hope's promise newsletter vol. 1, issue 1

W I N T E R 2 0 1 4

Hope’s PromisHope’s Promis eeTherapeutic Riding & Equine Therapy Program

Volume 1, Issue, 1

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Since We’ve StartedApril 2012 - Opened our doors

First riding lesson taught atHope’s Promise (HP)

February 2013 - FirstVolunteer Meeting

March 2013 - Volunteer TrainingSessions begin

First presentation to Rotary Club,9 more presentations to follow.

May 2013 - Open House forEarly Intervention Program.

First School Field Trip to HP -Special Needs Students from

Plainfield High School

June 2013 - First Equine Therapy Visitwith Miniature Horses to

Nursing Home

August 2013 - First Summer Program

September 2013 - First Multi-SessionedSchool Program with

Madison School District

To Date - 20+ students taught at HP

20+ Equine Therapy Visits to Facilities

Over 2,000 lives touchd

The mission of Hope’s Promise is to provide physical, mental and emotionalsupport and therapy to a wide range of children and adults with special needsthrough Equine Assisted Activities.

OUR MISSION

Testimonials“My son Peter’s experience at Hope’s Promise was transformative forhim. Until riding there, Peter had never wanted to go back to anyrecreational activity he tried. He became confident and enthrusiasticabout riding and looked forward to it every week. Maureen has anexcellent rapport with special needs children and it showed on Peter’ssmiling face every time he rode there!” Jennifer Travers

“We want you to know that our students had an exceptionaleducational experience spending their day with you and your wonderfulvolunteers. Each student was made to feel special. Our students ages14-21 loved Hope's Promise and can hardly wait to return! Thank youfor teaching our students in such a caring and sensitive manner. Yourindividualized attention to their needs made this class trip outstanding!As you know the students and adults didn't want to leave! Your lovelypeaceful environment is now on our approved class trip list, so pleaseknow we will be back! Laural Thurston, MA – CCC,

Speech-Language Pathologist, Plainfield Public Schools

“Hope's Promise was an eye opening experience for me. It's amazinghow much kids can learn and grow with horses in such a short time!Hope's Promise gave me the opportunity to use my passion for ridingon a whole new level.” Jamie, Volunteer


HH oo pp ee ’’ ss PP rr oo mm ii ss eeHH oo pp ee ’’ ss PP rr oo mm ii ss ee NEWSLETTER WINTER 2014

From the Director …My name is Maureen Coultas. I began riding at

Seaton Hackney stables when I was a child, and rode onand off over the years until I became an adult, whenother priorities took over in my life. I have fourdaughters and, never having forgotten my love of horsesand riding, I took up my passion again when my girlswere all in school full-time.

In 2000, I fulfilled a lifelong dream and bought myfirst horse Chief, a white Appaloosa. Little did I knowabout the journey which was in front of me.I got Chief purely for love-of-horses-and-fun. Myexperience of owning a horse has been so much morethough.

I was abused for the first 20 years of my life and,because of that abuse, I have PTSD (Post TraumaticStress Disorder). I have used many different modalitiesto help me heal from my past,

and never considered horses could be one of them!Chief kept me in-the-moment, which was the first andhas continued to be the only person/place/thing/experience able to do so with my PTSD. I wanted –through my horses – to offer to others the healing that Ihave received, so I went to Centenary College, took thenecessary classes and became a PATH (ProfessionalAssociation of Therapeutic Horsemanship)International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor.My husband and I moved from Madison to Chesterwhen our youngest daughter graduated from highschool so that I could open up a program on ourproperty (and he could have a pool!). And so, 7 horsesand a number of years later, Hope’s Promise, a PATHInternational Center, has come to be.


Therapeutic Riding & Equine Assisted ActivitiesHorseback riding transports individuals with specialneeds into a new unexplored world, providing asense of independence and freedom that defiesdisabilities.

PhysicalThe multidimensional movement of the horse helpsa rider’s posture, coordination, muscle tone,flexibility, strength and balance, and relaxation, andprovides countless other benefits, includingindependence.

MentalTherapeutic riding strengthens auditory short termmemory and the ability to follow directions, andimproves visual memory, sequencing, patterningand motor-planning. It also improves spatialrelationships and eye-hand coordination.

Emotional and SocialTherapeutic riding provides a general sense of well-being, self-confidence and an increased interest inthe outside world and one’s own life. Students areoffered the opportunity to try something new. Theylearn patience, emotional control, self-discipline,and enhanced communication skills.

Some of the many disabilities that benefit fromTherapeutic Riding....

• Accident Victims • ADHD• Aspergers Syndrome • Autism • Brain Injuries

• Cerebral Palsy • Chromosome Disorders• Developmental Delay • Down Syndrome• Hearing Impaired • Learning Disabilities

• Multiple Sclerosis• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

It has been shown that interactions with animalshave great therapeutic value. Horses are not onlytherapeutic to ride, but to interact with as well.Individuals are able to cope more effectively anddecrease their levels of anxiety, distress anddepression, while managing theirdiagnosis/treatment through contact with horses.This alternative modality has shown to be aneffective tool to facilitate the coping of individualswith an illness/condition and therefore improveoverall psychosocial well being.

Animal-assisted therapy, including equine therapy,can increase motivation, which can promotehealing, and animals have the ability to emotionally,physically, and spiritually enrich lives, particularlythose who have a need for comfort andunconditional support.

Benefits of Equine Therapy Program• Horses have a calming effect that benefitspeople with:

! Heart disease! Chronic illness! Terminal illness! Anxiety disorders! Depression! Social withdrawal

• Significant improvements in functioning andgeneral health for individuals with physicaldisabilities, neurological disorders, or otherlimitations.

• Significant decrease in stress and blood pressure• Decreases levels of anxiety• Increases relaxation• Increases skin temperature• Eases loneliness• Increases motivation, which can

promote healing• Offers hope



HH oo pp ee ’’ ss PP rr oo mm ii ss eeHH oo pp ee ’’ ss PP rr oo mm ii ss ee NEWSLETTER

Chief – Our 21-year-old Appaloosa. Chief lovespeople of all ages, but he’s especially fond ofchildren. He truly has a sixth sense when it comesto people with special needs. He’s very gentle andpatient, and nothing rattles him. He loves music,clementines, pears and bananas!

Justice – Our 9-year-old Friesian Sporthorse. Wemet Justice in Bloomsburg, PA when he was 2months old, and we’ve had him since he was 7months old. What an adventure he’s been! Justicethinks he’s a small dog. He loves to have his face inyour hair and/or your clothing and is always verycurious about what people are doing. He’s all love!

Zeke – Our 19-year-old Quarter Horse cross. Zekewas a school horse at Blue Crest Farm in LongValley before coming to us. He’s always concernedthat everyone at the farm is OK and is the mostvocal of all of the horses. He likes to walk over tothe barn door in the morning after eating his grain toget a peppermint.

Samson – our 9-year-old pony. Samson was acamp/trail horse in Pennsylvania prior to joining us.

He has the most comfortable little trot that you cansit to forever! He loves to give Zeke a hard time andwill eat anything you put in front of him!

L’il Frank Sinatra – our 2-year-old miniaturehorse. L’il Frank got his name because of his brightblue eyes. He is a very sweet, very big miniaturehorse who will be able to carry small children whenhe is older.

Eeyore – our 2-year-old miniature horse. Eeyore isa real character, somewhat like his namesake in theWinnie the Pooh stories. He has gone on manyvisits to nursing homes and other facilities sinceJune and the residents love him!

Michelangelo – our 8-month-old miniature horse.Michelangelo is a true mini, smaller than bothEeyore and L’il Frank. He has started visitingfacilities already and behaves as if he has been doingso since he was born. He has a very gentle way andnothing seems to bother him. He goes up and downstairs, in elevators, and allows me to put slippers,shoes, hats, scarves and reindeer antlers on him!

Our Horses . . .


Our Volunteers

learning everything from grooming to sidewalkingto leading the horses in preparation for lessonsbeginning in the spring. Their dedication wasevident, as shown in the photo below, when wehad a training during a heavy snow. Before weknew it, spring had sprung and our wonderful

volunteers were able to put their skills to use. Fromlessons, to field trips to the farm, to visits with theminiature horses to facilities in the area, there werealways volunteers happy and willing to give of their timeto help out and make a difference. THANK YOU,THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!

Hope’s Promise is always excited to welcome newvolunteers. If interested in volunteering, please contactus at (973) 714-8410 or [email protected].


I wouldn’t be the first to say “our program would not exist if itweren’t for our volunteers”, and it’s so true. We had our firstmeeting at the Chester Diner in Februaryand got to work with our Volunteer Training beginning inMarch. The volunteers were so committed, coming to the farm every Saturday for 2 to 3 hours,



Some of our Activities Over the Past Year . . .

Early Intervention Open HouseWith Family Link of New Jersey


Plainfield High School Field Trip to Hope’s PromiseDear "Ms. Maureen",

“Thank you for letting us visit your horse farm on our class trip. We liked meeting Zeke, Chief and Samson. It was fun tobrush the horses and take pictures. We liked watching you ride the horse. We hope we can visit again.”

Love,

Alim, Wendy, Yocelin, Robert, Amir, Dashan, Omar, Joseph, Cristian, Nia, and VincentPlainfield High School


“Having HOPE’S PROMISE come to our facility was one of those moments that fills you up and gives you thatsustainable feeling, everyone felt it, you could see on all our participants faces, even those who are unable to speak, andverbalize their thoughts, the JOY was very evident on their faces.

As a therapist, there are several aspects I seek to provide in my programming this is one of those aspects that I look for inmy programs, and this is what HOPES PROMISE brought to our facility.

We look forward to their return.”

Kathleen M. Lilieholm C.T.R.S.Genesis H.C.C., Holly Manor CenterRecreation Services Director/ TherapistVolunteer Coordinator


The Minis’ First Nursing Home Visit toHolly Manor in Mendham

“I am the Social Service Coordinator of Brookside Senior Citizens, a federally subsidized apartment building forlow-income, independent, seniors in Parsippany, NJ. In the capacity of my job, I schedule programs for our residents. I wasmade aware of Hope’s Promise Equine Therapy Programs and scheduled Maureen and one of her mini horses to come into visit with our residents in July of this year.

Since the weather was good, the program was held in our Gazebo Area. Maureen brought Eeyore to visit. Approximately40 of our residents came out. Many of them do not normally attend programs. When our residents were able to pet Eeyore,their eyes lit up and smiles spread across their faces.

The programs went so well, an additional visit was scheduled for November. This program was held in our CommunityRoom since the weather was chilly. Michelangelo was our equine guest. The more than 50 residents were delighted withMichelangelo, especially when they realized that he was wearing sneakers.

The benefits of these visits to our residents are too many to count. We will continue to host Maureen and her equinefriends.”

Nancy Ponzi




Easter Seals New Jersey’s Camp Merry HeartRotary In-Service “Carnival” Day

Madison Pre-K & Elementary School Students“It has been my pleasure to be a part of Hope’s Promise. It always amazes me how in touch Maureen is with these incrediblybeautiful human beings. She has a way of making them feel safe and they open up to her and the horses in such a beautifulway. I have seen children come to the farm and they are very afraid of the horses; but in no time at all Maureen willhelp them to touch and pet the horses with no fear. We keep learning in our lives, and this has taught me tosee the world from yet another perspective. Thank you Maureen - keep up the incredibly loving work.”

Lisa, volunteer


Hope’s PromiseHope’s Promise Charitable Fund

Because of what we at Hope’s Promise have witnessed in people’s interactions with horses on all levels – physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual – andbecause of what I have experienced in my own life, we want to be able to offerboth therapeutic riding and horsemanship, and equinetherapy visits to those who may benefit, regardless oftheir financial wherewithal. And so we are in theprocess of setting up our own 501(c)(3), so thattax-deductible donations can be made, to provide

scholarships to students, to sponsor field tripsto Hope’s Promise, and equine therapyvisits with our miniature horses tofacilities in New Jersey. Tax-deductibledonations can be made to:

Hope’s Promise Charitable Fund,34 South Road, Chester, NJ 07930.


HAPPY NEW YEAR!HAPPY NEW YEAR!

hope's promise newsletter vol. 1, issue 1

Documents

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