Perfect Day in the Saddle Benefit Ride

A Perfect Day In The Saddle --
Benefit for Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center

Please join us for a very special equestrian event:
The Chamberlin Ranch Ride

June 7, 2013

7:30am-2:30pm

Santa Ynez, CA

Enjoy a hearty California ranch breakfast accompanied by live music.

Mount up for a relaxing horseback ride through the historic and spectacular Chamberlin Ranch. All horses will be provided by Los Padres Outfitters.

Return to wine tasting, a gourmet rancho lunch, live music and open bar.

A wonderful day to enjoy the best of California's central coast.

All funds raised will benefit Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center.

$1,500 per person.
Please RSVP Kirby Gillispie, Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center,
805-964-1519; kirby@HeartsRiding.org

Volunteer at Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center

Do you like horses?  Would you like to make a real difference in someone’s life?  If so, you’ll enjoy volunteering at Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center. At Hearts, volunteers do more than simply give their time. They change lives. They help people achieve important life goals.  They make lifelong friends in a community of fun-loving, energetic, people who are intent on making a difference. 

Volunteers assist riders with their weekly horseback riding lessons, groom and tack horses, help maintain our horse facility, assist with administrative tasks, and much, much more. 

We are looking for volunteers who are reliable and can commit to a regular weekly schedule.

If you’d like to contribute your talents to a great cause, we welcome you to join us!

Volunteer Orientation:  Wednesday, April 3^rd     5:30-7:30 PM

Introductory Training:    Saturday, April 6^th          1:30-3:30 PM

 

Register for Volunteer Orientation

On our website www.HeartsRiding.org or

E-mail                volunteers@HeartsRiding.org or

Call                    805-964-1519

 

 

Hearts Wins CIO Solutions Contest

We are very grateful to our many pro-active friends and supporters, who nominated and then voted for Hearts in the CIO Solutions Contest.  WE WON!!  Hearts will be provided with $200,000 worth of private IT services from CIO Solutions, one of the Tri-County’s largest IT companies.  This couldn’t have happened at a better time. Hearts is growing and upgrading many aspects of our operations. We really needed some help with our technology.  Thank you all!

Hearts Summer Horse Experiences

Hearts Summer Horse Camp offers a unique equine experience for kids, ages 8-16.  This inclusive camp pairs children with disabilities and their able-bodied peers to learn horseback riding and horsemanship skills.  Instructor to rider ratio is 6:1. Working together, children gain an appreciation for the ways they are similar to and different from each other. Riders will demonstrate their new skills for family and friends in a horseshow each week. http://www.heartsriding.org/programs/summer-horse-experience/

CAMP DATES & TIMES

Monday thru Friday - 9a-12 noon

-         July 15 to July 19, 2013

-         July 22 to July 26, 2013

-         July 29 to August 2, 2013

 

COST: $350 per week

AGE GROUP: 8 – 16 years old

 QUESTIONS: Phone: 805 964 1519             or            Email: nicola@heartsriding.org

Save The Dates!

Spring Term for Lessons         April 15th – June 29th

Hearts Horse Show                 June 2nd

Chamberlin Ranch Ride          June 7th

Hearts Partners With the Braille Institute

For the past two summers, Hearts has partnered with the Braille Institute to offer a summer horseback riding program for children and teens with visual impairments. In this innovative collaboration, funded by the Ann Jackson Family Foundation, Hearts and Braille teamed up to create a customized curriculum, designed to increase independence, confidence, and self-esteem in the riders.  “The students were amazing”, commented Instructor Gillian Kinnear. “After only the second day of riding, they were eager and ready to ride independently.  This opportunity was so special for them to feel capable and independent. They always left with a huge smile and returned with one too. Even those who were quite timid at first became proud and confident in the saddle by the end of the summer."

This April, with continued support from the Jackson Foundation, Hearts will offer a new class –this one for adults with visual impairments. We are looking forward to meeting a new group of students and watching them blossom. To enroll, please contact The Braille Institute of Santa Barbara at (805) 682-6222 or contact Hearts at (805) 964-1519.

Connie Weinsoff Heads Off, Down the Trail

Long-time staff member, Connie Weinsoff, has resigned from her position at Hearts to seek new adventures. Connie has been at Hearts since 1996, serving as an Instructor, Program Director, Executive Director, and Lesson Manager. During those years, she helped Hearts mature into one of the nation’s Premiere Therapeutic Riding Centers, with the highest level of accreditation available in the United States.  She also became an Advanced Level Instructor, certified by our professional Association, PATH, Int’l.  Connie has befriended hundreds of riders, staff members and volunteers during her years at Hearts.  We will miss her.

 

A letter from Connie

Dear Hearts Family,

After 17 years of putting my “heart” into Hearts, the time has come for me to seek some other, new and exciting challenges.  Hearts has grown so much during my time here and I am proud of what we have accomplished together over the years.

I immediately fell in love with therapeutic riding while working as a volunteer at another center over 20 years ago, and have been completely passionate about it ever since.  I feel fortunate to be part of this wonderful, life changing profession.

 I appreciate the many opportunities I have had at Hearts, as well as the inspiring riders, parents, staff, volunteers and, of course, the amazing horses, that I have come to know here.  I am excited about the future of Hearts.  I will miss you all, and will continue to be Heart’s biggest cheerleader.  

Sincerely,

Connie Weinsoff

A Good-bye Potluck

Sunday, April 21st 1:00-3:00 pm at Hearts

You are invited to a potluck lunch to honor Connie!

When:              Sunday, April 21st   1:00-3:00 pm

Where:            Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center (click here for directions)

What to Bring: 

©      A potluck dish to share, with serving utensils

©      A poem, song, photo, letter or other memorabilia for Connie

©      Wear your cow-dude hat and dancing boots!

Please RSVP to Nicola@HeartsRiding.org

 

Honorary Fund for Horse Care and Tack

Hearts has established a new Horse Care and Tack Fund in honor of Connie Weinsoff.  This fund will provide our horses with the best care possible, including tack that is safe, fits well, and is comfortable. If you would like to make a gift to the Horse Care and Tack Fund in Connie’s honor, you may do so on our website by clicking here.