Not many organizations can attract clients, participants and volunteers that range in age from 2 to 92. Fieldstone Farm does. Instructors there find that horses are a powerful way to connect with anyone - despite disabilities. For 37-years, people with special needs have been going to the therapeutic riding center to improve physical abilities, heighten social skills, build confidence and just have fun. Watch video
BAINBRIDGE, Ohio -- Not many organizations can attract clients, participants and volunteers that range in age from 2 to 92. Fieldstone Farm does. Instructors there find that horses are a powerful way to connect with anyone - despite disabilities.
For 37 years, people with special needs have been going to the therapeutic horse-riding center to improve physical abilities, build confidence and heighten social skills.
Out of more than 850 centers in the country, Fieldstone Farm is among the top three largest riding centers in terms of budget, facility and programs. About 1,000 people take classes there each year, with participants ranging from at-risk students to people facing crisis such as death, illness or separation. Some participants have disabilities or conditions such as down syndrome, cerebral palsy and autism.
Now the nonprofit organization is reaching out to a new market - veterans. In the past two years, they've offered services to 110 veterans, free of charge. Fieldstone Farm got funding two years ago from a foundation that's focusing on helping veterans.
"Collectively as a nation, I believe our awareness of the difficulties veterans face when they come home has grown," said Leslie Mapes, chief operating officer, at Fieldstone Farm. "And as any nonprofit looking for new ways to serve people we felt that was a good possibility for us."
Fieldstone Farm is among hundreds of riding centers that are starting to reach out to veterans. According to Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International, the membership organization reports centers now serve about 4,000 veterans. In 2014, veterans programs had increased to 317, up from 89 in 2009.
PATH International is kicking off their annual conference in downtown Cleveland this week with sessions related to veteran's programming. On Saturday, about 450 of the participants are expected at Fieldstone Farm for a horse expo and more hands-on sessions.
They're reaching out to veterans and active-duty military personnel--with physical, cognitive and emotional challenges, to help them find strength and independence through the power of the horse.
In the past two years, Fieldstone Farm has reinvented with a big push to focus on Veterans Services, from disabled vets to working with a statewide organization for families of vets.
Fieldstone Farm offers riding and carriage driving therapeutic opportunities for veterans, and the number of participants has doubled in last two years. Special needs range from physical to mental disabilities such as amputees, post traumatic syndrome and depression.
With just 40 employees, there is no way that they could offer as many services as they do without 200 volunteers.
"We get our volunteers from all across Northeast Ohio. They range in age from 14 to in their 80's. They don't have to have any horse training. We will train them. Some people are horse people. But they come here and help us Monday through Saturday. We could not run this place without our wonderful volunteers," Mapes said.
How do your previous experiences help with your new role as COO?
My background is mainly marketing-based with recent experience in fundraising. In those careers, I have had to juggle a number of very different day-to-day objectives and tasks while keeping an eye on strategic goals. At the same time, I've had to collaborate with volunteers, staff and colleagues to reach common goals. This job incorporates all of those abilities as I am involved with everything from programming to facility usage to strategic planning.
What makes a leader?
A leader is someone who is able to bring people together to achieve great things for their organization.
Leaders at companies, from startups to now major corporations, know you sometimes have to change direction. Do you plan to implement any significant changes in 2016?
We are always looking for ways to improve what we do. Tweaking things is a way of doing business for us. We will be launching a new strategic plan in 2016, and I'm excited to see what new programs we will develop to reach more people with the power of our horses.
It's not the first time Fieldstone Farm has reinvented itself. Back in 2007 they partnered with Geauga County educational services to create the nation's first alternative high school located at a therapeutic center. There are only 24 students at Gaitway High School, and they come from 11 school districts. The goal is to give them the skills they need to be successful in their home high schools.
What program are you most excited about at Fieldstone?
Our veterans programming continues to grow. We are finding new ways to meet the needs of veterans and their families. Our programs are very customized. We are finding more and more programs at the VA and elsewhere with people who can really benefit from our healing horses.
I know we're on the right track when I hear from veterans who tell me our programs are helping them to heal both physically and mentally ... I hear things like, "The horses transformed my life. I don't have bad thoughts when I'm at the farm."
What led you to become an instructor at the farm?
I've ridden horses since I was 4 years old, and I started volunteering here in 1997. It was incredible, and new to me that horses could be a part of such a therapeutic achievement! I started teaching in 2000 and became certified by PATH in 2001.
What was the name of your first pony?
My Shetland pony's name was Tinker Bell....I hope horses will still be in my life when I'm 92, the way they are with Rita, one of our current students. Riding horses simulates the same movement as walking so it helps build muscle strength and balance.
Do you have a mentor?
I do not have a formal relationship with one person who acts as a mentor, but I have been fortunate in my corporate and nonprofit careers to have worked with some very smart and talented people. I call on many of them for different types of advice.
Do you have one piece of advice for someone considering reinventing?
It sounds so trite because everyone says it these days, but follow your heart. They say it because it's true!
Read about how others have "reinvented" themselves.
Similar to The Plain Dealer's former column called "My Biggest Mistake...and How I fixed it," I'm now interested in sharing what drives a person or company to make a drastic change that led to success. I am looking for Career-changers - from millennials to retirees- and companies, from start-ups to major corporations, who want to share their stories. The focus: people who have drastically switched careers in the past five years and businesses that have found new ways to survive in a changing and ever-evolving marketplace. If that sounds like you, please contact me, Marcia Pledger, at (216) 470-7324 or send an email to mpledger@plaind.com.