have enabled High Hopes to grow and thrive throughout the past year. We thank each of you for your continuing support.

something new, p]ease let an instructor know and we are happy to make it happen!

Welcome Katie!

your needs and ideas. With the addition of our new classroom facility,

The High Hopes Program staff has grown again! We welcome Katie Guernsey as a full-time staff member. Katie is a NARHA Registered Instructor and graduate of

we are anxious to host events thatare

our own InstructorTrainingCourse.

of interest to our family members.

Please let us know ifthere are any topics that you would like to see presented or workshops that you would be interested in attending. We receive many inquirieseach week specificto our NARHA Approved Instructor Training Course. Our current course began the second week of January 2003. It is a concurrent course for both

Katie's focus will be the development of our Training and Education programs. Katie has a BA in English and a pre-Veterinary concentration from Williams College. She has most recently returned from a two-month stay in Botswanna, Africa where she studied

As a program that incorporates training and education as part of our daily life,

we are reachingout to you to share

Kitty Stalsburg& Doc Photo Credit Kristin Elliott Leas

Our Fall semester saw many smiling faces each day as we worked with over 200 participants each week.

During the first few weeks of program, the competent help of Instructorstudentsin our training course kept things running smoothly.

Many thanks to Janet, Megan, Katie, Amy, Limor and Nancy. They were a tremendous addition to our staff.

Yasuko Tanaka, a volunteer from Japan, was with us for three months.

She is a retiredteacher,loves horses and is safely back home in Japan.

We are pleased to welcome many new participants from school groups as well

as individualsand families. The teaching staff has been working hard to ensurethat the communication needs between instructors and volunteers are being met. With the growth of our program we struggle to keep up with the need for additional volunteers. It continues to be all of those last minute cancellations and unanticipated needs for volunteers that leave us scrambling. If you find yourself with a few extra hours or know of someone interested in

six-week intensive participantsand those enrolled in a four-month extended weekend course. We also hosted a NARHA Instructor Workshop and Certification in December.

Our shelves have arrived and the library is ready for YOU! Through the years we have collected a wealth of books on a variety of subjects. Books on topics ranging from Equine Health to Accessibility are available for reference in our library. If you would Iike to read in a quiet environment while your child rides, this is the place to be.

lions. Her interestsare varied: Nordic Skiing, rwrning, (she has participated in the Boston Marathon twice), writing and of course riding.

Katie lives in Haddam Neck. She has been a horse owner for 15 years and has taken a course in Farrier work to enable her to do her own shoeing. Katie is meeting all of our volunteers and participants. Please stop in the program office to greet her and to say Hi! ♌

Our six-week Winter session began on January 6, 2003 and runs through February I 5th Our Tack 'n Talk 'n Tea sessions are being held once again during the Winter session. We invite you to join us for these informative, fun, get-togethers during those blustery days. Please see the calendar for the listing of specific topics.

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And the Award Goes to ... ·

By Judie Driscoll, Development Assistant

ConnecticutTreasure

JohnM Sturges,Jr.

High Hopes Horse of the Year Rocky

Annual Meeting Awards We are honored and proud to recognize the following members of our High Hopes family who are the 2002 Annual Meeting award recipients. ♦

• Patrick Moreno Sportsmanship Kelsey Rose Swan Lt. Gov. Jodi Rell, Joh11M. Sturges, Jr and Alison l.ack Darrell Photo Credit Kristin Elliott Lea'i

• Paul Burkarth Rider of the Year Whitney Viola

Rocky Photo Credit: Kristin Elliott Leas

On October 21st, Lieutenant Governor Jodi Rell paid High Hopes a visit for a very special person. Our very own Mr. John M. Sturges, Jr. became the October individual recipient of the "Connecticut Treasures" award. Nominated by Melissa Everett, his hard work, dedication and more than 5,000 hours as a volunteer over the past four years made him a perfect candidate for the award.

The Connecticut Treasures program was started by Ms. Rell a few years ago. Each month, one individual and one group are recognized for their work to improve the quality oflife in their communities. As Marlene Clark of The Hartford Courant put it "The world would be a better place, indeed, if we had more people like John Sturges, Jr." Thank you, John, for making our world here at High Hopes a much better place. You truly are ... one in a million. ♦

Each year at the High Hopes Annual Meeting one horse from our special herd is chosen as the High Hopes Horse of the Year. Volunteers, riders,teachers,caregivers,staff, family members, and barn buddies are all given the opportunity to vote for the Horse of the Year and explain their choice. Here are some quotes from the voting sheets and some of the reasons why this 17-year-old Hanovarian gelding called Rocky is the High Hopes Horse of the year. ..

• Program Volunteer of the Year Marni Adamson • Office Volunteer of the Year Karen Danielson • Barn Volunteer of the Year Chiharu Kitajima • Sally H. Aubrey Award John M. Sturges, Jr.

"Patient, gentle, beautiful, caring."

"Sweet & gentle."

"Rocky has done so much hard work, he deservesthis!!"

"He's sweet, kind and

gentle." ♦

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HIGH HOPES HAPPENINGS

We WelcomeThree New Board Members

By Alison Zack Darrell, &ecutive Director Board members play a vital role in providing leadership and guidance for High Hopes. In addition to overseeing and authorizing policies related to the administrative, programmatic and organizational issues for High Hopes, Board members selflessly volunteer their time and expertise in so many helpful ways: volunteering in the ring, sheltering our Instructor Training students and interns, running our benefit events, the list goes on ... We are grateful to all members of the Board for their dedication and support.

Her daughters Lindsay and Emily both hold top ratings in Pony Club.

Deborah also served for five years on the Board ofLymes' Youth Service Bureau as the Treasurer. She was very active in the PTO when her children were in Elementary School, serving twice as the President of Center School PTO.

DeborahA. Welles

Dorinda Winkelman

Mark O'Connell

Deborah is a 25 year resident of Old Lyme. She lives with her husband, John Welles and their three children - Justin age 22, Lindsay age 20 and Emily age 17.

Dorinda is a resident of New York City and Essex, Connecticut. She is the mother of two teenagers, a retired Bereavement Counselor and an accomplished equestrian. Her husband, Mark, is also an equestrian and learned to ride in the Royal Dutch Calvary in Holland. She has a keen interestin ''humanenhorse training and has participated in two Buck Branneman clinics. In addition, she has been active on the Board of the Nature Conservancy in Connecticut for the past four years.

Dorinda loves traveling and fly fishing with her husband and children and has pursued this "dedicated hobby" in locations as fur away as Alaska and Chile. Dorinda and Mark have also graciously hosted the past two Symphony in the Meadows events at their home in Essex.

Mark began riding at High Hopes when he was nine years old. He Graduated from Albertus Magnus College in New Haven in May 2002 and majored in Management Information Systems. Mark is employed at The Hartford Financial Services Group as a Computer Systems Engineer in the Enterprise Technology Services Department. ♌

Deborah received a BS in Education from Northeastern University in 1976. When her children were very young, she attended night school at the University of New Haven where she took undergraduate and graduate courses in accountingand taxation.

Deborah passed the CPA exam in May of 1990 and began working in a local accounting firm. She started her own business in January, 2000 specializing in taxation.

Deborah has been the District Commissioner of the Connecticut Valley Pony Club for eight years.

Her term ended this past December and she assumed the role of Regional Supervisor for the New York/Upper Connecticut Region of the USPC.

Saluteto outgoingBoard Members...

Many thanks to the following members who recently retired from the High Hopes Board of Directors: Elizabeth L. David ( 1993 - 2002) William D. Irving, M.D. (1997 - 2002) Linda Bierrie (1997 - 2002) Maureen Augusciak (I 997 - 200 I)

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VolunteerNews

Remindersand Helpful Hintsfor Volunteers:

By Kristin Mason Perna/ Volunteer Coordinator

• PLEASE REMEMBER to try to plan

on arriving 10-15 minutes early to

SPRING SEMESTER IS AROUND THE CORNER!!!

Our 12-week Spring Semester begins February 24, 2003. A volunteer sign-up sheet has been posted on the Volunteer Bulletin Board in hopes that many of you will join us. If you are interested, please write your name in on the sheet and include your telephone number and days and times available. We're looking forward to having you join us. lfyou are looking to become a new volunteer with us, please check out our "Calendar of Events" on Page 7 to find out when the next Volunteer Orientations are scheduled.

class so we may share information

with you that will assist you in your role as volunteer.

• PLEASE try to give us at least 24

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR GROUP VOLUNTEERS! On behalfofthe High Hopes family, I would like to extend our deepest gratitude for the time, dedication and hard work that the following groups of volunteers gave to High Hopes during 2002.

hours' notice in advance of absences.

• THE WEATHER is getting Chilly, so

remember to dress appropriately (sweaters, gloves, vest, touques Vermont word for wool cap!!)

• United States Coast Guard Academy • United Way Day of Caring • AIC

FUN STUFF!

l DEFINE "VOLUNTEER" The Dictionary defines "volunteer" as: "'One who performs or gives services of his own free will." Some of our own High Hopes Definitions: "One who brightens the days of riders and staff alike by their enduring love for what they do, their smiles and laughter, their selflessness and the giving of their time and dedication."

• CL&P • Pfizer • Doherty, Beals & Banks PC

• Benhaven • SARAH • Grove School • Youth & Family Services of Old Saybrook • FDNY Weekend at High Hopes volunteers • High Hopes Horse Show volunteers • Hunter Pace volunteers • Equine Affair volunteers • Ox Ridge Horse Show volunteers • Annual Meeting Volunteers

"Someone who gives freely of themselves without any expectation of anything in return.''

"Carrot- bearers," say the horses!

WHAT IS YOURDEFINITION OF "VOLUNTEER?"

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lfwe have inadvertently missed a group of participating volunteers during the 2002 calendar year, please call Volunteer Coordinator, Kristin Pemal, at 860-4341974, x 18 and we will include your group or organization in our next newsletter! We wish to thank you all and wish you a Happy New Year! ♦

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Cody Take., Second Place Continued from Page I .. our Barn Staff, Lisa Berardesca, Cody's former owner and Mr. Paul Mastroianni, the parent ofone of Cody's former riders, for sharing their stories with me so I could write the nomination letter; Jennifer Wells, Melissa Everett and Liz Michalski for helping me with website photos and updates; Gary Borla for helping me contact AQHA members; Carolyn Gilbert of Main Street News for wonderful press coverage; and last, but not least, MD Barns Corporation for sponsoring the contest and AQHA for their hospitality. (All air fare and hotel expenses for our trip to Oklahoma City were covered by AQHA!) Congratulations, Cody! ♦

HIGH HOPES HAPPENINGS

Calendar of Events General Volunteer Orientations

to participate in this FREE weekly opportunity to play. There will be opportunities for both mounted and unmounted activites. Free to High Hopes volunteers. Registration required.

th

February 13 @ 5:00 p.m.

March 20th @ 12:00-2:00 p.m.

April 21st @5:00 p.m.

May 29th @ 5:00 p.m.

Learn about High Hopes, take a tour, and get some hands on experience with our four legged equine friends.

Appropriate footwear and clothing are required.

Barn Volunteer Orientations th

February 15 @ 2:00 p.m. nd March 22 @ 2:00 p.m. th April 26 @ 2:00 p.m.

This is a great opportunity to learn about the care and maintenance of our horses, their equipment, the barn, the stalls and our pastures. Appropriate footwear and clothing are required.

Must attend a General Orientation first.

Advanced Horse Handling (HH) and SideWalking (SW) Training Feb. 18th @ 1:00 p.m. (HH & SW) Feb. 20th @ 9:00 a.m. (HH & SW) If you have been an active volunteer at High Hopes, these training opportunities pertain to you. Maybe you wish to refresh your skills as a horsehandler or sidewalker, or wish to learn new skills for volunteering in our therapeutic riding program. We invite you to join us for one or more of these training sessions.

Volunteer Fun Nights Wednesday from 6:00-7:00 p.m.

1/29, 2/5, 2/12 Designed especially for our extraordinary volunteers, we invite you

Equine Massage for Barn Buddies Tuesdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

1/28, 2/4, 2/11 Barn Buddies have the opportunity to bond with their equine pals while learning basic equine massage with Kristin Perna!, Certified Equine and Canine Trigger Point Myotherapist.

She will be sharing her skills while barn buddies provide comfort and relief for the High Hopes horses. Free to High Hopes Barn Buddies. Registration required.

Instructor Advancement Workshop February 4-5, 2003 Are you thinking about moving up to the Advanced or Master level of Certification? Are you searching for ways to improve your teaching? Are you looking for feedback on your riding and teaching? Join us for an intensive twoday workshop designed to stimulate and challenge you as an instructor. Working with NARHA Master Instructors Lorrie Renker and Kitty Stalsburg, you will have an opportunity to ride, teach and network with other instructors. The faculty will provide direct instruction in riding and disabilities as well as providing feedback For more information, please contact Kitty at (860) 434-1974 X 13.

Spring Program Begins To register for any of the above training sessions, please contact Kristin Pemal, Volunteer Coordinator at 860-434-1974, x/8.

February 24, 2003

Tack 'n Talk 'n Tea Wednesdays@ 11:30 a.m.

1/29 - Volunteer Tips 2/5 - The Visible Horse-Anatomy in Motion, Part One 2/12 - The Visible Rider-Anatomy in Motion, Part Two Come join us during this weekly series for an opportunity to talk, listen, learn and clean tack, so dress comfortably!

These sessions are free and open to the general public. Please pre-register by calling High Hopes at 860-434-1974.

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NARHA Advanced and Master On-Site Certification April 22-24, 2003 High Hopes is hosting the NARHA OnSite Certification for the Advanced and Master levels. Interested applicants should contact Suzanne at the NARHA office 1-800-369-RlDE, ext. 17

Continued on page 8

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Continuedfrom page 7

Weekend Lecture Series at High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc. These full-day professional lectures, conducted within the NARHA Approved Instructor Courses, are open to volunteers and professionals in the field for a nominal fee. For farther informatim, please contact High Hopes at 860-434-1974.

All lectures begin at 9:00a.m.

Saturday, February 8 - Human Behavior and Psychology, and Cognitive and Psychosocial Impairments Part 1, presented by Dawn Nelligan, Certified Recreational Therapist and Advanced Instructor, and Barbara Abrams, Expressive Therapist and Advanced Instructor.

Sunday, February 9 - Cognitive and Psychosocial Impairments Part 2,presented by Dawn Nelligan, Certified Recreational Therapist and Advanced Instructor, and Barbara Abrams, Expressive Therapist and Advanced Instructor. *Friday, February 21 - Administration of a Therapeutic Riding Facility, presented by Alison Zack Darrell, High Hopes Executive Director and Helene Fenger, High Hopes Director of Development. Workshop to include Start-Up, Fund Raising, Board Development, Insurance, Fiscal Management, and General Administration. **Saturday, February 22 - Sensory Integration, presented by Janine Stoner, O.T.R. and Registered Instructor Cost per lecture - $40 Any three lectures - $100 (excluding Administration & Sensory Integration) Any six lectures - $190 (excluding Administration & Sensory Integration) *Administration Lecture - $100 ••sensory Integration Lecture - $30

SAVE THE DATE! High Hopes Horse Show May 31, 2003

High Hopes Benefit Event June 14, 2003

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HIGH HOPES HAPPENINGS

Barn News

By Kristin Elliott leas Barn Manager

Welcometo the High Hopes Herd...

Nifty

The horses have grown their wooly coats to protect them in the cooler weather. Horses have a different temperature comfort level than people.

A healthy horse can cope with winter temperatures when given enough time to adapt. A horse in good condition, with protection from the wind, can withstand temperatures as low as 40 degrees below zero! Humans, however, are designed to disperse heat with com fort zone of 50-80 degrees Fahrenheit where no additional energy is needed to regulate the body either cooler or warmer. Horseshave a

massive digestive tract which when processing a fiberous diet generates heat. Like a moose, they have a blocky body design that retains heat and their comfort zone is 15-60 degrees Fahrenheit. They can remain quite comfortable with temperatures in the teens. The horses are prepared for the winter temperatures, so please make sure you are prepared by dressing properlywith warm clothes, hat, gloves and boots.

Cimarron "Cimmy" is a 15.2 hand, nineteen-year old tricolor Tobiano Paint gelding - a very handsome guy! His

most recent 'job" was teachinghis senior owner how to ride. Like many good teachers, Cimmy watched his student progress to a new level, and the time came for the pair to say good-bye.

Fortunately, Cimmy's owner thought of High Hopes, and now we have a great looking new "teacher" in our herd.

High Hopes' WishList We always have a need for: Photo credit: Kristin E!lio!I Leas

Prince Nifty Pine is known to his friends as "Nifty." He is a fourteen-year-old registered Quarter Horse gelding who

had an extensive show career. He was shown in English and western classes, including reining - you should see him spin!

A Dun with a dorsal stripe, Nifty has a refined body type that is perfect for our

smallerriderswho can sometimes be a little timid with our bigger horses.

Welcome, Nifty!

Cimmy

Horse treats, apples & carrots; Flex Free or similar supplement for five horses; Paper Goods-plates, napkins, cups, paper towels, plasticware; Arts & Crafts Supplies-markers, poster board, scissors, etc.; Office Supplies-mailing envelopes, 31/2" floppy disks, pens, Post-It notes, etc.; Cleaning Supplies-Zud, sponges, rags, bleach; Tack Cleaning SuppliesLeather therapy conditioner; Film-Polaroid and 35mm Kodak 200 or 400 speed; Feed bags, Duct tape.

Special Items:

Arena footing, Arena lighting, Video editing equipment; Adobe Pagemaker 6.5, Digital Camera, Vaulting pad; Toolsbrooms, Future manure forks; Brandy surcingle; Western saddle (small & light); Aluminum bleachers; CD's-Fun stuff, kid's music; Brush hog-3pt. Hitch driven; Finish mower-3pt hitch driven; Clean sand/gravel for paddocks and parking lot.

Help us Build our Resource Library:

We are always looking for educational and entertaining books and videos to add to our library.

Photo Cre<lir Kristin Elliott Leas

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We Remember Our Lost Friends ..... .

By Helene Fenger Director of Development

"... And wl,enyou can no longer see me, know that I am there, in everything that shines ... in the stars that guide you home, and the moonlight that dances on the water."

Norm

gentleness you showed a new rider experiencing his first ride.

Thank you for sharing with me the joy and laughter of an experienced rider accomplishing a new task or adventure.

Thank you for the quality moments you and I shared alone, be it the brisk and smooth walks in from the field or the gentle nicker you would give me when I entered your stall to start our day together.

But, most of all, thank you jar giving me the gifts of peace and comfort of always knowing I'll have the memory of your spirit in my heart.

Farewell, my beloved friend May you always enjoy greener pastures and the company cf my adored Apple Jack and Kea."

Wally

situation. In the arena,on the trail,or offsite for a demonstration of our work, Norm was rock steady every time. We are grateful to Suzanne Lavoie for donating such a wonderful little guy to High Hopes, and for his gentle, caring nature that was an incredible gift to our riders.

Marni Adamson, High Hopes volunteer, remembers Norm ... "Thank you for the comfort, patience and

Here are a few memories of Wally from some of his friends.

Carol Gilchrist, High Hopes Instructor ... "When I think of Wally it brings a smile to my face. I knew him for many years. Wally was the first horse to patiently teach me the true meaning of "on the bit". I was then delighted to rediscover him as a therapy horse at High Hopes where he understood his job and did it with grace. In his retirement home at the Abrams he was truly "King of the Hill" I will always treasure the memory of watching Wally very happily and calmly giving two of my children a ride while his two- year-old pasture mate danced circles around him. Wally truly put the word MASTER into the term "school master". Thank you, Wally, you will be missed!"

Barbara Abrams, High Hopes Instructor ... "Wally came to live in our backyard in June of 2000 ajier retiring from High Hopes. He became a babysitter to our young gelding, a school master for any inexperienced rider who visited, and my husband's special friend Wally was truly a gentle soul and we will miss him. ''

Photo Crt-dit. Kristin Elliott Leas

"Crazy/or You", better known to all of us as Norm, was a sweet little grey Connemara/Quarter Horse gelding with a heart of gold and big, kind eyes.

Unflappable, even tempered and stoic, yet with a few tricks up his sleeve just for fun, we could always count on him to take care of our riders in any

they were looking for a new home for Wally. We extend our special thanks to Matt and Barbara Abrams for the wonderful care they gave to him at their farm during his retirement years.

Photo Credit: Kristin Elliott Leas

We are sure that Norm and Wally are

"Walesca" - affectionately known as Wally, was a beautiful bay Hanovarian gelding who came to us after a career in dressage. He was an accomplished, experienced School Master, who loved his job and retired from High Hopes two years ago. Wally was as sweet as they come, and he would do anything we asked of him while always sensing the needs of his riders. We are thankful that his former owners, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Osborne, thought of High Hopes when

runningin the "spiritpasture"with

10_________________

Apple Jack, Kea and the rest of the horses of High Hopes who have passed away. We will never forget them.

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HIGH HOPES HAPPENINGS

The Journey:From Emotions to Advocacy Part I: "An Unexpected Destination"

By Kim Swan A Rider Parent

Have you ever taken a trip to a foreign country? You plan for months: the finances, the clothing, the itinerary, reading about the country, even learning some of the language. Lots of people share advice and ideas to help make your trip easier. You feel exhilarated and can't wait for the day to arrive.

Finally, after months (ifnot years) of planning, it's time to go. Then suddenly, mid-air, the pilot announces that you aren't going to Italy after all.

You have been re-routed... there's a problem. And without your consent, you land in Holland. You arrive in this unknown territory without the right itineraryor money. You don't lmow anything about the language and haven't read anything about this country. Furtherrnore, all the advice and ideas people shared with you earlier no longer apply. You are suddenly alone and scared.

Having a child (through adoption or birth) can be seen as an analogy to this '"travel" experience. We plan for his/her arrivalfor months,we coordinate, decorate, buy clothes, read about what to expect, and hang out with people who have children to learn a little about the "language". Even if it's not our first child, we still go through all the same motions, expecting to land safely in "Italy". But what happens when our child arrives and has special needs? We discover we have been re-routed and have landed in "Holland". Not that "Holland" is a bad place. We just aren't prepared, it wasn't part of the plan.

Fifteen years ago I gave birth to my second child. I had planned the trip to Italy (after all I had been there once before!) but I landed in Holland. I wasn't prepared - I had studied Italy, not Holland. I was alone (I dido 't know anyone in Holland) and overwhelmed.

All of my planning and preparation for this baby came crashing down around me when the doctors told me "he was different". I felt alone in this unknown territory and completely unprepared.

Five years later I was preparing for the arrival of my third child. This time I had tried to plan for everything, no matter where I "landed". And for a while I thought that we had landed safely in Italy. There was no immediate concern and I began to relax. Within a year I knew that I wasn't in Italy and somehow my trip had been re-routed again. I thought I was more prepared this time. But the awful sense of isolation and grief seeped in and I knew I had to learn more about this new place.

My children are old enough now to tell me about how they have experienced being re-routed. They talk about the pain, fear, rejection and longing they live with. They also tell me about the triumphs. None of this comes easily, and I have spent many hours learning to communicate with them in their language.

Do I ever envy those families who always land in Italy? Sure. It's hard work having a child with special needs.

It's exhausting and frustrating and it requiresconstantvigilance. It means learningto become a "consumer"with the medical and educational professionals. But the truth is, my children are the greatest blessing I have ever received. More truth is that they have all enriched my life in ways I would otherwise never have known.

Through them I have become a better person. I have learned courage and

wisdom through these amazing kids of mine. I am humbled by my son's fight for survival for eleven years. I have been reduced to tears many times as I watch my daughter struggle with daily tasks that come so easily to others and to me. They have taught me to take one day at a time and to never take anything for granted.

This doesn't mean that my ( or their) life is easy. It isn't. I'm barely treading water some days; never mind the days that I feel like I am swimming upstream with a strong current against me. I am ever vigilant and ever exhausted. But the journey is always worth it, if even for just a moment when I see SUCCESS written on my child's face. I remind professionals and parents regularly, children are children first, they are children with special needs second. My twenty-plus years as a professional in Special Education may have prepared me for the trip to Holland more than many parents, but the experiences are the same - the joys, the battles, the crises, and the wondrousachievements.

So, I hang on and grab for the brass ring every chance I get. I reach out for help and talk to someone when I need affirrnation. I ask questions when I am unsure. I seek help in all ways that I believe may be helpful to my children. I speak up, ever hopeful that I am heard, and respected, as the parent of the most precious gifts I have, my "special" children.

Editor's Note: Along with being a parent, Kim Swan is an Educational Consultant, providing services to families of children with special needs through her company, EVERYcbild. â&#x2122;Ś

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Development News

By Helene Fenger Director of Development

Annual Appeal Time is Here!

This year's calendar theme is all about family- the family that we create right here at High Hopes. Together we form a circle of support for our riders, working together to help them achieve their goals.

The challenges faced by our riders and their families are at times overwhelming. The child with cerebral palsy who experiences pain because she sits in a wheelchair all day, or the adult coping with multiple sclerosis who must adjust to new and changing limitations to his mobility and freedom - these difficulties affect not only the person involved, but everyone around them especially the people who love them.

This year, we ask that you help us meet our fundraising goal of$95,000 - yes, that's right, $95,000! Therapeutic riding is a labor-intensive activity ... but the results are priceless. The good news is that we have received a leadership gift of$5,000 from an anonymous donor! With that generous gift, our Annual Appeal is off to a healthy start.

I encourage you to linger over the faces you see in the calendar ... they are real people with real lives, hopes and dreams. And then I ask that you help them realize some of those dreams at High Hopes with your gift to the Annual Appeal. Thank you!

Corporate Sponsor-A-Horse Program Do you work for a corporation that is looking for a unique way to contribute to High Hopes?

Please let them know about our Annual Corporate Sponsor-A-Horse Program.

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For details, call me at 860-434-1974, extension 22.

CommunityPartners Our Family is growing to include an ever-widening Circle of Support from Community Partners who help us meet the needs of our riders and horses. We deeply appreciate the recent contributions made by the following

businesses,foundationsand organizations:

The Community Services Fund

SBC/SNETEmployees Photo Credit: Krisein Elliot Leas

The Community Services Fund is a longstanding employee based group, whose members include SBC/SNET employees in regions throughout Connecticut, and the Communication Workers of America (CWA) Local 1298 based in Hamden. In July of this year High Hopes hosted members of CSF from the New Haven and New London regions, giving them a tour of our facility and a presentation. Three special friends helped us by offering testimonials about their experiences at High Hopes: Landon Potts, former High Hopes rider and summer intern who is now a student at Quinnipiac College; Mark O'Connell, former High Hopes rider and new member of our Board of Directors, who is now employed at The Hartford; and Erin Cain Zanardi, long time High Hopes volunteer. Individuals from SBC/SNET

took time from their busy workday (on one of the hottest days of the summer!) to see our programs in action and gain a greater understanding of how their contributions would be used. The funds from SBC/SNET employees will be used toward Summer Camp for individuals in the New Haven community, and the CW A contribution will go toward our general scholarship fund. Thank you!

NARHA Each year a horse show is held at Ox Ridge Farm in Fairfield County and a portion of the proceeds are divided among participating therapeutic riding centers that are members of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA). The proceeds are distributed based on the number of volunteers from each center who assist with the event, and the number of hours worked. High Hopes was well represented, and the result was a generous gift! Thank you to all of the volunteers who helped make the show such a success.

The Dime Savings Bank Participants from Norwich Free Academy's ABLE (Activity Based Life Education) and ILSP (Independent Living Skills Program) classes have benefited from h'fant funding provided

by The Dime Savings Bank. These students have made substantial physical, social and behavioral gains since their participation in High Hopes' programs.

Our heartfelt thanks to The Dime Savings Bank for helping us underwrite their lessons, and for Mary Fisher, the Norwich Free Academy teacher who is instrumental in collaborating with us to make this program work so well. (Notewe still need fimding to fitlly underwrite tltese students. Please call me if you can ltelp, at 860-434-1974, extension 22.)

HIGH HOPES HAPPENINGS

The Elinor Patterson Baker Foundation Horses in transition in or out of High Hopes' programs- either those coming in for evaluation or those for whom we are seeking suitable homes - require our care and attention. We are committed to giving new horses every opportunity to succeed, and allowing them the time to acclimate to our environment. We are equally committed to finding good homes for those horses that need to retire from their work completely or need a break from therapy service.

Support from the Elinor Patterson Baker Foundation, combined with contributions from caring individuals in the community, have enabled High Hopes to do the best we possibly can for our horses in transition.

Connecticut Quarter Horse Association High Hopes was honored to be selected (for the second year in a row!) to receive a portion of the proceeds from the CQHA Fall Spectacular Horse Show held in September at Falls Creek Farm in Oneco, CT. An anonymous donor stepped up with a leadership gift, and we received an additional contribution from CQHA. These funds are donated in memory of two long time CQHA members, Ann anti William McAllister, Sr. Thank you to everyone who participated in this wonderful show, and for helping High Hopes once again.

Bodenwein Public Benevolent Foundation These funds were used toward therapeutic riding lessons for special needs students from LEARN and Cohanzie School of Waterford. We are grateful for the continued support of the Bodenwein Public Benevolent Foundation, which was established in the will of Theodore Bodenwein, former owner and publisher of the New London Day. It is supported through a portion of the newspaper's profits.

(Note-we still 11eedfu11di11g to

u11derwritethese stude11ts.Please call me if you ca11help, at 860-434-1974, exte11sio11 22.)

Essex Savings Bank Essex Savings Bank strives to improve the communities it serves, and one very special way they do this is through their Community Investment Program. The funds we received via this program are helping us produce this newsletter which enables us to keep our riders, volunteers and supporters up to date on our activities. Hats off once again to our friends at Essex Savings Bank for continuing their tradition of caring for and investing in the people of their community.

Salem Valley Veterinary Clinic A contribution from our good friends at Salem Valley Veterinary Clinic was used toward vaccinations for our therapy horses. With 21 horses to care for, we are most grateful for this generous gift.

Our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Robert Baratt and Dr. David Anderson for their kindness, and to all of their associates who make sure our horses are happy and healthy.

Carse Robinson Foundation A grant from this foundation will be used toward enhancing our therapeutic riding programs for individuals with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), including autism, with sensory integration techniques. We have applied to several other foundations for additional funding, and we are waiting to hear from them in order to begin this project.

The Chester W. Kitchings Foundation A grant from this family foundation was used toward therapeutic riding lessons for special needs students from Nathan Hale and Bennie Dover Jackson School in New London. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Kitchings Family for responding to the needs of their

community with this generous contribution.

Schering-Plough Corporation This unrestricted grant award was used toward scholarship funding for our riders of all ages who need financial assistance in order to participate in our programs. We have never turned down a rider because of financial need, largely due to the kind support of corporations and foundations such as ScheringPlough. The unrestricted nature of this grant enables High Hopes to offer scholarship funding to participants in need, regardless ofage or geographic location.

New York Stock Exchange Fallen Heroes Fund This wonderful gift was sent to High Hopes in memory of George C. Cain, FDNY Ladder 7, Engine Company I 6, who gave his life in service to others on September 11, 200 I. His sister, Erin Cain Zanardi, is a longtime volunteer at High Hopes. The letter accompanying this contribution included the following statement: "We appreciate that Firefighter Cain's heroism and ultimate sacrifice will be commemorated through the good works of your organization." Dick Grasso, Honorary Chairman, NYSE Fallen Heroes Fund.

All ofus at High Hopes extend George's family and friends our deepest sympathy, as well as our heartfelt gratitude for making it possible for us to receive gifts in his memory. He will not be forgotten.

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2002 Lord Creek Farm Hunter Pace

friends of both groups pitched in as those volunteers!

by Petra B. Shearer

The Paddock Tack Shop was on hand with their usual outstanding selection of horse and rider clothing and special

"A HUNTER PACE is a cross-country ride with a partner over a marked and

timed course.... the perfecttime is predetermined by the officials, and the winning pair will be that pair which completes the course closest to the perfect "fox-hunting" time." The 2002 Lord Creek Farm Hunter Pace, held to benefit High Hopes and the Lower Connecticut Valley Pony Club, took place on September 28 th .

Preceded by several hours of torrential rains, the start time was delayed from 8:00 a.m. to I 0:00 a.m. The rains stopped at 4:00 a.m. and a light breeze helped dry the trails to near-perfect conditions. Most amazingly, the preceding day's bad weather deterred only three of nearly I 00 teams - over 200 riders and their horses came to take part in the pace, which many describe as their favorite event of the year.

The Lord Creek Farm staff, headed by Bill Gregory, had done their usual superb job of grooming the trails and the starting paddock. After trailers pulled into the paddock, riders and horses came out to prepare for their ride - and a very special form of "Symphony in the Meadows" occurred.

In the stable area, Janie Davison made sure all on hand had what they needed for their assigned roles and the 2002 Pace was under way. Deb Welles, District Commissioner of the Lower Connecticut Valley Pony Club and Kitty Stalsburg, Program Director of High Hopes managed the 30-plus volunteers on hand to check in the teams, staff the starting and check points, and serve refreshments - parents of Pony Club members, board and staff members of High Hopes, and good

14

items for winners' prizes.

though she has lived in an urban area for many years, she has longed to re-establish her link to horses, not as much to ride as to care for them and to bring the joy of being with them to others. Finding that a volunteer experience at High Hopes might enable her to learn how to combine her love of special needs children and horses was inspirational and exciting to Yasuko. And so Yasuko came to High Hopes to, in her own words, learn about

Through the generosity of Janie Davison in hosting this annual event, the hard work of the Lord Creek Farm staff and the spirit of the day exemplified by the teams and volunteers, both High Hopes and the Pony Club received a donation in excess of $4,000. Tlzank you all! â&#x2122;Ś

therapeuticriding, basic horse care and

VolunteerProfile

September 21st, and remained with us until December 21". She worked a full day, five days a week, caring for the horses and as a program volunteer. She took her roles very seriously and did an excellent job with both the horses and the

YasukoTanaka

barn management.

Yasuko arrivedin Connecticuton

riders.Ourruralsetting was a constant source of joy for Yasuko, who dreams of convincing her husband and two adult children (a son and a daughter) to move frcm their urban home to a less populated area of Japan.

Yasuko & Norm

Photo Credit: KristinElliott Leas

Yasuko - from the Land of the Rising Sun

By Petra B. Shearer Yasuko Tanaka is the third volunteer from Japan to come to High Hopes under the auspices of the Volunteer International Programme. After retiring from 36 years of elementary school teaching, Yasuko searched for a meaningful volunteer opportunity involving children with special needs.

She taught special needs children during the last several years of her career and

rode horsebackas a young woman;

Yasuko studied our language and journaled daily in English. Once a week, she could be heard going over her English homework with Corky Newell (Barbara Abram's mother) and was increasingly able to take part in everyday conversations at High Hopes. Yasuko's quiet manner and modesty overshadow

some of her extra-curricularactivities in Japan - working with a girls' community football team for IOyears and major

responsibilitiesfor a workingwomen's organization, including issuing a monthly newsletter and preparing and managing cultural presentations.

Yasuko was eager to learn about our culture and to share hers. She brought with her implements for conducting a Japanese tea ceremony- I am honored to have had that experience with her in my home.

HIGH HOPES HAPPENINGS

STAFF PROFILE ...

We Say Farewell to MelissaEverett

By Judie Driscoll Development Assistant

Melissa Everett & Ben Photo Credit: Kristin Elliott Leas

Melissa used to be the editor of our newsletter and of course was too modest to profile herselfso .... we thought we'd take this opportunity to highlight her. A lot of you probably already know Melissa as she was with High Hopes for more than four years. However, I bet there are a few of you who don't know that Melissa is a writer and a very good (and published!) one at that. You can catch her work in the latest edition of NARHA's Strides magazine. This past August, Melissa stepped away from High Hopes to pursue her dream of being a full-time writer. We are all so proud of you Melissa, for believing in yourself and staying true to your dream. We miss you very much and know that you will have much success.

We asked people to share some comments and quotes about Melissa and here they are ....

From Petra Shearer .... She started with us on March 30, 1998. Drawn by the loving atmosphere at High Hopes and the opportunity to bring joy and achievement to our participants, she became a beloved member of the High Hopes staff. You had only to stand by as she greeted our

clients of all ages to know how dedicated she was to making their lives better and letting them know how much they meant to her. The horses and the cats especially Cappy -came to know her as a critter-loving person. Wearing many hats - program administrator, newsletter editor, volunteermentor,horse show program producer, big sister to instructor trainees and a willing-to-help anywhere colleague - she contributed significantly to the staffs success during the past four years.

We miss you, Melissa. As you wished success and the realization of their dreams for everyone who came through High Hopes' door, we wish you success as a writer and in all future endeavors you pursue. Thank you for your four years at High Hopes.

From Barbara Abrams .... I could always depend on Melissa's dry wit and quick sense of humor to add to my day! I DO miss that (and her) in the Program Office. - Barbara From Holly Ridgway .... Melissa! No one wears cowboy boots around the barn like you did for the past few years .... with that certain swagger that seemed right! I

miss your smile, sense of humor,and your patience and willingness to bail me out of copyroom fiascos/SITM crises, and volunteer no-shows! We all miss you, and wish you the very best! xoxox, Ho! From Heather Rice ... Thanks for everything - darlin' !

From John Sturges ... One day, after dropping the hay down from the loft, I noticed my leg was bleeding. 1had been stabbed by a piece of hay. Melissa noticed it an asked what happened. I told her "I had been stabbed by the sharp hay in the loft." She replied "since when do we have a shar-pei in the loft?"

From Tia Smith ... Melissa is awesome.

When you come in the door she always had that secret smile on her face that just shouted, "I am delighted you are here."

When she spoke of people and family in particular her voice carried loads of respect and affection.

From Chelsea-The Therapy Dog ... I may not have shown you how much 1 appreciated you. The highlight of my day was our daily walks along the wooded paths of High Hopes. Your patient understanding of matching my pace ... when I needed to stop and smell the flowers ... or the days when I was full of energy and needed a brisker pace ... or playing hide and seek up to Critter Rock ... or the hot days allowing me to sneak in for a quick swim to cool off Thank you Melissa and I'll walk with you any time.

From Helene Fenger .... What do I remember when I think of Melissa? A fistful! of talent, a spirit full of passion, and a heart full of love. Gets mushy over children and all things furry. Gives great bear hugs and is always there for her friends. And oh, that wonderful laugh.

We miss you, Melissa, but we know you are doing what you were meant to do.

Thank you for all that you did for us.

From Patti Coyle .. . .I so admire Melissa for pursuing her dream of writing, but boy do I miss her! I could always count

on a warmwelcome... a smile... a hug ... and have never met anyone who gets things done as "quickly" as she did!

For this, I am truly in awe!! We are all born with many different gifts and talents and how we choose to utilize them can make all the difference in our lives.

Melissa, along with her many gifts, will be missed here at High Hopes, but 1 know she will take those very gifts and talents and pursue that which means so much to her. I wish you all the best my friend!

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Winter2002

Non-Profi t Organization

U.S. Postage PAID Old Lyme, CT 06371

Permit No. I

High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc. P.O. Box 254 Old Lyme, CT 06371

Artwork courtesy of ABLE & ILSP Students of Norwich Free Academy

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