Fall Changes

Fall…a time of transition and change… has arrived.  Stuffy nights have given way to chilly ones and humid mornings have changed to crisp ones.  The leaves are beginning to change color and drift to the ground.  It is also a time of change and transition for me.  As the new Program Director I take the “reins” of the High Hopes Fall session for the first time.   Born and raised on Cape Cod, I do have Yankee roots, but for 13 years have grown accustomed to the warm weather in North Carolina, where a temperature of 75 brings out the sweaters!  Back in New England, I realize, I love the fall and the changes it brings.  Leaving a therapeutic riding program where I have been involved for 13 years and been Program Director for the past eight has been an emotional experience for me.  I wondered and worried about the riders I left behind, the horses I left behind and the family of staff and volunteers I left behind.  Would I ever find the same connection?  Would they be ok without me?  Will I find a new family?  At High Hopes, the answer to all of these questions has shown itself to be a resounding yes!

Smokey



Like many of us, my initial interest in therapeutic riding came from a love of the horse.  As I have worked with the High Hopes herd, each member is earning my respect, trust and love through their interaction with our participants.  Today, Greco stood, asleep, on the cross ties as 4 equine learning students learned about wraps and boots.  He was patient and forgiving as he was wrapped, unwrapped, booted and unbooted by learning hands.  I also saw Cassidy help a rider canter independently, a huge accomplishment!  My heart never skipped a beat as I saw the understanding in his eye.  Petra has amazed me with her grounded approach to each rider.  Nervous, excited, loud or unbalanced, Petra seems proud to carry each of her riders.  Yesterday a young girl arrived at the farm, home schooled all of her life and fearful of new situations.  She was nervous until I brought Smokey into the lounge.  After meeting with Smokey in her comfort zone she was able to lead him to his paddock – thank you, Smokey!  During our annual Hoedown, Major was chosen as a mount for the participant drill team.  Initially he seemed worried about the exciting surroundings but once the participant mounted his demeanor changed and he knew he had a job to do.  The stories of how each High Hopes equine is winning my heart go on and on.

Major proudly carries Danielle at the High Hopes Hoedown, with Liz leading.

At the core of High Hopes are the participants – so many to meet, so many stories to understand and appreciate.  It has been a joy to hear the history of High Hopes from participants and parents who have been a part of High Hopes since its humble beginnings.  I had the pleasure of seeing a mother seeking a meaningful activity for her son with autism finding his one true outlet for the first time.  I have had the experience of having riders greet me by name and request that I watch them trot in their lesson that day.  After the drill performance at the Hoedown, I shared in the emotion of a participant’s mother as she cried in awe at the accomplishments of her daughter.  And just today I helped a nervous young man mount a horse for the first time and heard him say the word “awesome” through the entire ride.  Lives are touched by horses everywhere!

Do I still miss where I was and my North Carolina “family”?  Of course! But I am building relationships with a new family here at High Hopes.  Time brings change and growth like the seasons… and aren’t the fall colors beautiful!

~ Liz Adams, Program Director





Monday Morning after the Hoedown

It's 9:30 Monday morning, two days after the 2^nd Annual High Hopes Hoedown and the beginning of a new fall semester.  Walking to work today it’s hard to imagine that nearly 500 people were here on Saturday for games, music and food.  The only giveaway is the port-a-potties that have been moved to the far edge of the parking lot!   

The first few days after an event are always a little unnerving and strange for me.  The adrenaline that carried me through the last week has left.  Mentally, I’m a little drained but I still have to wrap up the loose ends and help Linda prepare the final $$ tally, because everybody wants to know how we did dollar wise.  I feel pretty confident that we have met our budget goal, but for me that will be less than satisfactory as I always strive to exceed that goal.  Fundraising these days is a whole new scenario and I’m still adjusting.  

The other remaining Hoedown task to be performed is one that I look on with pleasure, but struggle to make time for and that is to thank the army of volunteers who helped pull this event off.  I know that this event wouldn’t have happened without their commitment of time and talent and that needs to be acknowledged in a very personal way.  I honestly hate it when someone introduces me and says “Sara is in charge of this event and makes it all happen.” That is so untrue!!  What I do is maintain a checklist and make sure somebody else does all the hard work!!  To be honest working with volunteers is the only way I could perform my job and I have learned to rely on them more and more.  Thank God, High Hopes has the most amazing and committed volunteers! 

As I write this blog, an email message pops up on my computer from our event Co-Chairs Deb Welles & Jeff Ridgway, reminding me that we need to schedule a wrap up meeting in the next week or so.  Next I take a phone call from our Development Committee Chair, John Catlett and we spend a few moments reviewing the Hoedown and then move on to the next items in our Development calendar – setting up a marketing task force, meeting with key committee members on the Annual Appeal and getting invitations out to a Leadership reception for donors to be held in October at the Cooley Gallery.  Volunteer extraordinaire Jim Lewis walks in with some paperwork from the Hoedown and Patty Ganey calls to talk about a upcoming meeting for Concert in the Barn.  I look forward to 2:00 today when I get to be a volunteer and lead a horse.  Then it’s on to the next event!!

Tuesday morning:  Yippee, just found out that the Hoedown exceeded its budgetary expectations!  Great start to our fundraising year and today I am smiling!" 
~Sara Qua/ Director of Development