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Congratulations to Windrush riders, Julie Donovan, Briana Page, Vince Skelton & Kathy Blanton for advancing to the Special Olympics State Champsionships to be held at Windrush Farm on October 18. All four will be competing against close to 50 finalists from around the state.
If you haven't been over to Windrush recently, put Saturday October 18th on your calendar and stop by with your family and friends to see us in action and cheer on the competitors!
Well, what an event! [View Photos]
The Royal Sonesta Hotel was filled on Saturday night with 275 generous, caring friends of Windrush. All were there to demonstrate their support of Windrush Farm and enjoy a great party.
The evening started with drinks and appetizers and of course the silent auction. This year’s was our largest silent auctions, ever! All 100 items sold and got the bidding wars primed for the real event of the evening, the live auction!
After entering the ballroom, guest speaker, Windrush parent and friend, Kris Levine, blew the crowd away with her words describing what this unique therapy has done for her young son, Jake.[Read her speech]
Then all attention was focused on 'Welcome to Windrush', a beautiful video produced by the Hawkes Media Group and Meagan Hawkes about the farm. [Watch video]
Billy Costa then kicked off one of the most entertaining live auctions Windrush has ever had. How can you even begin to describe the energy in the room when Eugene rode around the dance floor on the commuter bike?! And of course, don’t forget the packed dance floor with guests shakin’ it to tunes by Rich Demare.
What a great night! Thank you to everyone who participated. Preliminary results say that you raised about $130,000 in one evening.
We absolutely could not do this without you! Check out the picturesfrom the event and be sure to join us next year and invite all your friends, too!
Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor: William A. Berry and Son, Inc.
Supporting Sponsors: Boston Private Bank & Trust Company, Kappy's Liquors, Commonwealth Wine & Spirits, Inc., Harpoon Brewery
Corporate Table Sponsor: First National Bank of Ipswich
Windrush Farm Dances with Horses Gala
Kristin Martone-Levine
September 27, 2008
Good Evening, I am feeling incredibly blessed to be here to share our experience at Windrush Farm with you.
It all began almost 6 years ago with the premature birth of our son, Jake. Seven weeks early our child started life giving us a run for our money. Weighing in at 4 lbs. 1 oz. he had life-saving surgery at 5 days old to correct a bowel obstruction. He also experienced many of the other ailments that come with being born so early…retinopathy, apnea, and jaundice to name a few.
After a 6 week stay in the NICU are amazingly resilient and strong little baby came home – just barely passing the car seat test! At 3 months old, Jake began weekly physical therapy through Early Intervention. This began a journey of therapies - physical, occupational, and speech - for something that had yet to be identified. Just after Jake turned 3 years old, he had a MRI that revealed that he had Periventricular Leukomalasia – Cerebral Palsy. This was the diagnosis that explained so much…
Continue reading "Guest Speaker, Kris Levine: Windrush Parent & Friend" »
Contributed by Cheryl D’Entremont
What an absolutely ingenious idea to use horses to restore self worth to individuals who may once have thought it was gone forever! Okay, there ARE other animals [pets] that can and DO help us but the horse comes to us with its vulnerabilities AND strengths, forcing us to face our vulnerabilities AND STRENGTHS that we may never have known were there or thought were gone forever!
My name is Cheryl D’Entremont and have been riding at Windrush Farm for 18 years this Fall! I’m one of the original ‘Estrogen Equestrians’ who rides on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. [used to be 2 p.m.]! My “disability” is too complex to explain here, but suffice it to say that there is damage to my central nervous system [both brain and spine/nerves] which began when I was 12. After one of my numerous surgeries, an observant [and LISTENING] employee at the Rehabilitation Center suggested that I check out Windrush Farm and their therapeutic riding program … After I dodged more obstacles in my path, my sister drove me to this quaint farm to observe one of their classes, meet Marjorie Kittredge, get more information about how they work and decide IF I was interested. I WAS HOOKED IMMEDIATELY!
Continue reading "Rider Spotlight: Cheryl Celebrates 18 Years as a Windrush Participant!" »
Contributed by Megan Piermarini, Windrush Barn Manager
There is a little horse at Windrush Farm with whom you might have more in common than you ever would have thought possible. If you know what it is like to move from place to place and have many new friends, surroundings, and routines in a very short span of time, then you know what it is like to be Dusty!
Dusty has had four different homes that we know of over the past eleven years, which is more than most people will move in their lives. Dusty spent the first years of his life being trained as a driving pony. After this, he never really stayed in one place long enough to find his niche - that is, until he came to Windrush.
Dusty, an eleven year old Haflinger X, was donated by Betsey Krusen of Amesbury, Mass. She rescued Dusty from being sent to auction and brought him down to Massachusetts to live with her. He quickly stole her heart but unfortunately, she could not keep him there any longer. She had Dusty for only about three weeks when she contacted us here, knowing that if he could work out, he would finally have a permanent home surrounded by caring people.
The Windrush Dances with Horses Auction Gala will be on September 27, 2008 at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge. The night will feature silent/live auction, appetizers, drinks, dinner and dancing. More than 375 guests are expected. Be sure to get your tickets, today!
This week's featured auction items include:
Many more wonderful auction items will be available for bidding at the event. We hope to see you there!
Lida Bernard will host her annual Estrogen Equestrian Trail Ride/Walk on Monday, October 20 at Bradley Palmer State Park in Topsfield. The riders/walkers will meet in the morning at the park for a trail ride/walk and donations are collected to benefit WFTE.
For the sixth year in a row, Windrush partnered with The State’s Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Universal Access Program (UAP) to offer two days of trail riding on horseback to riders with disabilities at local state parks.
Four Windrush horses, 3 staff members and 25 volunteers traveled to Bradley Palmer State Park to make trail riding accessible to individuals who otherwise would not be able to participate.
With mounting ramp in tow and all our adaptive equipment, we are able to lead four riders at a time for an hour long trail ride through this beautiful property. Thanks for making this year’s program a fabulous success!
Kiersten Flodman, a young horse enthusiast is going for her 'Junior Girl Scout Bronze Award'. Her project inspiration? Windrush!
Kiersten will be hosting an Ice Cream Social for friends and family on September 19th at her home in Rowley. In lieu of paying an admission fee, guests are asked to donate one affordable item to Windrush Farm to support our program! All the items are available for purchase at the Essex County Co-Op and include:
If you are interested in donating an item and participating in the ice cream social, please visit the Essex County Co-Op in Topsfield Center to purchase an item and give Kiersten a call! 978-948-7902.
Thanks Kiersten! Can't wait to see pics from the big event...!
