S pr i ng 1 5 Changing lives, one stride at a time, one smile at a time! Sibling bond at Windrush Contributed by Susan Foote Branda Wilhoite grew up in Iowa farm country and spent summers on a Wyoming dude ranch. She was grateful for the joys that horses brought her and the long trail rides of her youth, yet she knew nothing of therapeutic horseback riding. Her son, Henry, was born with a genetic syndrome that causes low muscle tone, heart and kidney issues, breathing difficulty and trouble eating. He did not speak until he was five. At age 10, Henry had spinal surgery that caused him to need a back brace. “The minute I saw the farm, I knew it had to be a part of his life. After the back surgery, we signed up and it has been absolutely wonderful for him.”
“The minute I saw the farm, I knew it had to be a part of his life.”
Windrush farm
THE R A P E UT I C E Q UITAT I ON , I N C.
479 Lacy Street North Andover, Massachusetts 01845 email: info@windrushfarm.org w w w.facebook.com/windrushfarm
www.windrushfarm.org
Henry is small in stature but possesses a wonderful sense of humor and a huge smile, particularly when standing tall in the saddle at a walk or trot. His strength in the four years he has been riding has greatly increased, as has his confidence and coordination. Branda credits much of his success to Jenna Turcotte and Vanessa LaraRussack, two of the farm’s instructors. “They have a wonderful way of working with his language-based deficiencies. His safety is job number one for each of them,” she adds. While Henry has an older brother who does not ride, his younger sister, Grace, frequently accompanies him to his lessons. Grace used to dread the drive between Windrush and Winchester, where the family lives. Over the years, Branda saw her daughter’s interest in horses and Henry’s lessons increase. “The icing on the cake for me was the day Grace joined Henry in the riding ring. There aren’t many things that a first grader and a seventh grader can or want to do together, and they so look forward to participating in the same lesson with others.” Despite their age difference, they share the same goal of riding on their own without a lead. “It’s great for children from the suburbs to be part of the farm experience – their own wide open spaces. We are so very, very grateful for Windrush Farm.”
Missy B and Megan. Contributed by Jean Sheehy
The beloved pony, Missy B, has found a new job and home at Windrush Farm. As many have come to learn, there is nothing more this chestnut mare likes than a hug from a loving child. Missy had a beautiful girl that loved her for seven years, and their story was the true meaning of friendship. Missy B and Megan met in the summer of 2007 when Megan was 7 years old. When rescued, Missy’s age was unknown but guessed to be 10 years old, and perhaps a Quarter Horse/ Arabian mix. Early on, Missy did come with some bad habits that Megan and a trainer took the time to work out. Soon enough, Missy was no longer emulating her show name, “Miss Behavin’”. Over the years, Megan and Missy learned to be an amazing team. They enjoyed winter rides on Crane’s Beach, and swimming together in ponds during the summer. Trail riding soon progressed into cross-country jumping. As they learned more together they had great success at the local horse shows winning more ribbons than Megan had room to hang in her bedroom. A big highlight for them both was in the spring of 2013 while competing in the Beginner-Novice at Groton House. Megan and Missy both enjoyed jumping and discovered that Eventing was a perfect way to use the skills they had built together. In the summer of 2013, Megan learned she had osteosarcoma in her right leg. Despite all of the work Megan did, the cancer did not respond well to chemotherapy. In March of last year she had an above knee amputation. Did that deter her from riding? No way! She was back on Missy B within a few weeks; walk, trot, canter and even a small amount of jumping! Both brave and determined, Missy and Megan both learned to adjust together. After seven wonderful years with Missy B, Megan lost her life to osteosarcoma in the summer of 2014. Megan wanted to make sure Missy would continue to spread her support and friendship to other children. The perfect new home for Missy is Windrush Farm, where Megan rode Pie during her first riding evaluation after her surgery. She loved the farm, and I know she is thrilled that Missy B now has an important job working with children who share Megan’s love of riding a special pony to the best of their ability.
“Missy B had a beautiful girl that loved her for seven years, and their story was the true meaning of friendship”
Help from YouthBuild Lawrence Contributed by Rachel Bernstein
Windrush Farm is thrilled to announce that we have partnered with YouthBuild Lawrence to build a new sensory forest and an outdoor trail course.
Volunteer: Russ Hodge, Eliezer Rivera, Cathy Jaffarian, Chris Pimentel, Rody Lopez, Cristofer Rivera
Over the next eight months, 33 volunteers from YouthBuild will construct an outdoor trail course that will be used for the veterans’ program and all our clients. “Windrush Farm is a positive influence on our students because it is often their first chance to give back to the community,” said Cathleen Jaffarian, AmeriCorps Coordinator at YouthBuild Lawrence. “We are so happy that Windrush has given them that first chance they need.” Windrush Farm couldn’t be happier to have such a dedicated group to complete the new construction projects. The outdoor trail course will give clients and veterans a real sense of adventure. They lead their horses through elements such as a balance beam, teeter totter, chutes, logs, and bridges. “Trail obstacles of this nature challenge both the horse and veteran to build trust in one another, problem solve, and become a real team in order to successfully complete the course,” said Jenna Turcotte, Program Director at Windrush Farm. “Having such a trail course will allow us to take our veterans’ programing to the next level, enticing new veterans to come for the challenge, and giving our long time veterans something new to undertake.”
“Windrush Farm is a positive influence on our students because it is often their first chance to give back to the community...”
The new sensory forest will be large enough for a full class of mounted clients to use at one time, but with enough sensory stations for all Windrush Farm clients to enjoy. The sensory trail will incorporate all the elements of a trail ride and will include not only hills, steps, turns, and textured paths, but also interactive stations that engage all of the senses. Clients at Windrush Farm will soon enjoy a music station, a puzzle wall, the smells of raised garden boxes filled with herbs and flowers, and much more thanks to the help of YouthBuild Lawrence. If you’d like to bring a group of students to volunteer at the farm, please contact our volunteer coordinators at: volunteer@ windrushfarm.org
HAPPY SPRING
Do you follow us on Social Media?... Windrush has a new website! www.windrushfarm.org
What a year we have had. This past year has been an amazing experience in celebrating old relationships, nurturing new and sharing the successes of the 50 years of Windrush. Marj’s dream has taken on a life of its own!
We are on Facebook Like our Page
Follow us on Instagram @WindrushFarm Follow us on Twitter @Windrush_Farm
This winter has been a challenge. We might not have fared so well if not for the new tractor mounted snowblower (great timing) and the herculean efforts of the dedicated staff and volunteers who, in addition to clearing their own homes, pitched in to keep Windrush’s roofs from caving in and our horses sane for our hardy clients. So now spring is here! We have returning clients and new faces too. The programs continue to expand in ways that take advantage of all that the farm has to offer. We have received a grant for an obstacle course to use for our veterans’ program and additional funding for a new sensory trail course. We are focused on making improvements to the facility which will raise the level of accessibility and give us room to grow. We have a great deal to be thankful for. We invite you all to visit. We are hosting some wonderful events here at Windrush so you can see just what it is that your support does for our amazing clients and begin to envision where we are headed. Thank you for such tremendous support. We cannot do all of this without you!
Most sincerely,
Amanda Hogan, Executive Director
BOARD OF DIRECTORS John Adams Candance Alsop Carolyn Campot Christine Chudy Nathaniel Coolidge (Dir. Emeritus) Kathleen Federico Robert Gore (Chair) Charles J. Kittredge, Jr. Michele Meyer Cornelius J. Murray III Benjamin Nutter Janet Schickling Debra Shade Lucy Vaill
Healing with Horses Windrush Farm has a new grief support program: Healing With Horses. Partnering with the Bertolon Center for Grief and Healing of Care Dimensions (formerly Hospice of the North Shore), this new program for grieving parents, grandparents, and adult siblings will provide opportunities to experience the therapeutic power of the horse. Through groundwork exercises such as grooming, leading and other horsemanship skills we invite participants to come together in a novel healing environment with others who understand, and with horses who are patient and nonjudgmental. Initial programs will all be unmounted with the possibility of adding riding as participants progress and are ready. No horse experience is required and all participants will be encouraged to move at their own pace under the guidance of a PATH Intl. therapeutic riding instructor. A counselor from the Bertolon Center for Grief and Healing will also be present. If you or someone you know might be interested, please contact Jenna Turcotte, Program Director at Windrush Farm, at jenna.turcotte@ windrushfarm.org or 978.682.7855 (office number) to ask questions or set up a visit to the farm.
8th Annual ‘Hack-A-Thon for Hope’ The 8th annual ‘Hack-A-Thon for Hope’ was held at Burnstock Farm. The two-weekend event featured 19 young equestrians hitting the trails to cover more than 56 miles. The club members braved the foul weather and hiked and hacked through Round Top Park and the Bay Circuit Trails.
Photo: Matti Burns, founder of the Hack-A-Thon
The 19 participants received pledges from friends and family for each mile and collectively raised close to $1,000 to benefit the clients with disabilities at Windrush Farm. Burnstock’s fund raising efforts for Windrush Farm were inspired by former club member and Boxford resident Matti Burns, and have raised close to $30,000 for the farm since 2006. Matti is a Sophomore at the University of South Carolina and rides on the USCA Eventing Team. Burnstock’s efforts are tremendous and make such an amazing difference in the lives of all the clients at Windrush Farm. We thank you!
Photo: This years Hack-A-Thon club members
SAVE THE DATE
Windrush Trophy Winners
Bring a Friend Night!
Myopia Polo
Thursday, June 4th
Sunday, June 7th
Windrush Farm, North Andover
Hamilton, MA
New and Old Faces Welcome for Food, Fun and Windrush Farm Festivities! Food Trucks, Beverages, Music, Class Demo and Tours. 5:00 pm to 8 pm. $20 at the door.
Windrush will be doing a presentation including a riding demonstration during the half time break. We will also be presenting the Windrush Farm Cup to the winning team at the end of the match. Myopia Polo starts at 3 pm.
Annual Volunteer “Thank You” BBQ Wednesday, June 10th Windrush Farm, North Andover All volunteers and families join us in celebrating the end of the spring session. Great food and a chance to talk with all the amazing people who help us during the year. Starts at 6pm.
Veteran Service Providers Breakfast Thursday, June 11th Windrush Farm, North Andover Come enjoy breakfast, an informational session about enriching our resources for our veterans and a tour of the farm. From 9am-11am. We look forward to seeing our Vet Service Providers!
Groton House Farm Event Parking Saturday, June 27th and Sunday, June 28th
Groton House Presentation Sunday, June 28th
Hamilton, MA
Hamilton, MA
Windrush volunteers park cars. The parking proceeds are given to Windrush each year. We need volunteers to help direct cars, collect money and hand out programs.
Windrush will give a presentation and a therapeutic riding demonstration during the lunch break in front of the patrons’ tent during the stadium-jumping event.
Marblehead Community Charter Public School – For hosting a “Rock for Meg”event, with proceeds to benefit Windrush Farm. Last year, Megan Sheehy and her friends performed, along with other local bands, and raised donations for “Angels Above.” Megan wanted any future performances to be donated to Windrush Farm and her school and friends are doing just that in Megan’s honor. Bob Shamroth – Many thanks for donating material and labor for all of our nameplates on stalls, labels for horses’ tack, and for adaptive equipment. Snow Removal Crew- For all the fantastic help we received to get Windrush out of the snowiest winter to date. Thanks to Burch Tree & Landscaping Service, Molly Awiszus, Chris Barry, Dianna Cooney, Sophie Milliken, Andrea Moser, Karen Ontell, Sean Saunders and Brendan Shaughnessy. Quinn Anderson- Raised money through Pingree School for 4 sets of reinbow reins and 10 matching feed buckets. Nancy Burn and the Burnstock Club girlsThey covered the ECTA Expo and Paraphernalia Sale at the Topsfield Fairgrounds to benefit Windrush. We gave them all our used equipment and they cleaned, marked/priced, and sold it. All proceeds generated from the sale are given to Windrush. All the Substitutes: Thank you for taking the time out of your planned schedule to come volunteer or clean stalls when we needed you. We cannot do what we do without your commitment and flexibility!
Hellos and Goodbyes: Change of Faces At the Farm
After 50 years, we are bound to see faces come and go at Windrush Farm. This year seems to have come with many changes. We sadly had to say farewells to some very special staff members in the past few months. We are also thrilled to welcome new members with open arms.
Welcome to the family... Kathleen Federico, Board Member
Betsy Dalton, Administrative Assistant
John Adams, Board Member
Emma Hammond, Marketing and Communication Coordinator
Caitlyn Campbell, Equine Manager
Best of luck... Jennifer Belanger, our past Director of Marketing and Communication, welcomed a baby boy this winter!
Megan Piermarini, our past Equine Manager, took her dream job at a local showbarn barn as Barn Manager.
NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID NO. READING, MA PERMIT NO. 96
Windrush farm
THERA P EUTIC EQUITATIO N , IN C .
479 Lacy Street North Andover, Massachusetts 01845
Are you interested in Volunteering? For more information email Volunteer@windrushfarm.org
WISH LIST o Fly Bonnets
CALENDAR
o Heavy Round Elastics for Stirrups o Fly Spray- All Natural o Tractor Fluids- John Deer
June 22: Summer Session Begins
o Pitchforks
June 29: First Day of Pony Pals and
o Gift certificates to Costco, Staples, Middleton Feed Supply, and Essex Co-Op
Giddy Up & Grow July 3: Closed August 7: Last Day of Giddy Up & Grow August 14: Last Day of Pony Pals
o ShowSheen o Wheelbarrows o Horse Vacuum- Dover o Stamps (always!)
www.windrushfarm.org