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.

Summer Volunteer Opportunity

Howdy Partner!

You are invited to volunteer with the Summer Horse Experience! 

If you are age 14 or older and you love horses, the outdoors and helping others, then come join our Team.  Opportunities abound to work with the horses and the riders.

You may volunteer once or twice a week in the riding lesson program or spend a whole week with the same riders at the Summer Horse Experience.

The Hearts Summer Horse Experience begins June 11 and runs through August 24, 2012.

Volunteer opportunities are available on Monday through Friday mornings, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, and Monday through Saturday afternoons from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Let us know you are interested!  Call 805-964-1519, or email us at volunteers@heartsssb.org

Come to the Summer Horse Experience Training:  Saturday May 19, 2012 1 pm – 5 pm

Additional Trainings will be available.

If you are a new volunteer, please download the volunteer application off the HEARTs website and bring it with you:  www.heartsssb.org.

Jenny Cota
Hearts Therapeutic
Director of Volunteers
PH:805-964-1519
volunteers@heartssb.org

Looking For A New Home

Dear Hearts Friends and Supporters:

The time has come for Hearts to find a new home. 

As you may know, our equestrian facility is situated on land that we have leased from the County of Santa Barbara for the past 20 years.  It is a lovely spot and we are grateful to have been here for so long.

The county now needs to use this site for other purposes. They have given us the option of leasing another county-owned location nearby.  A Facilities Committee, comprised of board members and community volunteers, is working diligently to determine the feasibility of building a suitable equestrian center on that site. 

In addition, the committee is doing its due diligence by investigating other, possibly more suitable, options for the re-location and expansion of our Therapeutic Riding program.  

We are committed to the goals outlined in our Strategic Plan:

1)      To ensure the long-term sustainability of Hearts

2)      To serve as many individuals with special needs as possible, without sacrificing the warm and personal nature of our program.

3)      To create a facility that meets the current and long-term needs of our ridership.

At this time, we are considering a wide range of options for our re-location.  We will work with a realtor to identify properties for sale or lease. We are also interested in shared or donated property.  Please contact me if you have any ideas or suggestions.

This is a very exciting time in the life of our organization.  Hearts is thriving and growing. We view this re-location as an opportunity to create an equestrian facility that reflects our commitment to the community and our status as a Premiere Therapeutic Riding Center – one of only 21 in the state of California.

Thanks to the generosity and cooperation of the County of Santa Barbara, we have plenty of time to plan for and accomplish this next step in the development of Hearts. I welcome your input and partnership in finding our new home.

Thank you for your dedication to Hearts and to the families and individuals we serve.  I look forward to many more years of working together fulfilling our mission - To employ the power of the horse to enhance the capabilities and independence of children and adults with special needs, in Santa Barbara.

Sincerely,

Kirby Gillispie

Executive Director