Greetings Friends:
Most of us will never be rich in traditional monetary terms but are richer in spirit than we have ever dreamed that we could be because we wake up every morning and make the conscious decision to make a difference in the lives of others by giving back our time, talent, and treasures to those in need without question or judgement.
As you may know, April is designated as the month to recognize and cherish national and community service. To me, as a lifelong volunteer who has dedicated more than 24,000 hours of time to various causes across our great nation, volunteering “speaks to my heart”. I have had the privilege of dedicating years of my life to the United States Air Force, AmeriCorps National Service and Volunteers In Service to America (the domestic version of the PEACE Corps) among many other magical causes. These experiences have forged a passion for community volunteering in me that is hard to describe, “once a volunteer, always a volunteer” is all I can say. I understand and appreciate the gifts that you all bring to LTR.
In my mind, there is nothing more sacred than giving a piece of yourself to a worthy cause and leaving your mark on their work for generations to come. You have probably heard about giving, “blood, sweat and tears”, but I would take it a step further to say that you also pour a little of your soul into the “work” that you do for LTR and we are better for it.
Thank you all for everything that you are doing, have done and will do for LTR, we appreciate every minute of your time and the everyday day miracles that you help to create in the lives of our students.
Yours In Service,
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Paul D. Shane
Executive Director
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Last Sunday LTR hosted the annual Chili Cook-Off Volunteer Appreciation Event, the first in our new home!
Volunteer Coordinator Heather Payne recognized the following volunteers for their efforts in 2021:
🏆 Volunteer of the Year: Mary T.
🦋 Social Butterfly: Mike M.
🛠 The Golden Hammer: Khaled B.
👩🏽🎨 Creative Director: Amy L.
🖼 Interior Design Extraordinaire: Myra M.
🐐 G.O.A.T. (Gal Of All Trades): Ann M.
🐏 G.O.A.T. (Guy Of All Trades): Allan M.
💇♂️ Mosby's Personal Stylists: Mary B. and Becky A.
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2021 Volunteer of the Year Mary T. with Program Director Kathy Blaine and Volunteer Coordinator Heather Payne |
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11 homemade chilis were offered up by staff for the enjoyment of the volunteers. After numerous discerning taste tests, the winner was proclaimed...Claudia & Scott Yates, for the second year running! |
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A special thank you to volunteer Tessa for these lovely photos. |
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Are you interested in volunteering to LTR? From the arena to the barn to the office, LTR's volunteers help keep the organization running every day! If you have any knowledge or interest in volunteering your time to help research funding and program data, please contact Executive Director Paul Shane directly: pshane@ltrf.org |
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LTR is excited to offer a new program starting May 2022:
Horse Powered Learning is a series of unmounted sessions with horses, focusing on reading skills including phonemic awareness, decoding, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. Sessions will be small groups led by certified facilitators of the Horse Powered Reading® curriculum.
Class availability is limited for this first spring session, but summer sessions will become available in the coming months.
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Horse Powered Learning is facilitated by curriculum from Horse Powered Reading. |
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Boots & Bridles Barn Dance
Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 21!
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Join us for an evening of square dancing, a delicious dinner catered by Magnolia’s at the Mill, and fundraising for Loudoun Therapeutic Riding at our new home in Lovettsville.
Visit the horses in the barn, enjoy a signature cocktail, bid on exciting local live and silent auction items, and bring your fanciest footwear for the "Best Boots" contest!
You don't want to miss the first ever signature fundraising event at Loudoun Therapeutic Riding's new forever home. Sponsorships are available!
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Sweet Jolie has moved on to her retirement home, but never fear, she is just down the road in Lovettsville with her longtime friend, LTR participant Megan Giusti.
Megan and Jolie have been inseparable since the eye-catching paint mare arrived at LTR. The pair have competed in multiple dressage shows up and down the east coast, most notably claiming the Virginia Dressage Association Introductory Level Grand Champion in 2016! We are so happy that Jolie is living out her well-earned retirement with the Giusti family.
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Last July, Megan celebrated 30 years with LTR! |
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The inaugural Putt for Ponies Charity Golf Tournament was an enormous success! Hosted on the Norman Course at the Lansdowne Golf Club, 13 teams raised over $20,000 for Loudoun Therapeutic Riding!
Thank you to Eric Byer for organizing and the donors who made this event possible:
- Altus Consulting
- Bonfire Technologies
- Toth Financial
- Essentially Jodie
- Dan Almasy
- Krysta Rene Photography
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Grazing for Good at DC Prime has already raised $3,000 in the last seven Mondays! THANK YOU to the community for your support!
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Don't forget to check out our Grazing For Good (GFG) Program. GFG is a community partnership with restaurants across Loudoun County to support LTR. Our vision is to create a network of restaurant partners across the county so that anywhere you are, at any time - morning, noon, or night - you can dine at a location that donates a minimum of 10% of the GFG plate special to us. Order the GFG special off the menu and enjoy, knowing that you are supporting a great cause.
DC Prime Steaks and Seafood is our pilot program partner! Every Monday night DC Prime will feature a Grazing For Good special and donate 10% of the proceeds from the special to LTR.
DC Prime is located at 20120 Lakeview Center, Ashburn, VA 20147
Please contact Paul Shane, Executive Director at pshane@ltrf.org if you know any restaurant owners who would be willing to sign up for the Grazing For Good Program.
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Shop our Angel Wish List ("The Big Five")
1. Mortgage Payout: 1.2 million dollars. Farm naming rights available
2. Roof replacement for barn and indoor arena: $300,000. Barn naming rights available.
3. A portable building (to use as an education center).
4. Sea Container storage units (1-4)
5. Donated truck: capable of towing a bumper-pull horse trailer to transport horses for community outreach and emergencies. Contact Executive Director Paul Shane (pshane@ltrf.org) to donate.
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Support the Herd
We are seeking special horses to join our therapy herd!
Therapy horses are quiet, friendly, tolerant, and suitable for beginners of all ages:
- Between 10 and 18 years old
- Open to free lease, donation, or purchase – donations are tax-deductible
- Trial period preferable
- Must walk, trot, and canter sound
- Some maintenance is fine!
We are also looking for driving horses:
- Very road-safe, quiet horse with 5+ years of driving experience
- Riding capability a plus!
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The Stepping Out for America's Horses Campaign deadline has been extended to June 15.
We are excited to partner with the EQUUS Foundation for the Stepping Out for America's Horses campaign to raise awareness of the positive impact of horses in our lives and their need for protection. The Stepping Out campaign is a great way to demonstrate your philanthropic power.
Representing LTR in this campaign is our trusty steed Bojangles, partnering with Jimmy, an Equine Services for Heroes program participant, accompanied by his wife Pat.
You can donate now to the EQUUS Foundation campaign and 100% of the proceeds will go to LTR, Bojangles and the rest of the herd:
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Remember, you can support a local business AND LTR by visiting Another Turn Tack in Purcellville - check out Gnomeo's Wish List.
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Or you can purchase items from the Amazon Wish List (through Amazon Smile benefiting LTR!) and have it shipped DIRECTLY to us! |
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Do you have an old car, truck, RV, or boat that needs to move on to greener pastures?
Donate to CAReasy.org and choose Loudoun Therapeutic Riding as the nonprofit beneficiary!
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Thank you to our sponsors: |
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