Project ASTRIDE

Thank you to all of our generous donors and congrats to the winners of our 2010 raffle. Here they are!

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Marti joins us as our new Volunteer Coordinator assisting our former Volunteer Coordinator Brenda Theis.

Hello to all Volunteers! Mine is not really a new face as many of you may have seen me around the barn over the last few years. I have been a side walker, a horse leader, done tack and arena set up, helped with Friendship Ventures, the horse show, the Expo. I just can’t seem to get enough. It is always exciting to get even more involved in something as great as Project ASTRIDE. I found out when I helped at the PA booth at the Fair this summer just how much fun it is to talk to strangers about this awesome program. Once I got started talking it was hard to stop.

As new Volunteer Coordinator, I would like to know more about the people who have chosen PA; what you like the most about PA, what makes your volunteer experience good, and how can we make it even better. If you see an email in your inbox from me, I hope you’ll take a moment to reply. Feel free to contact me.

Marti Marrinan

Project ASTRIDE (PA) is looking to expand programming to serve more riders in more ways. Expansion will include more certified riding instructors and the development of a Hippotherapy program.

Hippotherapy must be done by an American Hippotherapy Assn certified therapist to be covered by health insurance. This means that if your physician prescribes Hippotherapy your insurance could pay for OT services at PA as early as 2011!

PA will be collaborating with other therapeutic riding (TR) centers across the state in developing a qualified presenter list. Individuals identified on this list are considered experts in the TR industry. They will visit centers and present continuing education opportunities to volunteers on how to improve horse leading techniques, ways to become a more effective sidewalker, facilitating communication with riders, and much more.

Project ASTRIDE will be having three opportunities for continuing education this winter. We would like to see each and every volunteer attend at least two of these two hour presentations. There will be light munchies, warm drinks and volunteer friends available.

I would like to thank everyone for another great year with Project ASTRIDE. It cannot be said enough how grateful we are to have our wonderful volunteers and donors!!

I also wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a safe and happy Holiday season from Project ASTRIDE. We are all looking forward to another great year!!

You, our valued supporters, were mailed a letter mid-summer asking for donations and many have responded. Your continued generosity is appreciated and needed!

During the past two years, Project ASTRIDE has been fortunate to be awarded grant funds to purchase a Fjord horse, new saddles and other tack to keep our supply in good condition, and to buy and install the SureHands© lift.

Your donations pay rent, insurance, hoof trimming, veterinary care – all the nuts and bolts needed to keep the program running. While riders’ fees help, they do not cover all the expenses.
There are other ways to help, too:

Thanks for helping to keep PA strong and healthy! Every donation, every size, is greatly needed and greatly appreciated.

The leaves are starting to change color, the horses are starting the process of growing their winter coats and while the program is gearing down the administrative part of Project ASTRIDE picks up in earnest. Budgets and financials are reviewed, next year’s class schedules, trainings and fundraisers are decided, grants are written, strategic plans and policies are revisited, and the website is reviewed for currency. Help us to strengthen our organization so we can offer more to our riders. As we grow we need help in many of these areas!

The board would like at least 1 or 2 parents who have strong ties to our community to serve on the Board of Directors. Individuals who have skills in the legal field, veterinary, marketing, IT or fundraising are needed to serve on committees and elsewhere. For more details call us. A job description is available at your request. If you or someone you know with the skill to help us is interested, please contact us and let us know!

The quality of services our participants receive is directly proportional to the quality of our volunteers and horses! So a special “Thanks” to our volunteer coordinator for all her efforts and to those individuals who have assisted us in our endeavors to find quality horses for our program.

And finally, I would like to personally thank all of you for your support in the many fundraising activities we planned this year; the Coins for Critters Drive, the Raffle and all its prizes, the Horse Show, Dare to Dream and just spreading the word in general to those you know and do business with who might end up being financial supporters of our program. These are the reasons that we are able to do what we do. Thank you for your support.

Thank you to everyone who sold raffle tickets and participated in the Coins for Critters drive!! We will continue to need your help and support to keep the program running smoothly. It is important for all of us involved in Project ASTRIDE to take ownership of the program and put our best effort forward in supporting the program. Without you, our volunteers, riders and their families, we would not have a program.

I would also like to take this opportunity to say "Thank you" to Shellie for organizing the "Dare to Dream" event. Everyone had a great time and things went smoothly.

Also thank you to all of the instructors (Clare, Laurel, Shellie and Alice Sue) for another successful riding season. We definitely could not do this without you. Your time and commitment to PA is greatly appreciated by all who are involved.

THANK YOU to all of the volunteers who participated in this riding season and to all those who helped out with the "extra" projects. 2010 will be an exciting year for Project ASTRIDE with new fundraisers and events (details to come).

Also, please come to our Open House and Holiday Photo Shoot in October (details in this issue) we always have a great time and get great pictures of riders, volunteers and the PA horses.

Congratuations to all of the winners from Project ASTRIDE's 2009 raffle! And a huge thank you to every donor. We couldn't be who we are without the strong support of our community!

The third annual benefit show will be held on August 23rd at Rocking R Farm in Foley.

For more information about the show visit the Central States Dressage and Eventing Association website (www.csdea.org) or contact Clare. Volunteers, riders and spectators welcome! Closing date for entries is August 15th. The raffle drawing will be held at noon on the show grounds.

UPDATE: Volunteers are still needed to help with various tasks. Contact Clare if you're interested in helping for a few hours or all day!

Clare Palmquist enjoys horsing around, especially if it helps those with disabilities.
The advanced therapeutic-certified riding instructor is program coordinator of Project ASTRIDE, which is a member of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association. Read more...

We have many donors for our Raffle ticket prizes this year. We need your support! We are selling the tickets for $5 each…Laurel has the raffle tickets, look for an envelope out at the barn that we will have ready for you to sell! THANK YOU ALL FOR your support!

The raffle drawing will be held at our Annual Horse Show on Sunday, August 23rd. More details coming about the big show, too! If you would like tickets please contact Laurel at 685-4524. We will be having them out at the barn during class time too. We need everyone’s help in selling the tickets! THANK YOU!

On Friday July 17th, Project ASTRIDE has been invited to participate in the WAHL Dare to Dream Shootout. Dare to Dream will be hosted by the Bison Meadows Ranch in Maple Plain, MN along with Diane Purcelli from the Shooting Star Ranch located in Darby, MT. Diane will be traveling to
Bison Meadows with her Mustang, Nevada Joe. Nevada Joe is a therapeutic program horse for Shooting Star Ranch and the official horse ambassador of NARHA. Nevada Joe will be there for Project ASTRIDE and to give our riders the opportunity to participate in the sport of cowboy
mounted shooting.

With help from many people the tack is clean, horses are being schooled, class schedules have been arranged and filled, volunteers are being contacted and many events have been lined up for the year.

We have 3 volunteer training's scheduled in 2009 so please encourage others to join us as volunteers. We are looking forward to another season in our beautiful facility thanks to owners Rick and Marlys Backes and their family. We will be seeing a few new horse faces this year and will be saying happy retirement to a few others.

Project ASTRIDE may be partnering with Friendship Ventures in 2009 to offer horse experiences to some of their campers. We are looking forward to this collaborative adventure.

Linda P has joined us this past year and is in charge of many fundraisers and grant writing. She has written us a grant for a Sure Hands Lift to make mounting easier, safer and more dignified for many of our riders. We are awaiting its final approval.

The board would appreciate and welcome everyone's assistance with the events we have planned for 2009. We will again be participating in the MN Winter Horse Fest on April 4th.

Raffle tickets go on sale in April with the prize winners being drawn at our 3rd Annual Benefit Horse Show at Rocking R Farms on August 23rd.

Project ASTRIDE will be having an open house on June 9th for past, present and future donors, please think about bringing someone you know who has a generous and giving spirit.

We have a volunteer organizing a booth at the Benton Co Fair and would like to see all of you involved in these events in some way or another.

The board of ProjectASTRIDE would like your assistance in forming a parent committee to help to serve parents and families. A parent committee would have a voice at board meetings to help shape the direction Project ASTRIDE will take now and in the future. A parent and rider panel as part of this committee could help in speaking publicly to potential donors, medical professionals and schools. We hope to see many of you riding and volunteering soon!

Join us in our "Coins for Critters" coin drive to help raise funds for Project ASTRIDE. Throughout each session, bring your coin jar (or unique container) full of change to the class you are participating or volunteering in. The competition will be heated- the class that
brings in the most money will get a Party at the end of the session!!

Who: All PA volunteers, participants and visitors.
When: Throughout the PA riding season. Starting at the first class of each session and ending at the last class.

(Check the newsletter for exact start and end dates for each session.)
Look for more information at volunteer trainings, rider orientation and at the barn!

CentraCare Health Foundation approved a grant proposal funding a
SureHands® lift!

This lift will be used to assist certain riders to mount their horses without using the ramp, and without the lifting now being done by volunteers. This will be a great new safety feature, as well as alleviating strain sometimes associated with the mounting process.

The CentraCare Health Foundation Board of Directors is expected to give final approval in mid-April. Ordering, installation and staff training will take at least a month. The SureHands® lift is expected to be available for use by the final sessions of 2009. Which riders use the lift will be determined by discussions among the instructors, riders, and riders’ families.

Have you made a special connection? Do you have a favorite horse and why? Has PA made a measurable change in the life or qualities of your life or your child’s life? Have they transferred to other aspects of life? Send us your story and perhaps you’ll see your story posted on PA’s website. Look for updated photos. You may be a star! Email us today!

Project ASTRIDE has had another successful riding season! Thank you to all of the volunteers, riders and their families, and the instructors for another great year! Project ASTRIDE would not be able to continue without the support of our generous donors.

PA will be launching new fundraisers in 2009 and will be unable to be successful without the help of our riders and their families as well as our volunteers. Without sufficient funds to care for our horses and pay other expenses, we cannot continue to offer this awesome service to the community. There are many great ways to support PA including volunteering to assist at fundraising events, spreading the word about PA and its fundraisers to family and friends, joining the fundraising committee, and by monetary donations. Keep your eye out for fliers and e-mails regarding our upcoming events.

We had another great Holiday Photo session in October. Despite the cold we still had a lot of fun taking the pictures and coloring pumpkins for Halloween. Thank you to our awesome photographer Cassandra Meyer for another great year!! We look forward to doing them again next year- they make fun and unique gifts and holiday cards.

Come join us on Sunday, October 26, 2008 for Project ASTRIDE’s 3rd annual Holiday photo shoot! Take this opportunity to get your holiday photos taken with a Project ASTRIDE horse. PA Holiday photos make great Christmas cards and gifts.
The offer is open to all PA riders, volunteers and their families.

Photo CD’s will be created and distributed with up to 5 poses for $25. All proceeds will benefit Project ASTRIDE. CD’s will be mailed out within one week.

We will have Chili available and welcome you to bring a small dish or treats to share. We will have a variety of activities and are hoping to have some pumpkins available to decorate.

Thanks to PA volunteers, Laurel, Tressa, Shellie, Marti, Jean, Linda, Gwen, Ron and Clare for helping to make the day a success!

Thanks to Rocking R Farms owner Bev Roth, judges Anne Cizaldo "r", Mary Spaeth "L", scribes Amanda and Jennifer for donating their services and all participants for helping to make this event a great success.

Class sponsors were Rodger Johnston (All Jumping classes), Avon State Bank (Intro A), Mike and Sharon Bauerly (Scavenger Hunt) and the Marrinan Family (Intro B).

7.15.08: Project ASTRIDE's Benefit Horse Show: August 24th!

This year's benefit show was held on August 24th at Rocking R Farm in Foley.

> Entry Form & Release of Liability
> Rider Eligibility Requirements

For more information about the show visit the Central States Dressage and Eventing Association website (www.csdea.org) or contact Clare.

6.8.08: Now Taking Clothing Orders!

Volunteers & Friends: I am placing another Project ASTRIDE clothing order for anyone that is interested. I am hoping to get this order in by Wed. June 11th so please email me with your order, you will pay for it when it arrives. Include size (adult or child) and select from the choices below of styles and colors available. I also have an order form out at the barn (if you are out in the next week).

Email me (Laurel) with your order and/or any questions.

THANK YOU!
Laurel Theis

T-Shirts– $15.00 Ash, Black, Cardinal, Deep Forest, Navy, Red, Royal, Lt Steel, Lt Blue, Heathered Green, Heathered Blue, Natural, Orange, Lt Pink, Pebble, Purple, Teal, Yellow, White

Sweatshirts $22.00 Ash, Black, Burgundy , Forest Green, Gold, Khaki, Navy, Orange , Royal, Red, White

Youth Sweatshirts– $20.00 Sand, Black, Forest , Gold, Navy, Royal, Red, White, Light Pink, Orange, Yellow, Irish Green

Hoodies– $28.00 Ash, Black, Sand, Royal, Navy, Red, White

Youth Hoodies – $20.00 black, ash, Forest Green, Light Pink, Irish Green, Orange , Navy, Royal, Red

Zip Hoodie - $29.00 Black, Ash, Navy

Youth Zip Hoodie– $25.00 Black, Ash, Navy

Polo Shirts– $29.00 black, red, navy, white

Denim Button-up shirt – $20.00

Polar Fleece Jacket - $36.00
Mens- Burgundy, Black, Navy, Pine, Red, Grey
Womens-Lt Pink, RiverBlue, Apple Green, Navy, Red, Black

Polar Fleece Pullover -– $33.00 Apple Green, Black, Burgundy , Charcoal, Cobalt, Forest , Lt Pink, Lt Blue, Navy, Red

Polar Fleece Vest -– $29.00
Womens-White, Black, Lt Blue, Apple Green, Dark Brown
Mens – Black, Charcoal, Forest Green, Royal, Navy

4.1.08: New Website

Welcome to the new Project ASTRIDE website! We're glad you're visiting. Make youself comfortable and take a look at our new "digs". Comments, suggestions? Please email Anita.

3.15.08: Newsletter

Check out the latest (spring) newsletter that was mailed out. It's chalk full of valuable information - dates, horse updates and more!

3.1.08: A message from president, Gwen Marshall

"I would like to welcome everyone back to another wonderful PA season!

We have again seen many changes over the winter - some sad and some good. The good news is that we will be staying at Avon Hills for the next five years! Remember to thank Rick and Marlys Backes for their hospitality if you see them around the barn this season. We had a wonderful time at the party they hosted for volunteers and riders last fall. They were kind enough to hitch up their Haflingers and take volunteers and riders on a wagon ride around their beautiful property. A good time was had by all!

We also had another successful photo shoot for Christmas card pictures with a PA horse again this year. The horses were posing pretty for their big day and participants and volunteers were pleased with their photos.

Sadly, we lost one of our favorite horses on Thanksgiving 2007. Jondalar was our fuzzy Norwegian Fjord who was everybody's favorite. he will sadly be missed by instructors, participants and volunteers. Thank you Jondalar for your wonderful service to PA!

We are all looking forward to another great year!

Thank you in advance to all volunteers new and old! Thank you to all of the local businesses and private donors who continue to support PA with their charitable donations, we wouldn't be here without you!"

~ Gwen Marshall, President