It's Denver Day!

This week, November 3rd - 7th, the High Hopes herd gets a break.  Are the horses glad for their time away from program... some time to linger over their am feed?  A few days without saddle and bridle?  A respite from carrying the riders that they serve so faithfully week in and week out?

Yes... 

But what about the High Hopes staff?  We need something to do while the horses have enjoy some well-desearved R&R! 

Head to Denver!  To NARHA's 2010 National Conference.  A chance to attend the National Conference means world-class professional development opportunities and the chance to network with professionals in the therapeutic riding industry from all over the world.

For three High Hopes staff members, it also means the chance to present to others.  Jeanna Pellino will do a presentation about on-going volunteer training and enrichment.  Liz Adams will present about interactive vaulting, while Sara Qua will share her knowledge about fundraising and silent auctions.  For Lauren Fitzgerald, the conference is a chance to attend a NARHA Evaluator Training, preparing her to evaluate instructors for NARHA certification at On-Site Workshops/ Certifications. The trip also will afford us the opportunity to connect with friends from afar - some of you may remember past intern Mercedes from Mexico, who plans to attend.  And our current ITC, Klara Shim, from South Korea, is taking a break from student teaching at High Hopes to fly west for the week. 

And conference also means a chance for us to see each other differently, perhaps.  Away from the office and the barn.  To share hotel rooms with fellow staff members (Keeping things fair and interesting, Kitty had us all draw names from a hat, so our "roommates" are randomly assigned).  To face fears of flying.  To maybe tell some stories over dinner in a far-away city. 

You might be surprised, given that we all spend so much time together, that there is still a lot for each of us to learn about the others.  I have never worked with such a dynamic group of people, and as a newer staff member, I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone better.

So stay tuned as I blog this week from far-away Denver.  I'll do my best to share the experience with you from my keyboard and camera!