Volunteer News – May

'May News for Volunteers'

We may be physically distanced but hopefully not for much longer!

May News for Volunteers

High Hopes Re-Open Phases and Guidelines For

Volunteers, Participants and their Families

Download a copy here

High Hopes Therapeutic Riding is committed to providing the safest environment possible for our participants, volunteers, and staff. To ensure we are doing so as thoroughly as possible, we have reviewed the State of Connecticut, Federal, and PATH International guidelines and have created the following plan as of May 11, 2020. In the event additional best practice protocols are released, we will update our plan accordingly. Our expectation is that all staff, participants, and volunteers will follow the guidelines of this document. If there are questions or concerns regarding the ability to meet these expectations at return, please let us know immediately by emailing cbourn@highhopestr.org.

Volunteers must complete this survey before returning to High Hopes.

If you are a participant and a volunteer please click TO COMPLETE BOTH SURVEYS

Phases:

  • Phase One – minimal feeding volunteers return
  • Phase Two – Low risk, independent riders, carriage drivers who can drive Al independently, and independent unmounted/ELP participants return
  • Phase Three – Low-risk participants with leaders and select horse handler volunteers return
  • Phase Four – Low-risk participants with leaders and sidewalkers, carriage drivers, and unmounted/ELP participants, sidewalking, carriage driving header, and ELP volunteers
  • Phase Five – All interested participants, barn and office volunteers return

READ THE FULL PLAN HERE

 

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May's

Volunteer Spotlight

Danielle and Camden are a mother and son team that volunteers together on Thursday nights.

Danielle

  1. My favorite foods are nachos and pizza.
  2. My “best day ever” would include brunch, shopping, and sunshine with my favorite people!
  3. The best part about volunteering at High Hopes is getting to know the amazing riders and watching them succeed!
  4. My favorite thing about High Hopes is how many wonderful opportunities the program offers to the community!

Camden

  1. My favorite foods are definitely cheeseburgers and lobster.
  2. My “best day ever” would include a beach house in Miami with friends and family!
  3. The best part of volunteering at High Hopes is seeing so many good people willing to give their time for others.
  4. My favorite part of High Hopes is the people and horses!

Happy May Birthdays

Kathi Corrigan
Dominique Merrick
Kindley Fagan
Wallis Hendon
Annette Chittenden
Aoife Samuelson
Brendan Cunningham
Mark Czmyr
Mary Hildenbrandt
Samantha Lefkowitz

Lucy Fader
Julia Fenn
Erik Autio
Taylor Festa
Brianna Lent
Jordan Colon
Donna Addison
Gianna Plano
Sharon Stepp
Robin Kelly

Jordan Coleman
Danielle Steward
Rob Shiely
Katie Honsa
Tia Smith
Judith Scranton
Victoria Chalko
Nicole Cormier
Pam Russell

The newest members of High Hopes' Herd

Addie & Warrior

We are pleased to share the great news that both of our most recent trial horses, Addie and Warrior, have passed all of our suitability screenings with flying colors and are now officially permanent members of our herd of very special therapy horses!

Please join us in wishing these two special horses a long and happy tenure at High Hopes and thank their owners for sharing these talented and decorated mounts with our participants!

Addie hails from New York where she was most recently working as an English pleasure riding horse for her owner and family. Addie is an 18-year-old paint mare, standing just over 16 hands tall. Her solid build will enable her to serve some of our older participants who are working on independent riding skills, while her easy-going personality makes her a joy for volunteers to handle in those classes where the riders are staying on lead.

Warrior is an 18-year-old New Zealand Warmblood who was imported to the US some years back to compete in the World Equestrian Games in the sport of jumping. More recently he was being ridden in English hunt seat style, jumping some smaller fences for fun. Warrior also stands at just over 16 hands tall, making him a good mount for some of our tall riders. Warrior is elegant and dignified, a true gentleman.

Congratulations and Thank You!

Wendy Andrews, Nancy Aron, Zane Bauer, Kathy Beck, Trudy Bishop, Mercedes Buckingham, Carol Clulow, Jeremy Crisp, Michael Daunis, Elizabeth Davey, Arianna Delmastro, Linda Ferraro, Karin Hamilton, Lu Leahy, Katey Mann, Linda Mannings, Jim McAraw, Pam McChesney, Jason Mego, Dominique Merrick, Sandy Mulligan, Nell Okie, Margo Packer, Nancy Parsons, Matthew Payne, Kendra Price, Cheryl Quirk, Pam Russell, Elias “Elliot” Schwam, Mary Volk, Allan Ziegra.

250h

Hilary Adams, Olivia Adams, Susan Anway, Kim Bienkowski, Cheryl Colangelo, Andrea Daunis, Jennifer Dill, Tina Everett, Diane Fahey, Sandra Gervais, Edward (Clay) Gilbert, Rebecca Haller, Nate Harris, Marguerite Hayber, Jacqueline Kangley, Shannon Kelly, Howard Margules, Laurian McCauley, Allison Montesanto, Kaela Mook, Anya Mummert, Janine Palmer, Kristine Pierce, Aoife Samuelson, Robin Schonberger, Cheryl Sheriden, Julia Whalen, Susan Wilde, Nancy Williams, Betsy Worthington.

500h

Suzette “Suzy” Bolduc, Sarah Canning, Stephanie Chan, Joanne Clark, Judith Cohen, Connie Corbett, Kathy DiLullo, Cyndie Doocy, Rob Hathaway, Paul Kotowski, Larry Lee, Dawn Loughead, Steve Mazeau, Penny Nelson, Pam Platz, Linda Rogers, Donna Royston, Rob Shiely, Karen Siemon, Amanda Stazick, Sharon Torrenti, Nancy Watkinson

1000h

We still need many

Annual Update Forms

Please can you complete your annual update – these forms also help us by updating our emergency response (pink papers) system – so it is a big help to have the forms before we open up again.

Click - to update (please!)

Just for volunteers

Facebook Volunteer Group

We have set up a Facebook Group for our Volunteers. If you would like to join it please click the link below. And below that are some other ways to stay connected for volunteers, participants, families, and caregivers until we can be back together again. All welcome!

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