What's New?
City to Saddle Launches National Charter Member Initiative
June, 2009
Glenda Faris, an equestrian and riding instructor from the Kingsport Tennessee area, has become City to Saddle’s first charter member, launching the Appalachian Region City to Saddle program this past summer. (Coming soon: photos and article about her experience saddling up children from the Greater Kingsport Boys and Girls Club in East Tennessee.)
Extending its mission nationwide, City to Saddle has established the “Charter Member Program” to help likeminded equestrian groups and individuals throughout the USA fund and develop horsemanship opportunities for underserved children residing in and around urban regions throughout the country.
Charter members are independent entities that affiliate and collaborate with City to Saddle Inc., and its other charter members nationwide. Membership includes use of the City to Saddle brand name and logo, City to Saddle website, and formatted marketing materials. In addition, charter members are supplied program and administrative templates. Affiliation enables charter members to register and fundraise as a tax-exempt charitable 501 (c) 3 non-profit under the City to Saddle umbrella organization, without filing and registering for separate non-profit status with the IRS.
City to Saddle Executive Director, Barbara Zenker, believes this initiative will both strengthen our organization’s mission, and help to assure the viability of similar grass roots efforts throughout the country. “By sharing resources, reducing costs and duplication, and offering materials and ‘know- how’, City to Saddle can establish the critical mass necessary to attract the dollars required to open many more barn doors for deserving boys and girls throughout the nation.”
For more information about the City to Saddle Charter Member Program click on Charter Member Standards and Application Form.
The Second Annual CTS “Meridian Equidance Fall Festival” Fundraiser was held on Oct. 17th from 4pm-8pm at Apple Knoll Farm, Millis, MA.
Meridian Equidance Company, an equestrian dance troupe founded by nationally recognized Instructor and Trainer, Susanne Winslade, held its 2nd annual Harvest Festival Fundraiser at Apple Knoll Farm, Millis, MA. City to Saddle once again was chosen as the beneficiary.
Attended by nearly 200 guests, the evening event featured talented horses and riders performing to popular movie sound tracts. The venue, Apple Knoll Farm and its large indoor arena, was the perfect compliment to the show. A catered dinner was served in an elegant dining room created at one end of the arena, enhanced with patio heaters, a carpeted floor and decorated tables. Professional sound, theatrical lighting and hundreds of twinkling lights completed the effect. A live and silent auction added to the festivities.
Performers included members of the Meridian Equidance Company, The Dale Perkins Horse Show, Leslie DeGrandmaison and several other guest performers.
Three City to Saddle Children from Worcester, MA, Delines Candelaria, Amina Osman, and Fernan (Gabby) Montalvo starred in a featured equestrian vaulting act with Dale Perkins, Owner/ Director of Mesa Farm, Rutland, MA and host to City to Saddle’s Worcester area summer riding program. The act produced hearty cheers from the crowd, and huge smiles from the young performers and their attending families. Treated to dinner and front row tableside viewing along with their chaperones, these young equestrians bedecked in furs and crowns, also portrayed Kings and Queens in a Narnia interpretation.
Members of the Equidance Company work throughout the year preparing for the evening…choreographing rides, choosing music, creating costumes and securing event sponsors. Their talents and contributions resulted in an extraordinarily successful event grossing nearly $15,000. Over 40% of the proceeds were donated to City to Saddle.
We wish to thank the cast and crew.
For more information about the event, and the Meridian Equidance Company, click here.
3rd Annual City To Saddle Benefit Luncheon at the Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic Held
23 July 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009 11:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Silver Oak Equestrian Center 340 Exeter Road Hampton Falls, NH 03844.
The Fidelity Jumper Classic was a lovely day on all accounts. The weather was perfect. The food and flowers were excellent and the guests had a great time. A number of CTS children were able to attend on a bus provided by Girls Inc. The children enjoyed pony rides, crafts and a beautiful day out with horses. Many thanks to Melissa Lovasco and the Fidelity Jumper Classic for providing this opportunity.
Walnut Hill Farm, Plainville, MA - Next Session: August 10-14
(pictures to follow)
Mesa Farm, Rutland, MA - Next Session: August 3-7
See pictures.
Letter from Bonnie Gibbs- Autumn House, Worcester, MA
To City to Saddle, and Dale Perkins, Mesa Farm,
Thank you so much for your gracious hospitality this morning at Mesa Farm. Ruth and I had a great time visiting and seeing the program in action. My kids were so excited about everything they learned there and all the things they got to do and experience this week. It is truly a wonderful, exciting, and special opportunity for them. Deli has taken some awesome pictures and we promise to share some with you as soon as we download them.
I can’t thank you enough for providing this opportunity for my kids. Hopefully, we will be invited back next summer.
Most sincerely,
Bonnie
P.S. Just to give you a little more background on the kids who participated:
They all live in affordable housing (families are of low to very low income)
5 live in single parent, female headed households
1 came with family as a refugee from Somalia
1 came with family as a refugee from The Ivory Coast
1 came with family as a refugee from Afghanistan
1 lives here with grandparents
1 has 5 children in the family
English is the second language for all but 1
A couple families rely on public transportation to get everywhere
Each has a story…most have lived here 4 years or more. While our site is a great place to live, families can afford the rent, and we have lots of activities that take place in our Community Room, it is a totally different experience for my kids to go off site to see what else exists in the world. Thanks for giving them the chance to see what else is out there! I know they were impressed. I know I was, too !!!!
Bonnie E. Gibbs
rector of Resident Services
Autumn Woods, LP
Spear Management Group
15 Upland Gardens Drive
Worcester, MA 01607
508-798-0445 ext 226
fax 508-792-3526
Woodsong Farm, Brewster, MA - Sessions Completed
Drawing by Anna Moe
Windrush Farm, Boxford, MA - Session: July 27-31
Windrush Farm Holds a City to Saddle camp again for 2009. Thanks to host Tina Fransioli, four City to Saddle children were welcomed back to Windrush Farm once again in 2009. The children kept up a busy schedule of riding twice a day, learning about chores and horse care and many other fun, summertime activities. A special treat for 2009, the children learned a bit about driving! Read on for a general daily summary from the farm.
The kids arrived each day at 9:00 AM. They started by grooming their horses and tacking them up before their morning riding lesson, during which we focused on riding on the flat. After their lesson, they washed their horses and then completed barn chores, which include cleaning stalls, scrubbing and refilling water buckets, giving hay & grain, sweeping and raking. The kids then eat an early lunch, during which we would discuss a stable management topic. After lunch the kids would groom and saddle their horses for their second riding lesson during which they would practice jumping. Last summer this group learned a dressage test, which they performed on the last morning, and either jumped a little course or completed an obstacle course.
Children’s Equitation Center, LeeElla Farm, Ashfield, MA - Next Session: July 27-August 4
Letter from Maggie’s Mom to City to Saddle
Hi Barbara,
Maggie and Friend
Maggie grew two more inches I swear! She looks more mature, and more beautiful than ever.
When all the girls jumped out of the van from tending to the stabled horses, they were in full riding outfits!
Black polo, beige britches and knee high riding boots. They looked like the equestrian 'mod squad' !
She came bombing up the hill and grabbed me and hugged me like never before.... It was just awesome to see her. Two weeks was a long time!
So we had lunch w/Roberta, and all the families. Shared email addresses.
Then of course Bobby Maggie and I stayed for hours roaming paddocks and the barn.
…Roberta… she'll have a week to rest a bit before her next session. She is an amazing woman!
I'll send some pictures..... thanks a million..... she's really growing up and becoming an amazing horsewoman.
Love, Lorraine
Oh! Off to barrel racing in the morning with Mr. Bob
Congratulations to Bob H.!!
Winning ribbons barrel racing in Raynham, MA! He will be participating in the City to Saddle/Windrush Farm riding program in July.
Five CTS Youngsters Featured in "The Literary Horse: When Legends Come to Life" Photo Shoot at Bear Spot Farm, Concord, MA
February 2009
(pictures to follow)
Boys, Girls, and Youth Organization Directors
City to Saddle has begun planning its 2009 summer riding programs for boys and girls ages 6-13. Both new riders and past participants are welcomed to enroll in the upcoming sessions!!
Participation fees: $15.00/ week session (new enrollees) $25.00/week session (past participants) payable in advance to City to Saddle. You’ll also be invited to attend some very special events! Once scheduled, we’ll keep you posted as to their dates and locations.
Please contact your youth organization supervisor, or e-mail citytosaddle@comcast.net, or call 781-891-5920 as soon as possible if you are interested in joining the 2009 City to Saddle Program!
You can download our program flyer here.
Barbara Zenker
Co-Founder, City to Saddle
Hope Comes to City to Saddle
13 February 2009
Children discover hope in many places. In the case of 8 year old Dorchester youngster, Tajarah Clark, hope can be found in the person of Hope Cooper, a 12 year old equestrian. Through City To Saddle, a non-profit organization that funds and accesses riding programs for underserved urban youngsters, Hope will realize her wish: sharing her special world and love of ponies with Tajarah.
Beginning in March, Tajarah will spend Saturdays learning to ride and care for Hope’s wonderful pony Orion. With guidance and oversight from Hope’s mom, Jane Karol, a highly regarded Grand Prix Dressage rider, instructor and trainer, Hope will mentor Tajarah in the ways of horses and the bond that can form when young girls and ponies come together.
“Hope spoke to me about her desire to teach a City to Saddle child to ride, to share her lifelong experiences caring for, and loving horses and helping another little girl fulfill her pony dreams. Impressed with Hope’s horsemanship talents, and more importantly, her character, I considered this wish nothing less than a wonderful opportunity for City To Saddle, and a very special gift for one of our deserving fledgling riders,” states Barbara Zenker, Founding Director of the City To Saddle program. For Hope’s part, she is nothing less than “Excited by the opportunity to share her love of horses and to make a new friend!”
There is a famous quote from Plato stating,"The most effective kind of education is that a child should play amongst lovely things. Surely he foresaw an enchanted Tajarah seated proudly upon the warm, fuzzy back of gentle Orion, guided by the sure hand, and kind heart of a lovely girl named Hope!"
Hope, Tajarah and Orion will begin their partnership next month at Bear Spot Farm in Concord, MA.
