High Hurdles Therapeutic Riding Program

12/19/2024

We are thrilled to have just completed another big project on our bucket list!

This new fencing will give us the opportunity to separate horses into appropriate groups, make sure their diets are consistent with their needs, protect our limited pasture resources in the muddy seasons and utilize our shelter to its fullest extent. We now have FIVE rather than two pasture sections, which is very exciting!

Thank you to the sasi Foundation and the donors that made this project possible, and to R&R Fencing for working through the cold and wet to complete the project.

The sasi Foundation is an independent 501c(3) organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness of sasi’s programs and the people we serve. Check the link to donate and make possible projects like this and so much more! https://www.sasinc.org/donate-today/

12/18/2024

As we come to the close of 2024, we thought it would be a good time to reintroduce our herd, and give you some history on their years in the program. We want to start with Penny, who has been at High Hurdles the longest- an impressive 15 years! This year, her dedication and hard work were recognized when she was named the CHA Region 5 School Horse of the Year! 🏆

Therapeutic riding horses are truly special, and the role they play is unlike any other. A great therapeutic riding horse must:
🐴 Have extensive training and lived experiences to prepare them for their roles.
🐴 Stay calm and steady, even when things are unpredictable- consistently!
🐴 Be able to handle the physical demands of carrying riders of various abilities safely and comfortably.
🐴 Adapt to the unique needs of each rider, from physical to emotional support.
🐴 Demonstrate endless patience and kindness, session after session.
🐴 Tolerate lots and lots of people and remain focused on their jobs despite distractions.
🐴 Build trust and connection with riders, helping them feel safe and supported.

This work is demanding, both physically and emotionally, which is why most horses only remain in programs like ours for a few years. But Penny has surpassed all expectations, continuing to serve our riders year after year. Her adaptability, steadiness and gentle nature have made her an irreplaceable part of our team. Penny is going to be 25 this coming year. She is still the backbone of the program in many ways!

Please join us in celebrating Penny by sharing your favorite memories or stories of her below. 💜🐎

12/14/2024

The rest of the crew enjoying some sunshine, despite the cold!

12/14/2024

12/13/2024

🐴 Today is National Day of the Horse! 🐴
It’s the perfect time to celebrate our wonderful herd. We’d love to hear from you—who do you think deserves a little extra pampering today?

✨ Chance
✨ Canyon
✨ Beatrix
✨ Beau
✨ Prize
✨ Bella
✨ Indy
✨ Rapunzel
✨ Penny
✨ Ramona

Let us know in the comments, and we’ll make sure your favorite gets a little extra attention!

12/12/2024

Due to weather, we are canceling our volunteer training tonight. Thank you stay safe! ❄️

12/08/2024

Now everything is melting, but we had quite an adventurous last couple of weeks with all of the snow we got! Our horses love frolicking when there is a fresh snowfall, but us people, well we plowed and shoveled... and then stuck to indoor activities 😄

12/06/2024

Our Saturday class is full, but we still have options during the week! Let us know by December 20th if you would like to join!

❗️NEW THIS YEAR❗️

On a limited basis, we are offering lessons over the winter to those that joined us in 2024! 🐴

Please see the attached for details if your participant is interested, as these lessons will look a bit different than the typical lesson season.

http://highhurdlestrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/HH-Winter-Mini-Sessions-2025.pdf

12/06/2024

For those joining us in January and February, and even March (let's hope not April 😉).

It is important to dress warm anytime you are out in the cold. Here is some information about how to do that to ride too!

❄️🐴 Why It's Essential to Help Your Riders Dress for Cold Weather
….. ‼️ and an easy email template (for you to personalize) to send to your riders! ‼️

There’s nothing worse than a rider who’s cold and uncomfortable. A cold, tense rider simply isn’t in an optimal state for learning or riding.

While you probably know how to dress for the barn in colder temperatures, have you communicated this to your riders and their families?

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard riders step out of the car and say, “It’s colder here than it was at home!”

When riders aren’t properly prepared for cold weather, both their physical and emotional states are impacted:

The Physical Toll of Being Cold
Cold muscles are stiff and less responsive, reducing flexibility and coordination. This affects safety and performance in the saddle:
🥶 Numb fingers struggle to feel and hold the reins.
🥶 Rigid hips create bouncing riders with braced legs.
🥶 Stiff shoulders and elbows can cause pulling on the horse’s face.
Additionally, as the body works harder to stay warm, riders tire out more quickly, leading to reduced focus and endurance.

The Emotional Impact of the Cold
When the body is focused on staying warm, it diverts energy away from mental and physical tasks. Riders may struggle with processing, retaining information, and even demonstrating skills they are normally good at. Emotionally, being cold can lead to frustration and irritability. Think about how you feel when you’re chilled to the bone—short-fused and more focused on warming up than anything else.

Preparation Matters
The easiest solution..... Have riders come prepared to the barn for the weather. As an instructor, you should educate your riders (and their families) about how to dress appropriately for winter lessons. It may sound simple, but many people don’t spend as much time outside these days and may not know how to dress for extended exposure to the cold.

So other than having your rider dress for the weather, what things can you do in lessons minimize some of the effects from the cold weather.
☃️ Ride in sunny areas
☃️ Ride in areas out of the wind
☃️ Minimize the idol time in lessons and focus on quality over quantity
☃️ Encourage ways to get their body moving and elevate their heart rate without sweating prior to their lesson.

👇 🥶 If you actually read this, drop a comment below with the lowest temperature you have experienced at your barn !!

‼️ Get Your Free Winter Prep Resources! ‼️
In the comments, you’ll find a signup link. Enter your email, and I’ll send you a PDF of the infographic and a template you can use to quickly email your riders and their families to better prepare them for winter lessons.

Let’s keep everyone warm, focused, and ready to ride this winter!

12/05/2024

🎉 Upcoming Volunteer Training: Tack & Equipment Basics! 🎉

Join us on Thursday, December 12, from 4:30 to 6:00 PM for an interactive training session focused on tack and equipment! 🐴

Whether you're a seasoned volunteer or just starting out, this is a great opportunity to:
✅ Brush up on your skills
✅ Learn how to properly handle and care for tack
✅ Gain confidence in preparing horses for sessions

📍 Location: 13339 Rt 39 Sardinia, NY 14134
👟 What to Bring: Warm clothes and a positive attitude!

We can't wait to see you there and work together to keep our program running smoothly. 💙

👉 Please RSVP by December 10th!

11/27/2024

We have a winner in our "Golden Boy" raffle. Congratulations to Meggin Mosher! 👀
Thank you to everyone who entered the raffle for helping to support High Hurdles.

11/25/2024

❗️NEW THIS YEAR❗️

On a limited basis, we are offering lessons over the winter to those that joined us in 2024! 🐴

Please see the attached for details if your participant is interested, as these lessons will look a bit different than the typical lesson season.

http://highhurdlestrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/HH-Winter-Mini-Sessions-2025.pdf

11/25/2024

We received a thoughtful note from assemblyman David Dipietro today saying he saw the recent newspaper article about our fall horse show! It was such a wonderful day celebrating the hard work and accomplishments of our participants, supported by our incredible team of staff, volunteers, and horses. It's exciting to see moments like these being recognized and celebrated beyond our community. Thank you to everyone who helped make that day so special! 🌟🐴

11/22/2024

LAST CALL!!
We're running a "Black Friday" sale on our "Golden Boy" canvas raffle. Tickets are now only $5 each! We will draw the winner next week.

All of the proceeds will be put toward our dream of building hay huts to provide easier, cleaner and healthier hay distribution to our herd. Thank you for your support!

RAFFLE: https://www.sasinc.org/how-to-help/high-hurdles-canvas-raffle/

11/22/2024

📨Mail Call!!

Our horses are feeling the love this week—they’ve just received their very first letters from an amazing group of 3rd-grade students at East View Elementary school! 📬🐴 The students are practicing their writing skills while getting to know our equine team by asking questions and sharing stories. In return, our horses (with a little help from their human friends) will “write back,” fostering a fun connection that encourages creativity, learning, and a whole lot of smiles. 😊✍️

Stay tuned to see how our horses "reply" to their new friends (perhaps to explain why they are all so MUDDY!)! 🐎❤️📖

11/15/2024

🎉 Congrats to our November Volunteer of the Month: Harold M.! 🎉

This month, Harold went above and beyond by crafting brand new bridle hooks for the entire barn. 🐴 Harold's hard work and creativity are so appreciated for this endeavor as the replacement of the old flimsy bridle hooks will last longer and be safer for the horses in the aisle.

Thank you, Harold, for your amazing contribution and for going the extra mile to support our program. We’re lucky to have you as part of our volunteer family! ❤️👏

11/12/2024

For those of you who are out of our area, but still want to support the program and win "The Golden Boy", don't worry! We can ship it!

Get your tickets today!

Hello 👋 ! Ready for a fabulous opportunity to support High Hurdles while entering to win an invaluable piece of art?? Look no further! For a $15 chance, you will be entered to win a 16"x20" floating framed canvas print of "The Golden Boy" (valued at $611) 🐴Proceeds will be used to improve our horse caretaking abilities with the purchase of new hay huts! Many thanks to Carrie Duckett Photography,LLC for this generous donation 🥰

Please visit https://www.sasinc.org/how-to-help/high-hurdles-canvas-raffle/