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Sharing Hope
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc. | Annual Report 2013–2014
About High Hopes
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc. is a premier therapeutic riding center and international instructor training
site. We have served people with physical, emotional and
developmental disabilities for forty years.
Our year-round programs in equine assisted activities
include therapeutic riding, carriage driving and equine
learning. We also offer experiential learning through outreach programs, an integrated summer camp program
and a variety of volunteer opportunities.
Ages of our Riders
​ e offer PATH Intl. Approved Training Courses (ATC),
W
attracting students from all over the world, as well as
continuing professional education for anyone seeking
increased education and lifelong learning. Our training
is conducted by highly qualified professionals, who are
widely recognized in the field of therapeutic riding.
High Hopes is a place where people come to heal, to
learn and to make friends that last a lifetime. We strive
to provide support and growth opportunities for all of our
participants, families and caregivers.
Primary Disabilities of our Riders
3
3-1
Autism Spectrum
14
Mental Health Disorders
Neurological & Physical Impairments
3–13 years
56%
Intellectual Impairments
14–20 years
27%
Developmental Disabilities
Cerebral Palsy
Learning Disabilities
21–61 years
15%
Sensory Disorders
62–100 years
2%
Language Disorders
0
5
10
15
20
25%
Sustaining Hope
Our next Strategic Plan is evolving and will help us ad-
The past 40 years have been a wonderful and amazing
ing more people through equine assisted activities and
journey for High Hopes. When we began as L.C.V.E.R.A.
therapies, as well the development of critically needed
with the dream of a small group of visionaries led by Sis
training and education programs. The knowledge gained
Gould, our focus was on enhancing educational experi-
over the past 40 years has enabled High Hopes to achieve
ences for children. Through the years our reach and exper-
a strong presence in our field and through our programs
tise expanded to working with children and adults with
we are truly making a difference in our community and
more physical issues. Today we offer a wide range of pro-
beyond. Your support in our mission enables us to con-
grams while we continue to build the expertise needed to
tinue to grow and innovate, sharing the lessons we have
meet the growing demands of individuals on the autism
learned and positively changing the lives of thousands of
spectrum and our country’s rapidly increasing population
children and adults with disabilities.
dress these pressing issues as we prepare for a future serv-
of individuals dealing with mental illness, including veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Board and the staff of High Hopes are engaged in
thinking strategically about our future and how we ensure our sustainability. What is the next horizon for High
Hopes as we address the present day concern of operating
at capacity at our Town Woods Road facility? How can
we serve the rising number of individuals needing our services in innovative ways? How do we maintain the high
quality standards for which High Hopes is renowned, as
we grow and possibly expand to satellite operations? How
do we keep our commitment to serve all individuals who
can benefit from our program, regardless of their financial
circumstances? These questions are prompting us to look
critically at our existing resources and to challenge our
current business model.
Cheryl Kelly Heffernan
Board Chairman
Kitty Stalsburg
Executive Director
Christopher
pher’s goals during his first semester
were to increase his attention to tasks,
improve his core strength, lower his
impulsivity and encourage his use of
verbal communication.
Helping Christopher attain these
goals required teamwork, ingenuity,
communication and the powerful motivator of a horse. First, the staff got
creative adjusting his tack to accommodate his small size. For example,
his arms were so short that when he
held onto the handhold on the saddle
T
it tipped his upper body too far forhe young man gracing the cover of this year’s
ward and pulled him out of alignment. The solution was
annual report and featured in our fall newsletter
to adapt a longer handhold that allowed him to sit tall
is Christopher, a five-year old, three-foot tall,
while he rode.
50-pound powerhouse who keeps everybody on their toes
during his weekly riding session. We chose Christopher
Once safely mounted, Christopher began discovering
for our cover not just for his infectious smile (which is
the joys of riding. His first instructor, Patty Ganey, said
pretty captivating) but because we feel his relationship
“Christopher was a quick learner, and seemed to realize
to High Hopes exemplifies many of the qualities that are
that the sensory input from the horse’s motion helped
the underpinnings of our mission. These qualities have
him settle and organize his thoughts. It became clear
sustained our growth over the past 40 years and guide us
that he thrives on positive reinforcement and looks for
as we look towards the future.
feedback.” Christopher’s first horse, Nifty, was chosen for
Born with Down syndrome, Christopher is small for his
age. While extremely physically active and tactile, he was
non-verbal and had issues with balance and strength when
he began riding at High Hopes two years ago. Christo-
his smooth, steady ride to help Christopher build up his
physical stamina. Now he is riding Straumur, an Icelandic
pony with a unique bouncy rhythmic gait called a tolt
that appeals to Christopher’s sensory needs.
C
hristopher’s instructors and volunteers worked with Leah Booth,
High Hopes speech and language
pathologist, to provide speech modeling in
line with his goals both inside the arena, as
well as at school and home. Progress has been
steady and now when Christopher comes for
his lesson he likes to quickly tour the participant lounge, staff offices and volunteer kitchen so he can to say hello and make as many
new friends as he can before lessons begin.
Our staff and volunteers have learned to use
this time to encourage Christopher’s speech
and language skills; what appears to be a fun
social time is actually another great opportunity for learning and reinforcement.
Christopher is one of 240 participants who come to High Hopes each week
to ride, drive a carriage or spend time in our unmounted equine learning
program. Like Christopher, each participant is carefully evaluated before
entering our program to identify the appropriate activity and class based
on physical, emotional and other factors.
LeeAnn, Christopher’s grandmother, calls his progress
population expanded to include individuals with cerebral
“miraculous” and credits the teamwork of the volunteers,
palsy and multiple sclerosis. Today our largest population,
staff and horses with his amazing progress. Teamwork was
representing almost a quarter of the total, are those on
one of the hallmarks of our founder Sis Gould’s man-
the autism spectrum, closely followed by individuals with
agement style and it is the core of our current program.
mental health issues. As the profile of our participants
Christopher’s story also exemplifies another hallmark of
needs have changed, and in all likelihood will continue to
High Hopes—innovation.
do so, we need to identify and evaluate facility and service
alternatives that are consistent with a financially sustain-
Forty years ago, when High Hopes began as L.C.V.E.R.A,
able model, while adhering to the highest quality and safety
the first participants who came to High Hopes were pre-
standards for our participants, volunteers and horses.
dominantly faced with learning disabilities, and then the
Inspiring
Hope 1974–1983
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
was founded in 1974 by Mary “Sis” Gould
as the Lower Connecticut Valley Educational Riding Association (L.C.V.E.R.A.). Therapeutic
riding lessons were offered to eight students with disabilities from a local elementary school,
with one instructor, a few volunteers and borrowed horses.
Notable Achievements
Expanded to three locations in 1979
• The first meeting of incorporators of Lower Connecticut Valley Educational Riding Association, Inc.
was held in Essex on June 6, 1978.
• Three children with cerebral palsy received therapy at the Goulds’.
• The inception of a volunteer training program was
during the spring 1979. The first seminar was a four
hour session.
• There were 18 children from Madison/Guilford who rode at Race
Hill Farm in North Madison.
• Within a year after opening the facility, High Hopes
(known at that time as L.C.V.E.R.A.) passed a rigorous review to receive a five-year accreditation by
PATH International (formerly NARHA).
High Hopes facts for 2014:
• Six children with learning disabilities from Essex Elementary School
rode at Crickelwood Farm in Lyme.
• In spring 1979 there were 30 volunteers working with 25 children
from six area schools. By spring 1982, 62 students were being helped
by 60 volunteers.
• A small number of adults began riding. Among the first was Sylvia
LaChapelle in 1981 (above right).
681 volunteers contributed their time and talents for approximately 31,000 hours.
“A well trained core of volunteers is
the single most important key to the
success of this program.”
– Sis Gould
Sis worked tirelessly
to make the experience of horses
and horseback riding available to all
people, especially those with physical, mental, or
emotional needs. She was convinced that horses,
riding them and caring for them, could do wonders for confidence and self-esteem.
Financial Considerations
Extraordinary People
• The 1979 budget was $5,030.
Judith Lovelace, first executive director
• Proceeds from the Nov. 1977 Ride-a-Thon were $318.63.
“Pete” Pierson, first chairman of the board 1977
• A three week summer program was initiated in 1978, but
in 1979 there wasn’t enough money for gas to get to
the venues, so the program was suspended.
Kerry Christianson, (shown above) one of the
first riders, still rides at High Hopes.
Anne Talcot Wright, first instructor
17,446 hours were given to our programs as horse leaders, sidewalkers, carriage drivers, and unmounted class assistants.
Foundation of
hope 1984–1994
Finding a Home
Expanded Programs
• In 1984 a Transition Committee was created to
organize and direct the program.
• In May 1986 the first Annual Horse Show was held
with 11 classes and 47 riders.
• Although two horse trailers were purchased,
operating out of four different locations made it
difficult to deliver services and care for the horses.
• A vaulting program was introduced in 1987.
• In 1986 a facility was leased in Lyme, Connecticut.
• Then a lease with an option to buy Mr. and Mrs.
John Roberts’ land on Town Woods Road was
signed.
• 1991 began the first summer camp – 2 two-week sessions.
• 1991 began the first winter program – five weeks indoors.
• The program expanded to two 10-week semesters with
23 riding instruction hours per week.
• In 1985 we were serving 69 riders with 74 volunteers.
• With a new name and logo design High Hopes,
the Sis Gould Center for Therapeutic Riding,
opened in Old Lyme in 1990, providing a single
permanent home for High Hopes.
• The dedication ceremony and opening day celebration was held at 36 Town Woods Road on
October 14, 1990.
4,044 hours were spent in the barn working on horse care and facility management.
The first Symphony in the Meadow, June 1986,
was hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hamilton in Hadlyme.
New Haven Symphony Orchestra performed. Mrs. George
Bush was honorary chairman of the event.
Human Resources
• Riding instructors, a part-time physical therapist,
and an executive director were hired.
• The first acting director, Judy Lovelace had been
involved since 1975 as a sidewalker.
High Hopes was host site for the
1993 Connecticut Special Olympics
Equestrian Games on June 11, 1993.
Over 40 athletes from
throughout the state
competed.
• Spring 1987 Holly Ridgway was named head instructor.
• In 1988 Kitty Stalsburg became barn manager.
• Operations began in the new center with nine staff
members and 13 horses, serving 85 participants per
week with help from 150 to 200 volunteers.
1,241 hours were spent working in the office and on special mailings.
ORGANIZING
hope 1995–2000
In 1995, High Hopes hosted the
equestrian events in the Special
Olympics World Games, attracting 174 riders from 22 states
and 30 countries, resulting in
national recognition beyond the
therapeutic riding industry.
Transitions
• 1995 High Hopes loses its
founder, Sis Gould.
• Caretaker’s cottage completed.
• There were major renovations,
and classroom and office space
expansion.
• Alison Zack was now
executive director.
6,646 hours were given in committee meetings, board meetings, and planning special events.
We have been involved with High Hopes since Kate was three and a half
years old and she’s 19 now. When she came here to High Hopes she was
on crutches. Kate is now walking fully independently, and she’s decided
last fall she would come to High Hopes and volunteer.
– Joan Nichols, parent
Leadership
• High Hopes was the first independent therapeutic riding center
approved to teach the PATH Intl. instructor training course.
• Since 1996, High Hopes has been serving the profession as a
training and education center for prospective therapeutic riding
instructors from all over the world. High Hopes is one of only
six centers in the country approved by PATH to offer their
instructor training course which attracts students from throughout the United States and abroad.
• High Hopes was honored nationally through the James Brady
Professional Achievement Award.
High Hopes has trained over
250 instructors from throughout the United States and abroad.
BUILDING on
hope 2001–2014
Broadening capabilities
• By 2001, High Hopes had completed another
milestone campaign that provided the funds to
expand the facility to include a classroom, therapy
room and office space for its growing staff.
• An additional 62 acres of land, contiguous to existing property for a total of 125 acres, was acquired
in 1999–2000.
• The Sis Gould Center for Therapeutic Riding
renovation and expansion was completed in 2001.
• A $2.6 million Capital & Endowment Campaign
funded the renovation and expansion of the Sis
Gould Center for Therapeutic Riding.
• The NARHA Region 1 Conference attended by
150 professionals and volunteers from other therapeutic riding centers in the Northeast. Conference
was hosted at High Hopes, and was kicked off
with the first ever ITC reunion.
• September 29, 2005 was declared High Hopes Volunteer Day throughout the state of Connecticut
by proclamation from Governor Jodie Rell.
Innovative programs
• 2009 – First year of Horses for Heroes veterans program
• 2009 – First year collaborating with Lawrence+Memorial Hospital. Project was first year of week-long autism immersion camp.
• 2009 – First year for Horse Sense summer program
• 2011 – Camp Harkness pilot program
• 2014 – Lord Creek Farm pilot program
So there are untold benefits you don’t talk about every day.
You learn perseverance, you learn persistence…There are some
true intangible benefits that go far beyond learning to ride a horse.
– Bim Christianson, parent
Statement of Financial Position
year ending June 30, 2014
Assets
Liabilities and Net Assets
current assets
current liabilities
Cash and Cash Equivalents
$197,641
Accounts Payable
$32,100
Accounts and Other Receivables
49,120
Accrued Expenses and Deposits
39,267
Prepaid Expenses
38,538
Advance Fees for Services
52,591
Unconditional Promises to Give
27,000
t o ta l c u r r e n t l i a b i l i t i e s $312,299
Corporate Support
12%
t o ta l c u r r e n t a s s e t s Property and Equipment – Net
$1,667,137
t o ta l l o n g - t e r m a s s e t s t o ta l a s s e t s Unrestricted
$1,912,008
Support
16% Restricted
Permanently
$24,648
Unconditional Promises to Give
Investments net assets
Foundation
Temporarily
Restricted
long-term assets
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Temporarily Restricted
$123,958
0
t o ta l n e t a s s e t s 1,629,709
Contributions
1,567,118
from Individuals
44%$5,108,835
3,228,709
$3,253,357
$5,232,793
Support and Revenue
Fees for Services
28%
t o ta l l i a b i l i t i e s a n d n e t a s s e t s $5,232,793
Functional Expenses
Corporate Support
12%
Corporate
Foundation
Foundation
Support
16%
Fees For Services
Contributions
from Individuals
44%
Individuals
Fundraising
15%
Fees for Services
28%
General and
Administrative
11%
Program Services
74%
Our Staff
Kitty Stalsburg, Executive Director
High Hopes
Board of Trustees
Barbara Abrams, Instructor and Expressive Arts Therapist
Liz Adams, Program Director
founder
MEDICAL ADVISOR
Courtney Bernard, Special Programs Coordinator
Mary K. “Sis” Gould †
David E. Walker, MD
OFFICERS
HONORARY TRUSTEES
Chairman
Sally Aubrey
Cheryl Kelly Heffernan
Jane I. Davison
Vice Chairman for Development
John C. Evans
Barbara Willkens
Lyttleton B. P. Gould, Jr. †
Leah Booth, Speech-Language Pathologist
Trudy Burgess, Development Coordinator
Sarah Carlson, Special Programs Manager
Patti Coyle, Training and Education Director
Carrina Echeandia, Volunteer Coordinator
Imanol Echeverria, Instructor
Jonnie Edwards, Instructor
Megan Ellis, Volunteer Manager
Lauren Fitzgerald, Lesson Manager
Patty Ganey, Instructor
Vice Chairman
Michael V. Ganey
Secretary
Margaret (Mac) Mummert
Liesl Grigerek, Barn Assistant
Treasurer
Laura Heyer, Development Coordinator
Susan S. Tyler
Carolyn Jagielski, Physical Therapist
Donna Latella, Occupational Therapist
Tracey Martineau, Finance Director
Rachel Moser, Office Manager
Laura Moya, Instructor
Dawn Nelligan, Instructor
Juanita Paris, Barn Assistant
Sara Qua, Development Director
Liz Quinn, Caretaker
Holly Ridgway, Instructor
Susan Shulman, Communications Manager
Holly Sundmacker, Equine Operations Director
Carrie Wind, Instructor
Staff changes
Alicia Barrows
Karen Brittle
Courtney Collins
Connie Corbett
Sarah Hallwood
Kasey Higgins
Jeanne Nerkowski
Audit for fiscal year ending June 30, 2014 was performed
by MahoneySabol. Copies are available on request.
Report design: Michael Fanelli
TRUSTEES
Barbara Earle Ballard
Jane Bolles
Sarah Hill Canning
Frank W. Hamilton, Jr. †
Grace Hamilton †
Judith F. Lightfoot
Roger M. Smith
Wayne O. Southwick, M.D.
Anthony Thurston
CHAIRMEN EMERITI
John C. Evans
Sherley Furgueson
Betsy Horn
John Catlett
Barbara Kashanski †
James M. Childs
Judith F. Lightfoot
Jeb N. Embree
Pete Pierson †
Laura Giordano
A. Rives Potts
Penny Nelson
Jeffrey Ridgway
Roger Roche
Roger M. Smith
Andrew Russell
Anthony C. Thurston
Hugh Scott
Kelvin N. Tyler
Seymour Smith
Deborah Welles
† Deceased
This Year at High Hopes
1,775
People served
8,525
31,000
50%
Equine Assisted Activities and Therapy sessions
Volunteer hours donated
of Riders received scholarships
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
36 Town Woods Road
•
Old Lyme, Connecticut 06371
Phone 860-434-1974
•
www.highhopestr.org