equus: a tale of kids, dreams, and mountin' hopes
by melissa stanz

Katherine Graeter was in a good place in November of 1996, feeling empowered, positive, and inspired. She was ready to roll, to do something good—all she needed was a dream, a vision. So it’s no surprise that one day as she was feeding her horse, the whole thing came to her in a flash. Mountin’ Hopes, a therapeutic horseback riding program in Mars Hill, NC, was conceived.

“I knew I was ready to realize my dreams, to caste off self doubt and negative self talk,” she mused. “I had volunteered at a therapeutic riding program in Celo, and I loved horses, so I guess that set the stage. But I simply heard this voice, I had a vision, and I knew I had to do it. I cried when it happened.”

Once the power of a dream is unleashed, the best advice is to get out of the way and let the universe roll with it. Katherine knew Pat Magnus from her church, and knew Pat loved horses. The two women connected and the dream took shape.

“Once I talked to Pat, we decided to go 50/50 on the whole thing,” explained Katherine.

“We had no idea of what it would take,” laughed Pat Magnus, co-founder of Mountin’ Hopes. “But things in my life had recently changed—I was footloose and fancy free. I taught therapeutic riding in the late 80s to a boy with no legs; how he rode I’ll never know. But I dream big, and want everything yesterday. I just figured it would happen.”

Both women had significant background experience with horses and children, including those with special needs, so the therapeutic riding program wasn’t out of reach. Katherine’s love for horses stemmed from childhood, blossoming in her 40s as she took riding lessons and discovered trail riding. She also taught special education earlier in her career. “I knew what being with horses did for me, the sense of empowerment, increase in self esteem, and I knew it could do the same thing for children.”

Pat’s parents put her on a horse at three months old, using an old-fashioned basket saddle to take her with them on trail rides. She’s never been without a horse. She served as head of a Pony Club, taking children fox hunting, and taught riding classes with a NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) program, teaching children with special needs and others who wanted to learn to ride. She also has experience working with children in church-related programs.

Building the Foundation
The two women started organizing the dream by attending a class offered by Lynn Petr, director of STAR (Shangri La Therapeutic Academy of Riding), located near Knoxville, TN. The class, called How to Start Your Own Program, was just the ticket they needed. “Lynn was so inspirational and really taught us, making it all sound possible. We rode backwards, lying down, and just had a great time,” recalled Pat. “We also learned to keep things simple, not to try to get fancy.”

The women also joined NARHA, and received a guide on starting a program. Then they jumped off the proverbial cliff. They placed free ads in local papers asking for donated horses, tack, and related items. They drove up every holler in Madison County, looking for barns that would allow them a place to start the program. They asked, and they received. In July of 1997, they started the program at a tobacco barn rented from Mars Hill College, complete with four acres of pasture. They taught 19 clients that first eight-week session and 22 clients the second session. Some 20-30 volunteers made it possible.
From 1998-2000, they managed three sessions per year, increasing their clients to 45-50 per session. The number of donated horses increased, as did the number of volunteers. They made gradual improvements to the property, putting in an outdoor ring, and hiring their first paid instructor. During this time, they found homes for the horses each winter with horse lovers willing to care for and feed them at their own expense.

In 2000, the program took another leap forward, thanks to the dream of Bill Boll, an avid supporter. Mountin’ Hopes needed a new space, one with lots of pasture and a great facility. Bill found some property outside of Mars Hill, a 50-acre farm with run-in sheds, hay fields, bottom land, and a rental house. Bill found the property, then he found an anonymous donor who contributed 50% of the price. The move took place in late 2000, and a capital campaign from 2000-2002 allowed them to build a wonderful indoor arena and offices.

Today Mountin’ Hopes is thriving. Individual and corporate donors, churches, and grants allow them to have a paid executive director, a fulltime program director, and a part time volunteer coordinator. They now offer five sessions per year and a day camp. They average 45-50 clients per six-week session, and offer scholarships for those in need. Some 50-60 volunteers contribute each session, helping with administrative tasks, grounds keeping, horse care, and riding lessons. Many volunteers are women, and Katherine and Pat hope to increase the number of male volunteers, especially to help with the riding sessions.

Mountin’ Hopes' Blueprint for a Successful Non-Profit Program
Many people and opportunities allow Mountin’ Hopes to succeed, according to both Katherine and Pat. Listed below are some of the more important ingredients of their success.

A spiritual commitment
“For me, it was all about giving back. I’ve been blessed. We’re all one unit—body, mind, spirit—and when you use all that to steer a 1,200 pound horse, you begin to see so many possibilities,” said Katherine. “It’s been a spiritual thing for me, I just felt called to do it.”

Dogged determination to keep the dream alive
Pat and Katherine dedicated themselves to the idea of what is and what could be to keep them going. The going was not always smooth—the two had their share of disagreements, but did not let those stop them. “We focus sometimes on limitations, not possibilities, but we didn’t do that here. We always focus on the possibilities,” explained Katherine.

Supportive Spouses
Both women are blessed with supportive husbands who helped them every step of their way. John Graeter and Bob Magnus wrote by-laws, articles of incorporation, and helped them earn their non-profit status. They both serve on the Board of Directors. They spent countless hours doing carpentry, fencing, and working with the horses and riders. Most importantly, they listened to and supported both women emotionally, helping them realize the dream. They continue that support today.

Keeping it simple
“We never asked how we were going to do this, we just asked what was the next step, the next thing. We had the guide from NARHA and we used it. Some people think you have to do this and this and this, but you don’t. We didn’t get scared because we took it one step at a time,” stated Pat.

Dedicated, caring volunteers
Quite simply, Mountin’ Hopes would not exist without volunteers; they are the lifeblood of the program. Their duties range from mucking stalls to helping with lessons, mending fences and throwing hay, horse care, and administrative tasks, among others. Pat and Katherine are especially grateful to Mary Smith, who volunteered to be the volunteer coordinator at the first Board of Directors meeting, and held that volunteer position—a formidable task—for six years. Dozens of others deserve recognition—including physical therapists Gabrielle Star and Kathy Fuerst, and Colleen Boll, Lynn Petr, and equine vets Ann Stuart and Mark Ford.

A savvy Board of Directors
This group—past and present—shares a love of horses and children, and donates their skills, time, and passion to assure Mountin’ Hopes continues to thrive.

So what is Mountin’ Hopes?
Mountin’ Hopes is a non-profit therapeutic horseback riding program established in 1997 to serve individuals with special needs. Check them out on the Internet at mountinhopes.org. They offer horseback riding classes for children and adults on a 50-acre farm in Mars Hill, NC. Their mission is to embrace the unique gifts and challenges of each individual, encouraging personal growth through the horse and human relationship.

Mountin’ Hopes serves children and adults with disabilities such as Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other diseases. The riding experience helps develop muscle tone, sharpen focus, increase confidence, and improves relationships.

With the help of 16 horses, the organization offers five six-week sessions per year. The fee per group lesson is $20.00, and scholarships are available. Therapists, physicians, special education teachers, and parents refer students. NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) -certified instructors supervise all activities, with help from therapists. Private lessons are also available.
“When our students climb on one of our gentle horses, they learn a lot. Riding helps improve their physical, social, interpersonal, and emotional skills,” explained Pat. “We have one little girl with CP who has leg braces. She can now post all the way around the ring, in only two or three months. That’s great progress.”

Volunteers dedicate many hours each week to make Mountin’ Hopes possible. They assist with lessons, do barn chores and farm work, and work behind the scenes.

For information on riding lessons, contact Cara Gregory, program director, at 828-689-2291. To volunteer, contact LeAnn Boggs at 828-689-2291.

How You Can Help Serving 40-50 clients per session, running a 50-acre farm, and caring for 16 horses is a major undertaking, one that Mountin’ Hopes employees and volunteers take seriously. All these activities require funding, and you can help by donating today. Here are some examples of what your donation can fund: • $25.00 purchases four to five bags of grain for the horses • $100.00 sponsors four “volunteer of the session” awards, purchases two riding helmets, or shoes, and feeds one horse for a month • $120.00 sponsors one child for a full session • $250.00 buys 50 bales of hay • $1,200.00 supports one horse for a full year “Our greatest need is for funds for operations. We also need more instructors, scholarship sponsors, new sheds, shelters and paddocks,” stated Katherine Graeter, co-founder. “We also really need a new computer, a four-wheel drive tractor with a bush hog, and a four-wheeler to move hay.” “Of course, we’d also love for some generous donor to pay off our debt on this farm. If we don’t get this, we may have to sell off some of the land, and we’d hate to do that.” To make a donation, please call Katherine Graeter at 828-622-7507. For more information about Mountin’ Hopes, go to mountinhopes.org.

Melissa Stanz, MA, is a freelance writer, editor, and marketing communications professional in Asheville, NC. She creates communications plans, and writes copy for newsletters, web sites, ads, press releases, brochures, and feature articles for regional and national clients. When she's not writing, she loves to be outside walking with her husband and chocolate lab, or riding her horse in these magical mountains. Contact her at melissastanz@bellsouth.net.

See also: The Tao of Equus: A Woman’s Journey of Healing and Transformation through the Way of the Horse by Linda KohanovNew World Library, Novato, California, 2001 - Ed.