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06/08/2022 08:30 AMSometimes help comes in ways that aren’t only unexpected, but downright counter-intuitive. Michele Krumenacker and the folks at High Hopes Therapeutic Riding in Old Lyme are among a select few in the area that perform an unlikely pairing of a two-ton animal with those in need of compassion and understanding.
That partnership may not seem like a solution on the surface, but equine therapy, as it is known, has been proven to assist those enduring a wide variety of afflictions from PTSD to clients with physical and emotional disabilities. Michele was recently hired as the center’s volunteer director.
Michele and her family are long-time Killingworth residents. Michele had a long career in counseling and as a programming director that was rapidly coming to a conclusion as the forces of the pandemic closed in. Michele was contemplating full retirement and way to get off the treadmill of employment when her husband encouraged her idea to begin volunteering.
“I took time off last May from my job because it was becoming so stressful. So after a while, I said to my husband, ‘I think I’m going to start volunteering,’ and he said, ‘That’s a great idea, giving back to the community.’ In grad school [at Southern Connecticut State University], I did research on equine therapy...and I was always very interested in that, especially in regards to kids with autism. So, I started googling where in the area I could volunteer with an equine therapy organization. I found High Hopes and came up to interview as a volunteer,” says Michele.
That interview for a volunteer position quickly led to an offer as a full-time director of volunteer services. High Hopes is supported almost exclusively via the contributions of time and effort by volunteers, so Michele says, her background and passion made for a perfect fit.
“I wasn’t sure at first that I wanted to jump back into employment, but I came up to the facility several times and when I learned what they do and the impact the volunteers provide here, I knew it was the right decision,” Michele says.
Equine therapy, which may seem odd to some, pairs large animals with those who are facing enormous challenges, but it has been proven to be of incredible benefit to clients. Physical, sensory, emotional, and cognitive abilities have all been demonstrated to improve via this type of therapy across a broad spectrum of afflictions, says Michele.
Clients just don’t just jump on a horse and start “therapy”, says Michele. Horses, the horse leader (who controls the horse), and a minder, along with the client, are all matched to provide the maximum in safety and comfort for the rider.
“There are so many interesting facts about horses and how they relate to people,” says Michele. “When a participant is able to overcome their fear of a horse, the confidence that comes from that…I mean here’s this massive animal, and the pride I see when they eventually get to the point that they can control this massive animal by themselves is incredible to see.
“The training is so beneficial in so many ways, physically and emotionally,” she continues. “It just really helps clients to engage in a healthy way, while they focus on a horse. We do veterans, we run a summer camp for veteran’s kids, and we serve almost every disability.”
Pairing such a large animal with people suffering physical and emotional challenges is not easy, says Michele. The training for the staff, the volunteers, the horses, and the participants has to be carefully coordinated, but the effort more than pays off for all involved.
“Not only do we have worry about our volunteers, we have to match the horse with a volunteer and see if they can emotionally connect. So we first have that relationship, then match and build that relationship with the child and the horse,” says Michele. “It is a lot to coordinate, because these pairings are so unique. This is very involved and deep relationship between everyone.”
High Hopes serves all ages from 4 to 74 year olds, and provides therapy for more than 29 different diagnoses. In its 2020-’21, season High Hopes delivered more than 12,000 hours of collective volunteer time and almost 7,000 hours of equine-assisted services for its clients.
“This is a place where people come to feel welcome and to feel safe. They get what they need, either emotionally or physically, from the staff and the horses. This is a great community,” says Michele. “It is incredibly heartwarming to see these relationships grow, to see their faces when they can show their parents what they’ve learned on a horse. These kids just beam. These kids who can feel like they are different, and that maybe they are failures in other aspects, succeed with us. We make sure that they succeed here. That is our goal.”
High Hopes is always in need of volunteers, says Michele, whether you have horse experience or not. With 22 horses on the property, some of whom have been retired from their work as therapy horses, there’s a need constant care, from stall cleaning to grooming to riding. Though volunteers with horse experience are always welcome, Michele says anyone interested in volunteering will find a welcoming and life changing experience at the farm.
“Ninety-six percent of our staff is volunteer, so we are pretty much looking for volunteers all the time,” says Michele. “We are most short on people who have some sort of horse experience, so those people are a little more difficult to come by, and we rely on them, but we have a whole host of volunteers with no horse experience, so we consider all volunteers. High Hopes is a truly incredible place to be a part of. All of our volunteers come away with a sense of community and being part of something.”
“This place is so calming when you come here. Everyone says when they pull in that they find such a sense of peace and calmness, and that is what we strive for,” says Michele. “It’s so beautiful here. We appreciate our volunteers, we could not do this without them. I wish I had found High Hopes earlier…to see these children just flourish on these horses and to see these volunteers dedicate themselves to making this the special place that it is, is truly gratifying to be a part of. I was in the rat race before here, where I was not appreciated…so being a part of such a great organization is very rewarding for me personally.”
High Hopes is one of the oldest and largest therapeutic riding centers in the country. The organization has been operating since 1974, and is an international instructor-training site, accredited by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International since 1979 and has served as the host for Special Olympics events.
High Hopes is located on Town Woods Road in Old Lyme. Anyone wishing to inquire about its services can call 860-434-1974; anyone wishing to volunteer can call Michele via the same contact. For more information, visit www.highhopestr.org.