Arts and Culture China Project #45881

Support Therapeutic Riding for disabled in China

by HOPE (Horses Offering People Enrichment)

Project Report | Feb 22, 2022
HOPE Annual Report - Part 1 of 3

By Lucia Zhou & Amy Tripson | Program Manager & Program Director

Dear HOPE Supporters and Family,

This report, written by HOPE Program Manager Lucia Zhou, will be the first of three reports showcasing all HOPE has achieved in 2021. Please continue reading to learn about our activities, accomplishments and where HOPE may be headed in the future.

2021 showed that HOPE is a big family with participants, volunteers, donors, team of staff and very important horse partners. In 2021, the extended HOPE family has more than 500 members. With the assistance of 6 horse partners, the Equine Assisted Services program has served 105 participants for a total of 1059 hours. With everyone's support and company, HOPE has ushered in a brand-new 13th year. At this time, we are full of gratitude and joy!

This report is for all the HOPE family members to highlight the efforts and gains of this year. Thank you for your continued support. We wish you and your family a happy Chinese New Year of Tiger, peace and joy!

In March, HOPE entered into a partnership with Beijing Xiwu Country Equestrian Club, allowing HOPE to expand to two locations, reach a wider audience and potentially serve more individuals in the future.
In May, HOPE participants made their equestrian debut at a horse show hosted by Oriental Equestrian Club demonstrating the equestrian skills they learned at HOPE.
In September, the HOPE project on Tencent Charity Day 99 was selected as a "small and high-quality project" by Tencent Charity. More than 230 generous riders, volunteers, and the annual love Ambassador He Xian fundraised for HOPE.
In December, Program Manager Lucia Zhou received the PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) certification, becoming the first applicant to complete the whole certification process in mainland China. This is a historic breakthrough for the HOPE program and for Lucia.

As you can see 2021 was a year of highlights and firsts for the HOPE team. We are so thankful for the perseverance of the local Chinese Team for continuing to not just move forward but thrive over the last two years in the face of a global pandemic while continuing to provide these valuable services to the local community. Keep an eye out over the next three weeks as we continue to share the rest of the Annual Report.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to HOPE. We are so thankful for your passion and commitment to providing equine assisted services to individuals with disabilities in China.

With appreciation,

The HOPE Family

Links:

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Oct 28, 2021
Update from HOPE

By Amy Tripson | Program Director

Dear HOPE Supporters,

We are so thankful and appreciative of your support and dedication to HOPE when many of you have yet to experience the incredible work that happens every week at HOPE. This past quarter has been one of change and perseverance, with multiple accomplishments, for the HOPE Team.

Since our last update, we held HOPE Summer Camp in July, which was a great success for all 16 participants. The team worked hard to ensure the riders had a memorable and safe week while promoting riding skills and personal development. Our team includes new and returning volunteers. We are often reminded that the volunteer’s experiences - and growth – gained from working with individuals with disabilities facilitates understanding of the population we serve. That is an important educational mission for HOPE and we trust it will have a lasting impact on the lives of our volunteers.

After Summer Camp, we took our August break due to the heat and humidity in Beijing. Our staff had a much-needed reprieve. After spending time with their families, they were able to come back refreshed for the fall session. During this time, we also reevaluated out equine training routine. We welcomed back Xiao Zhao who had to step away from HOPE over the summer for another job opportunity outside of Beijing.

Equine welfare, training and conditioning are critical components of a successful therapeutic horsemanship program. Having Xiao Zhao back to help continue training the HOPE team has been much appreciated and needed. The team has been refining their equine skills while recognizing the need for consistent training of our equine partners.

Over the past weeks we have resumed lessons for our regular fall schedule, with time blocked out for equine training and continuing education. This time dedicated to the horses is an important part of the HOPE program, allowing us to continue serving participants at the highest level. In the next couple months Lucia will take her written exam for the PATH Intl. Certification, so we look forward to updating you when that happens as well!

Thank you always for your support of HOPE, our participants, horses, and staff.

Amy Tripson and the HOPE Team

Links:

Visit the HOPE Website

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Jul 6, 2021
HOPE Instructor Training, Horse Shows and Concerts

By Amy Tripson | Program Director

Lucia teaching lessons

Dear HOPE Supporters,

Time flies when you’re busy and having fun. The HOPE Team has been working hard running lessons, promoting HOPE throughout the community, and organizing fundraising and outreach events. Keep reading to find out even more about what has been happening in Shunyi!

The HOPE Team continued to work on their Instructor Training and Lucia, our Program Department Manager passed the first stage of her PATH Intl. Certified Instructor Application! Congratulations Lucia! This fall she will take a written test. We are so proud of her hard work and perseverance! Lucia has been studying each week with our Program Director and our Instructor in Training as well as giving lessons.

To further enhance our program, Dr. Lightsey presented a multi-week course covering aspects of Hippotherapy, providing an overview for our intern, volunteers, and staff on working with individuals with physical disabilities.

The Lesson Program has been running smoothly and recently, three HOPE participants participated in a show organized by Dong Fang Ma Hui. It was a wonderful opportunity for our participants to show off their skills and hard work and to educate the community about HOPE. Our participants had a wonderful time and did a great job in each of their classes. The entire HOPE team did a super job!

This past Friday, months of hard work and planning paid off when HOPE and held a concert in the indoor arena of the Happy Pony Stable. With dozens of attendees and wonderful music, it was an evening to remember.

As you can see, the team has been hard at work sharing their love and dedication to HOPE with everyone around them. We remain deeply thankful to Dong Fang Ma Hui – Oriental Equestrian Club for always welcoming HOPE with open arms in all that we do.

Our next update will bring news of our upcoming Summer Camps and plans for additional HOPE educational offerings.

Thank you for your support, dedication, and encouragement!

The HOPE Team

Excited for the Horse Show

Links:

The HOPE Website

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