2008 (Fall) Newsletter

The High Hopes

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Inside this issue: Board Chairman & Execut ive Director Message Spotlight On Success

Fall 2008

High Hopes - Lengthening Our Stride through Strategic Planning

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t would be great if there was a telescope that looks into the future five or ten years showing all the possibilities for High Hopes, for persons with disabilities, for our communities, volunteers and supporters.

Perseverance & Encouragement Abound

From the Horse's Mouth Old Horses, where they go ...

High Hopes Happenings Annual Meeting NARHA Conference

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, The High Hopes Rider is avai lab le in alternative formats upon request .

Please contact Wendy Knight at Ext. 19.

- -~ --P-.--:s------_,,;r--":::-:i H I G H ,,H O P ES Therapeutic Riding, Inc. Phone : 860 .434 .1974 Fax: 860.434 .3723 www.highhopestr

.org

That is the view we are trying to achieve with the Discovery Phase of High Hopes' strategic planning process. Without this special telescope, how would you go about taking a fresh look at High Hopes and at the world of therapeutic riding? You would ask the experts.

So we did .

As our first step in the Strategic Planning process we set out to discover what High Hopes' internal stakeholders - riders, trainees, volunteers, staff, trustees and supporters value about the organization and their wishes for the organization's future.

We contacted people from each of these groups and encouraged them to dream big.

And they did. Suggestions ranged from: adding a second floor with viewing windows over the arena; implementing additional types of therapy and classes; High Hopes developing satellite operations around the state; opening the program to participants without disabilities and developing a for-profit business to support High Hopes' not-for-profit business...

Through this process we developed a beautiful picture of w hat those closest to High Hopes love about us and w hat they dream for our future.

Next we began to take a look at the wor ld outside of High Hopes - the External Scan. We began this effort with a round table discussion with Local Community Leaders who, in various ways, interface with High Hopes. We learned that they va lue many of the same qualities valued by our internal stakeholders - the quality of our programs, staff and volunteers; our efforts at advocacy and outreach and High Hopes' enrichment of the community.

This group dreams that in the future High Hopes w ill reach and collaborate with more diverse populations with an even greater range of programs; that High Hopes be a model center influencing other therapeutic riding centers; that High Hopes reach out and diversify its pool of volunteers; and that High Hopes ensure its financial security into the future by building its endowment.

We are very excited about the next step in the External Scan. In October, High Hopes and other Region 1 NARHA Centers will host NARHA's annual conference in Hartford. We invite you to join us! In conjunction with that conference High Hopes has invited a small group of therapeutic riding industry leade rs to participate in a brainstorming session exploring some of the big picture questions facing the industry. This discussion will be bolstered by industry data collected prior to the meeting. We are looking forward to a very stimulating discussion and look forward to sharing the results of that session with you in the future!

essa

from the

Board Chairman& Executive Director

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hose lazy, hazy days of summer yielded a Summer Equine Learning Program with over 80 young riders as we ll as a weekly riding program for nearly 100 participants. The horses, volunteers, staff and participants enjoyed hours in the rings and on the trails as w ell as end of the week picnics.

Over the past year, High Hopes, like many of us personally, experienced dramatic increases in operating expenses such as the cost of oil, electricity, gasoline, gra in, and hay. We are, however, delighted to report that we ended our fiscal year with balanced financials . This was achieved through hard wo rk and innovative thinking by staff, board and volunteers. They worked together to bring in increased revenues whi le reducing expenses, without compromising safety or qualit y.

Some of the ways that we have cut costs include "going green" whenever feasible .

Trustee Jeff Ridgway worked w ith CL&P and NXEGENon a program to install new lighting in the indoor arena and throughout the building. This will save us an estimated $750.00 each month in electricity! There are other areas where we¡ simply can't cut back, like the care and feeding of the High Hopes herd.

Whi le looking for ways to increase revenue, High Hopes is very fortunate to have had a successful Annual Appeal in 2007-2008. Through the remarkably generous support of 520 members of the High Hopes family, we raised a record $260,000. Sincere thanks to Annual Giving Co-Chairs, Jamie Childs and Roger Smith, to Development Director Sara Qua and, most of all, to all of you who contributed so generously. This year our Annual Appeal will highlight the "Impact on Independence " that we have had in the lives of our participants, families, vo lunteers and others. We encourage you to read and support our Appeal when it arrives in the mai l!

Seeking additional ways to conserve, we will be producing this newsletter primarily via an electronic format w ithin the next 6 months. We ask your help in ensuring that yo ur receipt of the newsletter is not interrupted by contacting us with your mailing preferences. You can emai l your information to us at hhinfo @highhopestr.org or call us at (860)434-1974 x 13. The newsletter can also be downloaded from the website.

We are aware that some of yo u may prefer to continue to receive the newslett er in a paper format and are happy to provide this . Pleasejust let us know. Thank yQt for your assistance in our "Go Green" endeavors.

The approach of the 35th Anniversary of High Hopes in 2009 provides an occasion to reflect and refine. The Strategic Planning Committee, chaired by Cheryl Heffernan , has been actively leading us in that process by gathering information from within, (our participants, volunteers, staff and Board), the commun ity, NARHA and other therap eutic riding programs. We are excited about the NARHA Nationa l Conference to be held in Hartford in October. The conference theme of " Lengt hening our Stride" implies a future of growth and development through Strategic Planning. High Hopes is thrilled to welcome other professionals in the field to Connecticut. This is an exciting time for H;gh Hopes as we plan fo, the futu,e! t deceased

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*currently serving as a Trustee 2008

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t uccess

Perseverance & Encouragem.ent Abound Anne

started riding at High Hopes in the fall of 1997, at the age of thirty-three, ten years after a terrible automobile accident that changed her life dramatically. At the time Anne first started at High Hopes she required full support when mounting. She was unable to consistently maintain an upright position, often collapsing forward onto the horse's neck. She would also tire within 15-20 minutes.

She required two side-walkers maintaining an arm over thigh hold for much of the lesson.

When I first met Anne in 2001 she had already undergone extensive rehabilitation but was sti ll having issues with collapsing while riding.

A combination of Rolfing (where a therapist uses his or her hands to stretch shortened connective tissues back to their normal length), swimming and riding enabled her to self-correct her position. She has become stronger, more engaged, attentive and independent in the control of the horse, both on lead and off, using her reins and voice. She can now transition Poncho into a halt from the walk, as well as steer him through an obstacle course!

company. Speaking of company, below is a note from one of Anne's longtime volunteers, Pauline Knoll, who has been Anne 's horse-handler over the past several years: "One of the rewards of volunteering at High Hopes is working with a rider who exhibits courage, resolve, dedication, incredible spirit and a sense of humor.

Anne shows all of that each week, so being a part of the team, seeing her improvement over time in spite of setbacks, continues to be a joy . Her hard work is always met with cheers, but also pithy comments and colorful phrases of reminder of such things as keeping her butt where it belongs. To some, this might have smacked of heckling but to Anne it was challenging and seemed to make the hard work fun . What Anne couldn't always convey in words was

shown in gesture and extremely expressive facial pantomime. Over time her strength has grown along with her determination. All this with a sassiness that is hard to describe, but is very much the essence of Anne. Her twinkle, her achievements and her pleasure in them, her appreciation of the team effort all contribute to the joy we all share each week!"

Anne was the 2006 recipient of the High Hopes Paul Burkarth Rider of the Year Award. The award is presented annually in memory of Paul Burkarth to the rider who has shown the most progress during the year.

Submitted by, Special Programs Manager, Kristin Mason, who has been Annie's instructor for many years.

I am pleased to say that Anne has come a long way since I first met her. She is now controlling her horse at the walk off lead and can steer her horse over poles in a half seat without assistance.

We still keep two side-walkers (one volunteer and the instructor) and a horse-handler with us as part of the team for safety and Anne enjoys the Donna Royston, Poncho, Anne & Pauline Knoll

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1v1n A ProfitablePartnership " We are so fortunate to have such a facility operated by a caring staff and volunteers. The equine education, therapeutic benefits, and inspiration provided to our daugh ter, Lauren, have made a meaningful difference in her life. We are so thankful to share her joy and be part of the program."

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igh Hopes wo uld li ke t o send out a very big THANK YOU to all of our cor porat e sponsors for t heir parti cipat ion in t he "Sym phony in the Meado ws" event. They continue t o pr ovide the ongoing financ ial support that is essenti al fo r the operati ons and facili ty maint enance of High Hopes.

At this year's concert High Hop es received $105,000 in corpor ate sponsorship donati ons, w hich account s for appro ximatel y 20 % of our t otal annual op erating budget . Without thes e donation s, High Hopes w ould not be able t o provide t he equin e therap y that has mad e it such a special place, having enabled us to help over 900 participants last year.

We asked a fe w sp0ns0rs w hy th ey, chose to sl:.lpp0rrt Higl;i Hopes tn ro ugh their fin ancial tmnt~ibution s, servi ~es 0r t im e and here are some of their thol:.lghts: Johr.i Rafal, President 0f Essex Finandal Services has beeA one of our lead sp0As0rs for over three years. " We feel it is a wonderful organization, and we contribute in order to honor the efforts of all the hardworking volunteers who work to improve the lives of others. We look forward to continuing to support High Hopes in the future ."

Greg Smith is COO 0f Lewmar USA,another generous corporatesponsor.Greg'sdaughter, Lauren, is a participaAt at High Hopes.

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Frank Jarrabeck, the owner and fou nder of EssenceCenter for Beauty and We lln ess in Old Saybrook, was intr oduced to Hig h Hopes t hro ugh fr iends and neighbors, High Hopes fo unde r Sis Gould and Board Member Judy Lightfoot .

"I have several clients that volunteer at Hig h Hopes and who speak high ly of how the organi zation has help ed t hem and our comm unity. High Hop es is run by a highly professio nal team, with grea t fo ll ow thro ugh, t[i at as a businessman I tr uly appreciate . They are com mitt ed to help ing peo p le that nee d help and I am • .....,., pro ud to be invol ved and will contin ue to supp ort tne Hig h Hop es t eam ."

For a compl ete list of our many corpor at e sponsors please visit our w ebsite at www .highhopestr.org

appreciation to our current Trustee and former editor of The Ride11,Heather Leigh North~op .

Heather 's dedicati on and talen t have been instr umental in produci ng an informati ve, quali ty newslett er fo r th e High Ho pes communit y. We we lcome Sue Chodorov as th e new vo lunt eer editor and look fo rw ard t o working wit h her.

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Make a planned gift to High Hopes and join

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here are numerous ways to make a planned gift and the best choice depends on your individual circumstances. Consider what your estate planning goals are and how they can be best served.

Do you need to reduce your tax burden or do you need a lifetime income from your gift? The following are some planned giving options that benefit both the donor and High Hopes as well.

• Include High Hopes in your Will or name High Hopes as a beneficiary of your Life

Insurance. Making a bequest is one of the easiest ways to plan a gift.

• Create a Charitable Gift Annuity. By purchasing a Charitable Gift Annuity you make an immediate donation to High Hopes, generate a current income ta x deduction and create an income stream.

• Create a Charitable Remainder Trust. By creating a Charitable Remainder Trust, you receive an immediate tax deduction on the amount gifted to the trust

and receive the income from the trust for life. At the end of the trust's term the assets pass to High Hopes.

• Make a gift of appreciated stock or real estate. Gifts of long term appreciated securities and real estate provide a charitable income ta x deduction equal to the current fair market value of the gift. The donor does not pay capita l gains tax on the transfer of the donated assets.

e invite you to join us as an inaugural member of Sis's Trail of Hope .

Your support will be recognized permanently with a personalized paving stone embedded in the walkway of support that is being created to lead from our front parking area to our pond side Memorial Garden. Please contact Sara Qua, High Hopes Development Director, to discuss the specifics and implications of estate planning and deferred giving opportunities. There is no obligation and all information is confidential. Please contact Sara at 860-434-1974 ext. 22 or at squa@highhopestr .org .

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Horse Show

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ost therapeutic riding programs dream of expanding and High Hopes has long set its sights on allo w ing the o rgan ization to grow and serve as many individuals with special needs as possible.

Often, though, achieving one goal presents new challe nges. The annual horse show is suchan example. For most of its history, the one-day horse show format has provided an exciting and memorable opportunity for High Hopesparticipantsand families to come together to celebrate their riding accomplis hments.

Due to the program's tremendous gro wt h, w e found oursel ves w ith gro w ing pains. We simply could not provide, in a one -day format, an opportunit y for everyone t o part icipat e.

Thi s year, w e decided to try something different , Horse Show Days, a w eek long event that allowed fill of our participants to show case their accomplishments in a familiar and comfortable atm osphere. All participant s kept their regular day and tim e slot s, rode the ho rses th ey knew and wor ked w it h th e vo lunt eers and instru ctors the y w ere fa mili ar with. They all worke d hard on their skill s t hroughou t the year and eage rly anticipated the opportunity t o showc ase them for famil y and friend s.

Patti e Peoples, a High Hopes instructor , echoed the sent iments of many, "Eachparticipant was able to show their family and friends what they really do each week at High Hopes."

During the week long celebration, words of congratulations were heard, cameras flashed, smiles were evident, and many hugs were given. Adding to the festivities, the lounge was

Summer Programs ,

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his was another great summer for our Equine Learning Program. There were 82 part icipants over the course of 6 weeks wit h ages rang ing from 3 to 18 years. Riders we re grouped by age and ab ilities w ith a maximum of 16 part icipants per week.

The format th is year was changed to include more equ ine related activi ti es. Participants spent the morn ing groomi ng and tack ing t he horses t ogether w it h the ir vo lunteers. They th en split into groups fo r ridi ng, an introduct ion to vaulting and carriage dr iving, learning t heir horses' breeds & marki ngs and stable management .

Registration packets for the 2009 Summer Youth Equestrian program will be mailed out in ear ly January 2009. If you would like to be added to our mailing list please call us at 860-434-1974, or email Kristin Mason at kmason@highhopestr.org .

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decorat ed in " horse show fash ion " by vol unt eers, and inclu ded a bake sale, Tea Cup aucti on and free po pcorn for everyo ne. Prog ram part icipants received medals t o commemorate their accomplishme nts and baseball caps wer e provid ed comp liments of the George Cain Memor ial Fund and High Hopes. A show progr am and hand outs helped visitors recognize and learn more about t he parti cipants' goals and th e benefit s of t he services we prov ide .

High Hopes w ill contin ue t o grow and change and keep looking for creat ive w ays t o make everyo ne fe el includ ed.

For now, we look fo rw ard to planning our second annual w eek long Hor se Show Days event, and w e hope you w ill be the re to celebrate wi th us. Please conta ct us if you have any ideas, suggest ions or comm ents on th e new Horse Show Days format .

N.Qm; For ride rs that wou ld like more

competit ive opportuni t ies, t here are several local horse show s t hat now have "specia l needs" classes. We can assist you in particip ati ng . please ask your in structor fo r mo re infor mati on .

2008 Art Show & Benefit Sale

Expressions

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he hard work ing volunteers of the Lyme-Old Lyme Jun ior Women's Club put together anot her successful Expressions Art Show and Benef it Sale. Thanks to the tale nted arti sts and the generous contr ibutio ns of sponsors and local businessest hey raised $28,000 in support of over 20 commun ity orga nizations. High Hopes was honored to be one of the th ree pr imary beneficiaries of t he event and received a gift of $5000.

This grant w ill prov ide scholarshi p funding for pa rticipants from Lyme and Old Lyme and help offset costs incurred in caring for our gentle therapy horses. High Hopes salutes the vo lunteers of the Lyme-Old Lyme Junior Women's Club.

Pfizer's Ways of Giving

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Wishes ...

• Stall Mats Heavy rubber mats approximately 4' x 6'.They cover the stall floors under the bedding. Our stalls are 1O' x 12' so it usually takes 5 mats in each stall to be sure our friends are comfortable. They cost approximately $35 each.

• Muck Buckets These are used in cleaning the barn.

orking with our corporate neighbors and partners can often produce amazing donations that go we ll beyond a single monetary contribution. This past spring High Hopes Therapeutic Riding was pleased to receive a substantial technological donation from Pfizer Inc, a leading wor ld wide pharmaceutical corporation with facilities in Groton and New London. Thank s to the efforts of High Hopes board member and Pfizer executive, Michael Ganey, High Hopes received 20 "lightly" used IBM computers along wit h a network server that expands the number .of works tations at a significantly increased level of performance. In addit ion to the hardware donation, a team of IT specialists from Pfizer's Groton and New London facilities, led by Anthony Kidwell, donated countless hours assisting in the installation of the impro ved net work system and subsequent modifications. Their voluntee r work took place over several weekday evenings and weekends and will cont inue into the future as the High Hopes computer system develops. Pfizer's donation helped replace an aging system that was unable to meet the demands of a program that has almost doubled in size over the last 10 years. It gives both staff and volunt eers the tools needed to serve over 950 children and adult participants ann ual ly. The estimated cost savings of Pfizer's donation is approximately $50,000. It was the result of a year long planning effort led by John Evans, a High Hopes vo lunte er and President of Xplore Productions.

The installation of Pfizer's donation is the first step in a plan to fully integrate all aspects of the non-profit therapeutic riding center program: riding, barn, vo lunt eer and development.

You may have seen the colorful bins stored outside. These cost approximately $20 each.

This donation is the most recent example of the beneficial partnership that has existed between Pfizer and High Hopes over the years. Other examples of Pfizer's contribution to High Hopes' growth and successinclude:

• New Washing Machine We do a lot of laundry for our horses; from simpl e towels to heavy winter horse blankets! A regular family washer can't really keep up.

• Since acting as a control center for the development of Pfizer 's deworming medicine, Strongid C2X, High Hopes has received regu lar donations of Strongid and Equimax (another Pfizer animal hea lth product).

P1izer's crit ical preventative care donations have helped keep over 22 therapy horses in top form.

The largest "domestic" washer available is a front load at 4.0 cu ft.

Approximate cost: $1,000.

• Hose Reel for Wash Stall Giving our friends a bath is always a treat. But putting the hot/cold hose away is not . The heavy dut y hose reels are about $100 each.

• Hand tools Shovels, rakes, hammers, etc. Check

• High Hopes has been id entified as a Pfizer United Way Campaign Pledge Recipient and each year receives generous gifts through its Employee Giving Program.

• Thanks to the generosity of Pfizer's Matching Gift Program, High Hopes has received thousands of dollars in matching gifts , doubling each donor's original gift.

• Several Pfizer employees, spouses, and family members have become active in our volunteer program assisting in equine care and working with our participants. In recent years Pfizer has given High Hopes several $1000 awards that match employee volunteer hours.

with Holly for specifics.

"Always Items" Cleaning supplies Beveragesfor volunteers and staff Paper supplies

• Over the years Pfizer has supported High Hopes' fundraising events as a generous corporate sponsor, thereby ensur ing each event's financial success.

High Hopes appreciates having a strong corporate neighbor who is always finding new ways of giving in support of our mission. Than k you Pfize r!

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anne • • 1v1n • ' Sis G ould

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n 1974 Sis Gould gathered together a group of friends and neighbors to share a vision. Sis'svision was to take a dedicated group of volunteers and horses on loan, travel from barn to barn and use the incredible healing power of the ho rse to help children and adults w ith physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioral challenges.

Since then, community support and belief in High Hopes' mission has creat ed an internationally recognized therapeutic riding center enabling us to have a positive impact on thousands of people each year. Indi vidual contr ibuted support enables High Hopes to underwrite 70% of the total cost for each individual lesson and provides additional scholarship support to approximately 40% of our riders. If we are to thrive and remain dedicated to our cause, this philanthropic mission must be sustained by committed and renewable generosity . Making a heartfelt planned gift to High Hopes and joining Sis's Trail of Hope will ensure that the faith and trust you have given us in the past will continue to be a part of our future and, at the same time, will provide you with important tax benefits. On the following page are some examples of planned gifts that can have a lasting impact on the future financial stability of High Hopes:

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Lord Creek Horse Trials 2008

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ver 70 horses and rid ers took part in th e annual Lord Creek Horse Trials t o benefit High Hopes on Aug ust 10t h. Thanks t o th e hard wor k and ded icati on of th e orga nizing commit tee fo r t hi s event, t he busy day ran smoot hly. Jun ior and Senior r iders in Eleme nta ry, Beginner Novice and Novice event ing d ivisions were ab le to compete in t he t hree phases of a horse tria l on t he very scenic proper t y of Lord Creek Farm. From t he challeng ing stadi um course to the ingen iously crafted cross count ry fe nces, young and o ld ali ke enjoyed a day of camarader ie and compet it ion . We exte nd our heart f elt t hanks to the sponsors, comp etit ors and or ganiz ers fo r support ing High Hopes in t his way.

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S zoosh ymg tthe 2llY

he rain came, but that didn't dampen oyr guests' spirits or the ir support!

With over 630 guests ir:i attendance , Symphony in th e Meadows raised a record breakir;ig $190,000 net . High Hopes woult::I like to ext end a huge THANK YOU t0 all of you who suppon:ed this ewent.

2) Holly Ridgway and BobBallard

4) Fonner

ChairtnanJack Evam and his granddaughter Emily Knight

with I to r ]11anita Paris, Lauren Fitzgeraldand Holly S11nd111ack er

rogr am e

specialactiv , suchas our annual Hors Sho ays.The participantsof High lrlop thal'lkthe orgaAizers, sponsors, layersand particularly Rosemar,i ain, George's mother,for their <1on nued dedicationto and support our mission.

6) NicoleDolan with Hannah Childs 7)

R1111d Bergmam and Tmsteejeff Ridgway

8) Amy A mold, Kristen Brady and

9) Andrew Keefeand Kitty Stalsburg

Mimi F11rg11eso11

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Old horses, vvhere they go ... pend a little time at High Hopes and you will quickly learn that each horse that comes to work and live at High Hopes arrives by a different path. Some are donated, some are purchased by High Hopes, and others are free leased. Once they are sett led in to the High Hopes routine, only time will tell exactly what role they will play. Some w ill be a trusted partner to our physical therapist, others will pull a carriage in our driving program, and others will stand quietly as participants groom them in the barn. Each horse fills a different niche, but a common theme stands out amongst them. They are a different breed of horse all together.

They are endlessly patient and kind.

They are unphased by an unbalanced rider giving mixed signals. They are not concerned with a thunder storm or a tractor driving by. It takes a large investment of time and energy to find these special horses. Only 5% of all horses "interviewed" for a job at High Hopes actually make it through to the fina l stages and are accepted to work in High Hopes' programs.

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Some of High Hopes' horses work at High Hopes for 15 years or more, others only for a few. This is

Poncho determined by many factors, including the horse's health, conformation, and personality. Some horses have the ideal combination of easy going attitude and naturally great physical make-up. Most fall in the category of "not perfect". These imperfections, however, can be a great asset to our programs . For example, providing a different quality of gait to accommodate participants with different needs. A horse with a slightly longer back than the physical ideal might have a lovely trot that is lofty and easy to ride but eventually that long back will become sore and will limit that horse's ability to carry weight . It is the individual traits of each horse that will determine how long they are willing and able coworkers in our programs.

their owners' care. Free leasing a horse is an ideal situation for High Hopes.

There is no investment of a "purchase price" and we know that when the horse is finished working with us they will have a loving owner to return to.

For the horses that are donated or purchased by High Hopes, finding a forever home that is appropriate can be tricky. Some horses that are no longer suitable to work in High Hopes' programs are still able to have another career as a pleasure horse in a "one owner" situation. These horses are generally easy to place. However, some of our retirees have specific health concerns that require a fair amount of horse know ledge and investment of money to manage . In some cases High Hopes may decide to place horses with such concerns at an equine retirement farm where the horse will live out its days receiving specialized care. Other retirees - such as High Hopes' 18 year veteran "Cody", (see back cover) are lucky enough to go home with a High Hopes staff member or volunteer who knows and loves the horse and fee ls lucky to have the chance to repay him or her for their years of service to High Hopes. Wherever our horses ret ire to, High Hopes insures their health and happiness in gratitude.

Eventually, all of our horses retire from High Hopes. And at that time, we feel a great sense of responsibility to ensure that the horses who have given so much to High Hopes are well cared for, for the rest of their lives. For the horses who are at High Hopes as a free-leas e, meaning th ey are loaned t o High Hopes for an indefinite amount of time , t hey are still ow ned by a priv ate individual and w ill return to

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ver the past 35 years High Hopes has grown and blossomed into a wor ld renowned therapeutic riding center w hose existence is a testament to the power and hard work of vo lunteerism. Today, volunteerism remains a core value at High Hopes and we invite yo u to a special celebration in honor of volunteers and the riders they serve at our:

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Awrz/£ Cer~ Svur!j>Oct&kr 1-9/200J at the Sis Gould Center for Therapeutic Riding at High Hopes 2:00 pm - Annual Meeting 2:30 pm - Program Demonstration & Annual Awards 4:00 pm - Volunteer Celebratory Reception Entertainment provided by

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Please reply by Monday, October 15th at 860 -434-1974

NARHA is coming to Hartford! I Learn more about our national association, network wit h other therapeutic riding enthusiasts, see demonstrations and celebrate our national award winners. All this is part of our national conference and we hope you can join us.

October 29 - November 1, 2008 Connecticut Convention Center For more information visit the NARHA website: www.Narha.org or talk to your favorite High Hopes Staff member.

2008 NARHA National Conference &Annual Meeting

~~~ (O)~N~~JE O<tober 29•November 1• Hartford, Connecticut

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Cody Retires ne of High Hopes' most beloved and loyal equine staff members retired recently.

Cody, a 27 year old Quarter Horse gelding has served High Hopes for 18 years. He was donated to High Hopes in 1990 and has since served more High Hopes participants than anyone can count. Over the years, Cody has been the recipient of many awards including: The High Hopes Horse of the Year, NARHA Region 1 Horse of the Year, the American Quarter Horse Association

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Contributors to the High HopesRider Fall 2008 Photos & Articles: Sarah Hill Canning, Sam Childs, Sue Chodorov, Judie Driscoll, Tim Furgueson, Cheryl Heffernan , Kristin Mason, Olwe n Logan, Heather Leigh Northrop, Jeanna Pellino, Sara Qua, Jeff Ridgway, Kitty Stalsburg, Holly Sundmacker, Tony Thurston Editor: Sue Chodorov Designer: (Des ign

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