Community Support Saves Horse Trails Summer Camp

WESTPORT, CT - August 10, 2011 - Thanks to community support and the determination of Chris Patella, a music teacher at the Thomas Hooker School in Bridgeport, Connecticut, middle school students from urban Bridgeport and suburban Amity Region #5 School districts in Connecticut were able to attend "Horse Trails to Learning", a two-week camp that promotes academic achievement using equine facilitated learning.

Funds frozen due to state's budget crises . . .
The camp was to have been funded by a two year State grant, but funding for this year's program was frozen in Hartford due to the current budget crisis, just two weeks before the camp was to start on July 18th.

Patella, also a certified therapeutic riding instructor, approached The EQUUS Foundation for funding, along with local businesses. With help from the Connecticut Post and WTNH-TV Channel 8, Patella was able to raise almost all of the $21,000 needed for the camp to operate. The camp opened on July 18th at the Turning Point Farm in Woodbridge, Connecticut, as scheduled, offering 35 children an unforgettable experience. In addition to The EQUUS Foundation, donations were received from People's United Bank and the Greater New Haven Foundation, Aquarion Water Company, Fairfield County Bank, Beval Saddlery, and a private anonymous donor.

The camp experience transcended economic, racial and ethnic barriers, stimulating teamwork among the campers in activities geared towards science, literacy, physical fitness and career development, and of course - fun.

Since many of the students came from economically deprived families, the opportunity to be on a farm , interact on a personal level with the horses, and learn basic riding skills was a life changing event. Taking life science classroom learning directly to the horses facilitates motivation and interest. Students read the novel "Chosen By A Horse" which addresses equine abuse, received daily riding instruction and learned to groom, tack, bathe and care for their horse. Experts like the veterinarian, farrier, and equine dentist talked to the campers on everything from horse anatomy, hoof care, and horse psychology.

Daniel's Story
One such student was Daniel. The first day that Daniel mounted Buster, a large pony, he was terrified. He clung to the mane and grab strap, sweating profusely. When he dismounted, his knees were shaking so hard he nearly tumbled to the ground. Over the course of the two weeks, Daniel gradually gained confidence, and by the end, with the assistance of his horse leader, he demonstrated quite a nice sitting trot, smiling the whole time. Daniel also studied every part of the horse and could name every one in his last quiz. He finished the book, and was fascinated by the equine dentist and the farrier who had visited the previous week. He gave Buster a bath and brushed him every day. As we walked down the driveway to the waiting school bus on the final afternoon, he wiped a few tears from his eyes. Buster had surely touched his soul.

EQUUS Foundation Board members Lynn Coakley and Susan Weber visited with Chris Patella at the camp, observing the campers actively engaged in camp activities. Under a shaded tree, a small group led by Jeanene Lyons were engaged in discussion of the novel, "Chosen By A Horse", while another small group were learning how to take part a bridle and put it back together - not an easy task for even an experienced equestrian. Another group seated around a table compared the human skeleton to an equine skeleton led by James Roman, and of course, there was the group of campers learning to ride horses under the able instruction of Melissa Liptak.

"We are deeply grateful to the donors that responded so quickly to our emergency," said Chris Patella. "There is something magical about this camp. The beauty of the horses, the awe of watching them for hours throughout the day almost makes time stop for a little while. The first experience of riding a horse and feeling their power, learning about them inside and out from a scientific perspective, and then reading the heart wrenching novel blends together a myriad of emotions. The two weeks these young students are together is almost a retreat. It is an experience that will be remembered for their entire life."

For information on The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., visit the EQUUS website at www.equusfoundation.org or contact The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., at (203) 259-1550 or equus@equusfoundation.org.

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