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4
Tuesday, February 28 2023 / Published in Sidelines Feature, Sidelines Spotlight, Weekly Feature

Good for the HEART: Riding With HEART Builds Lasting Community in New Jerse

By Lyssette Williams

It takes a special person to dedicate their life to a philanthropic cause, and few feel the call to such service. Carla Harbourt felt that call in her very bones, working her way from volunteer to therapeutic riding instructor and on to executive director at New Jersey-based therapeutic riding center, Riding With HEART.

Carla’s love affair with horses started at home. Growing up, she was fortunate to live on a horse farm in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, and started riding at the age of 8.

“I owned a Quarter Horse mare named Snow Goose—Moose at home,” Carla said. “Moose and I were a part of the Amwell Valley Hounds Pony Club. All my friends rode in Pony Club. It was a great way to grow up.”

Carla took a break from horses to pursue a career in the fashion industry, pivoting later to IT before transitioning to full-time mom to raise her two children. After a successful recovery from cancer, Carla wanted to give back, and found her thoughts wandering back to the things she loved and cherished in the past—horses and their ability to help you form strong bonds with others.

“In 2011, my daughter and I decided that we wanted to volunteer, and we found Riding With HEART,” Carla said. “It was a great opportunity to reconnect with horses and invest in the local community.”

 

The Ties That Bind

Founded in 2001 as part of the Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission (HCESC), Riding With HEART’s humble beginnings were on a small farm in Flemington, New Jersey. The program set out to provide therapeutic riding for individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities, as well as an at-risk youth program.

“For people with physical disabilities, the multidimensional movement of the horse can simulate walking, building strength and improving balance,” Carla said. “Children and adults on the autism spectrum can gain a sense of connection. Horses are non-judgmental, steady and instinctive beings, providing a calm pillar for those who are easily sensory overloaded. There are children out there dealing with an incredible amount of stress and anxiety, and riding allows them to have a sense of control, while building confidence.”

In 2006, HCESC had to drop the program due to budgetary reasons. A group of individuals familiar with the program recognized its immense value and picked up the reins under the name Dreams Come True Therapeutic Riding. In 2008, the program received funding through New Jersey’s Green Acres Grant, designated to preserving New Jersey farmland. With this funding, the program purchased a 30-acre farm in Pittstown, New Jersey. The permanent home’s large outdoor arena, pastures and a 28-stall barn allowed the program to expand. Employees felt a name change to Riding With HEART seemed fitting.

“Thanks to the expansion, we currently offer a variety of mounted and ground-based equine therapies to the community: therapeutic riding, programs for at-risk youth, summer children’s learning programs and equine-assisted learning,” Carla said. “In 2017 we created the BraveHEARTs Program, offering equine-assisted activities that serve the unique needs of our veterans, law enforcement and first responder community.”

The true center of these programs is the horses, and Riding With HEART has nine of them. Each horse came from a different past, but has found themselves as a major force for good in their presence. “Our horses come to us after a variety of careers,” Carla said. “Some were dressage horses, Western pleasure or hunter-jumpers. Any horse we accept into the program must be in good health, safe for program participants and volunteers to interact with, and free of dangerous vices.”

Each horse undergoes a trial period and special training to ensure they can handle the unique challenges of being a therapy horse. “Each horse has a personality that is suited to a particular activity and participant,” Carla said. “Some riders need a challenge to build confidence, while others may need an extremely quiet horse for their session. Each horse knows what their job is, they know when to be still, slow and quiet. It’s fascinating to see how each horse responds to the client working with them.”

Fresno, a 21-year-old palomino Quarter Horse gelding, is one of the program’s most popular horses. “Fresno has one brown eye and one blue eye, and that draws people in because it’s so different,” Carla said. “But his personality is what really wins them over. He’s an absolute goofball who craves constant attention. He’d rather be with people than with other horses. He entertains the children with his antics, like switching the lights on and off and throwing his halter to get your attention.”

Building With Care

Demand for therapeutic riding programs continues to grow, and Riding With HEART wants to keep up with the demand, but it can be tough as a non-profit organization to meet everyone’s needs. Carla and her team had to get creative with no-contact fundraising during the pandemic to ensure the program could keep the lights on.

“We had an ‘un-gala’ in place of our usual Boots & Bling fundraiser,” Carla said. “We mailed invitations with RSVP cards allowing donors to select options for monetary donations in lieu of purchasing a gown or renting a tuxedo.”

Thankfully, their bi-annual tack sale, which funds most of the Riding With HEART operational costs, continues to be a community favorite. “It’s the tack sale you can’t miss,” Carla said. “Brooks Durbin, along with the Tack Sale Volunteer Team, works tirelessly to host these successful sales. Around 200 people attend, and in 2021 we made $40,000 in sales, helping to cover our operating expenses for a good part of the year.”

Caring for the horses and keeping the center running is no easy feat. All of Riding With HEART’s Instructors are PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) certified as well as certified in CPR and first aid. Due to the sustained pandemic, the number of volunteers, who are just as important as the horses, dropped off by about one third.

“There are so many people within our community who could benefit greatly from our programs, but due to funding constraints we are limited in the number of individuals we can serve,” Carla said. “There are local programs who cater to teenagers with special needs, at-risk youth, and those on the autism spectrum, just to name a few. We are always looking for a company or person to sponsor these individuals, for a day or even a week-long session.”

For mother Maggie Matlosz, therapeutic riding programs at Riding With HEART have become an important positive part of her daughters’ lives, helping them achieve goals and dreams they never thought imaginable.

“Riding with HEART has been amazing for both girls for different reasons,” Maggie said. “My youngest has hypotonia from a rare genetic disorder, as well as sensory issues. Riding has strengthened her core and gives her the proprioceptive input that she needs. When she started at Riding With HEART, she started with hippotherapy and had two side-walkers and a leader. She is now riding independently, and horses are her favorite thing in the entire world. My oldest had self-esteem issues due to bullying at school. When riding, she is focused on her horse what they’re going to learn. Each goal that she accomplishes helps boost her confidence!”

Working alongside a loyal and dedicated staff, Carla has her plate full with program development, soliciting donors and connecting with those in her community with the most need—though she still finds time to help exercise the horses when she can. And every day she is reminded of why she started volunteering 11 years ago: to get back in touch with horses and to help others experience the calm and healing qualities they have.

“We fully embrace our participants and their families,” Carla said. “We are extremely fortunate that they allow us the privilege of enriching their lives.”

Like Carla, the staff and volunteers at Riding With HEART are there because they truly believe in bringing joy to others.

“Volunteering began as a high school requirement for me,” said volunteer Cheyenne Blaine. “After achieving my school’s requirement, I realized that I fell in love with the program and the people who run it. I continue to volunteer as I enter my junior year of college. I can tell the riders experience the same comfort that these animals have always given me, and it’s moving to be part of sharing that gift. Although the skillsets, mindsets and attitudes of the riders vary, all the riders share something in common. They are all able to connect and channel the horses’ energy to achieve healing that no human could give. As a volunteer at the barn, I am incredibly proud to be a part of the life-changing and inspiring magic that happens at Riding With HEART.”

For more information, visit www.ridingwithheart.org

Photos courtesy of Riding With HEART

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Tagged under: HCESC, Riding With HEART, Volunteering

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Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Gre Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Great American $300,000 Grand Prix at HITS Ocala!! 🏆🥇

Crowds filled the stands at the HITS Ocala Grand Prix Ring on Sunday afternoon to watch the world’s top athletes compete in the Great American $300,000 Grand Prix. The day concluded with a thrilling five-horse jump-off featuring athletes 
representing four countries. In the end, it was Lisa Goldman-Smolen (USA) and Ivaro N who produced the only double clear effort of the day, claiming one of the biggest wins of her career. Scott Keach (AUS) and Noble De La Chapelle earned the second-place prize with the fastest 4-fault jump-off, while Aaron Vale (USA) and Obi Wan placed third as the day’s pathfinders.

“I'm still on cloud nine, I still can't believe it – I’ve used up all my luck for the year,” smiled Goldman-Smolen after her win. “I've been knocking on the door a long time in these bigger classes. I am so proud of my horse – he gave every ounce of effort.”

Sunday’s Great American $300,000 Grand Prix marked the conclusion of the 2023 HITS Ocala circuit. HITS CCO Joe Norick concluded, “We are so excited about the new HITS, with 2023 as the launch. New footing, many new arenas here, and a lot of our facilities across America are getting a lot of love and new footing. Our partnerships with Worldly Martin and others across America including our footing leader Bart Poles overseeing our operations – it really makes a big difference for us. Today is about Ocala and these three riders sitting next to me who supported us this entire winter. We want to be a proud destination for our exhibitors and our friends. We know we have to provide them a beautiful showplace to work from that's horseman friendly, and that's our go goal. 

Congratulations to all of the riders, horses, owners, and groom who participated in this prestigious class!!! 🎉
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It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

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You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

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Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses—in a way, she was born into her career. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where her parents ran a farm. Her mother taught, and her father had a jump business and then created one of the first horse show software programs: Ryegate Show Services, Inc.

Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

“Besides running Ryegate Show Services and its various organizations, I can be found in the show office, running a scoreboard or judging jumpers at most shows,” Annette said. “I love getting to wear a few different hats at the show.”

When she’s not busy at a show, Annette lives in Annville, Pennsylvania, with her “fur-baby,” Maggie Mae, and enjoys spending time with her many godchildren. Though she doesn’t currently own any horses, Annette rides when she can at Rolling Acres Farm with Patty Foster, Ashley Foster-Worthington and Mary Lisa Leffler.

Read this month unbridled with Annette Longenecker by clicking the link in our bio. Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine! 🦄
📸Photo by Sheryl Sutherby

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A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
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