Judith Cohen’s introduction to High Hopes began in 1995 when she watched a friend compete in the Special Olympics World Games hosted on the High Hopes campus. She was very impressed by what she saw—how her friend connected with the horses, what she was able to accomplish as a rider, and what a special place High Hopes was.
By 2010, after undergoing double hip replacements, she knew that horses could help her to finish healing and recover strength. She remembered her visit in 1995 and knew if anyone could get her back up on a horse, it would be High Hopes. Not long after returning as a participant, Judith also joined the volunteer team. She spent time in the office and later in the barn as well, deepening her connection to the community she had grown to love.
Over the years, Judith has built relationships with many horses, but one will forever hold a special place in her heart: Vixen. Their partnership spanned many years, giving Judith the chance to truly understand her. When asked what made Vixen stand out, Judith didn’t hesitate. Vixen was brilliant, sensitive and smart. A horse who didn’t need to be told what to do; she was very intuitive.
In the arena, Vixen was professional, a horse who knew how to read people with remarkable accuracy. She understood she was working, and she always put her riders first. Judith believed Vixen could sense the extent of a rider’s abilities, whether they needed support or were ready for a gentle push forward. She adjusted with grace, sensitivity, and intuition. If Vixen had a theme song, Judith said, it would be “I Did It My Way.”
“If you were balanced and focused on her and just thought of what you wanted—a trot, a canter—she would feel you and do just that,” Judith explained. “If you were 100% with her, then she was 100% there with you.”
Judith believes that horses—especially those at High Hopes—understand what people need. They adjust, they tune in, and they respond with a sensitivity that often surprises newcomers. “If you’re open to it, they will tune in. And even at times when you’re not, they’re tuning in. You just have to pause and see it.”
Being around horses brings Judith a sense of calm and curiosity. She loves wondering what they’re thinking, and discovering what she can do to make them feel comfortable. “I feel like I need to take care of them. And I really like to take care of them,” she shared. Grooming, riding, learning, connecting—these moments bring her joy. “A day with horses at High Hopes is happiness.”
When asked what makes High Hopes horses so special, Judith answered immediately: they have been selected for their patience, their composure, and their willingness to take care of their humans. For someone who has never met a High Hopes horse, Judith offers reassurance: “Just because they are large doesn’t mean they are scary. They are calm, kind, and very sentient beings. They are far more sensitive than people who have never met a horse give them credit for.”
Finally, when asked why horses are so essential to High Hopes, Judith didn’t hesitate. “You can’t duplicate what a horse can do with its body to help a human. Riding horses is physical and emotional at the same time.” Therapeutic riding is built on movement, balance, and connection—things intrinsic to the nature of the horse.