Hello Happy Hooves friends and family,
We hope everyone is drying out from the February rain and looking forward to spring! We have been very busy at Eden Farms with our
individual therapeutic riding lessons and School at the Barn program
. Thanks to the generosity of
our donors, 8 different schools have been able to come out to Eden Farms once a month for "School at the Barn". The students who participate either have special needs or are at-risk youth and attend school in Greenville, Pickens, Oconee, or Anderson County. Their school day is filled with therapeutic riding lessons, classroom time, playing on Tonka's Trail playground, and Equine Assisted Learning activities that teach skills that can help them in their day to day life. Thank you to our fantastic volunteers who help us week after week to make these impactful days possible! The teachers say the students look forward to coming out so much that they count down the days until they can come back!
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| One of our School at the Barn participants, Blake, did an amazing job bathing his therapy horse, Hannah Eve! |
Also, summer will be here before you know it and that means 6 weeks of hands-on horse fun at our Summer Camps! This is a great "Horse 101" day camp where everyone is welcome and sign ups are going on now (here). Each summer, we have a waiting list of at- risk youth or children with special needs who would like to attend a week of camp, but need a scholarship. If you would like to sponsor a child for a week of summer camp, please call us at the barn or email us at [email protected] for further details. Your donation of a scholarship is tax deductible and would allow a child to spend a week riding, learning, and caring for their horse, interacting with caring staff & volunteers, and receive plenty of positive attention and love!
We hope to see you out at
Eden Farms
soon!
God bless you and keep you,
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Tonka, 1991 - 2020 |
Farewell, Tonka
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of one of our best horses ever, Tonka. He was the beloved horse of Helen Corontzes, who passed away 13 years ago in a tragic car accident. After that tragedy, the Corontzes family started a non-profit foundation, Helen's Hugs, to help special needs children to connect with horses at Eden Farms in Dacusville. Tonka was donated to Eden Farms and was one of those horses that the children would ride in the non-profit therap
eutic equestrian center, Happy Hooves.
Tonka did it all: dressage, jumping, trail rides, birthday parties, summer camps, and many, many therapeutic riding lessons. He made a difference in the lives of so many. This gentle giant slowly and surely calmed the nerves and desensitized riders with autism. He helped people with multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy leave their wheelchairs and walkers at the mounting ramp and feel the rocking sensation of walking: something that so many of us take for granted. Tonka had a strong and steady neck for hugs (and tears!) and was such a solid rock in the lives of at- risk youth. Our newly renovated playground, Tonka's Trail, is named after him and he has brought smiles to so many.
Tonka was 29 years old and his body was simply giving out, especially due to Cushings Disease. He walked one last time to his favorite pasture and our vet peacefully euthanized him with Helen's parents, George and Lesa, by his side. We praise the Lord for Tonka's life and know that he is free of pain and in heaven with Helen.
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Save the Date... Helens Hugs Run is on
May 3rd!
Helen's Hugs 14th Annual 5K Run/Walk. It's going to be another exciting year at this fun-filled event that helps support our Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Happy Hooves! We hope to see you! For more information, please click here.
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Wanted: Free Lease Horses!
Do you have a horse that you would like to receive free daily board, lots of love, and make a difference in the lives of individuals in the Upstate of SC? Eden Farms and Happy Hooves are looking for horses to free lease to be part of our riding lesson program, therapeutic lessons for special needs children, trail rides, and summer camps.
We are looking for healthy horses between 6 to 15 years old. They need to soundly walk, trot, and canter in the arena. For over 20 years, Eden Farms has been family owned and operated and has offered horseback riding for all ages and abilities. The horse would remain under your ownership and we would provide it full board at Eden Farms and use it in our riding programs here.
You would be able to come visit and ride them as well! To find out more, please call us at 864-898-0043.
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Save the Date...
April 27th!
Happy Hooves 16th Annual Charity Golf Event.
Sign up to play or be a sponsor in this great golf tournament at Fox Run Country Club in Simpsonville, SC. All proceeds go to help children and adults with physical, mental and emotional challenges through the power of the horse! To find out more details click here or call 864-898-0043.
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Like us? Love us? Please review us!
Your online reviews will help others find out about the horseback riding we offer here! It's free and easy!
For Eden Farms (able-bodied riding):
Please click here to review us on Eden Farms' Facebook page
For Happy Hooves (therapeutic riding):
Please click here to review us on the Happy Hooves' Facebook page
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Workplace Giving - Employee Matching Program
Many employers also have programs designed to match their employees' charitable giving, and this is an easy way to double your impact! You can ask your employer if they have an Employee Matching Gift program and you may be surprised to find out there are many companies who offer this.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Amy Goudelock and she will be happy to help you at
[email protected]
or 864-898-0043.
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Supporting us just got easier, every time you shop on AMAZON!
Every time you SHOP on Amazon, you can be donating to Happy Hooves at no extra cost to you. Just start your shopping here AmazonSmile and register Happy Hooves Inc. as your charity so all of your eligible purchases will benefit Happy Hooves!
And, SHARE this with everyone you know! We are a 501c(3) organization and would LOVE your support!
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Friends of the Farm
We want to thank our most loyal supporters and make all donors and volunteers, new and old, feel appreciated! Your support is essential to our mission to enhance the lives of individuals in the Upstate of South Carolina through the power of the horse.
Happy Hooves is an all-volunteer organization. All funding comes from donations, fundraisers and grants. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, over 80% of our Happy Hooves riders are able to receive therapeutic riding at no charge.
Happy Hooves currently serves more than 500 Upstate children each year through therapeutic riding lessons, summer fun programs and School at the Barn.
School at the Barn has 570 therapy lessons and 570 Equine Assisted Learning lessons each year. Summer camp has 135 therapy lessons; and we have 400 individual therapy lessons for a total of 1675 lessons per year.
The therapeutic riding programs require an average of 40 trained volunteer positions each week, and run year round, with each volunteer working an average of 3 hours per week.
Eden Farms, home of Happy Hooves, is a beautiful 170-acre property with three arenas, a 40-stall barn that currently houses 30 horses; 13 boarders and 17 therapy horses. There is a newly renovated handicapped accessible playground on the grounds, along with a sensory riding trail with man-made activity stations.
We once again thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all of your support and your donations. We couldn't help so many special needs children and adults, and at-risk children and teens, without you!
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Did You Know?
Happy Hooves has been a PATH International Premier Accredited Center since 2005. In fact, we are one of only six Premier Accredited Centers in South Carolina, and the only one in the Upstate. This accreditation is a rigorous process requiring centers to meet stringent requirements for staff, facilities, and programs. A program must be re-accredited every five years.
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Your contribution helps special needs children and adults, as well as at-risk children and teens.
Happy Hooves is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
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