Stable Talk Newsletter... The latest news from NCEFT + Save the Date!

May 2026 Edition

A Note From Nancy Contro
NCEFT's Executive Director

We’ve been so encouraged by the thoughtful and positive responses to our newsletter. It means a great deal to know that our stories, program updates, and behind-the-scenes moments are resonating with our community. One of our goals is to help our supporters feel more connected to the people, horses, and programs that make NCEFT so special, and we’re excited to continue sharing meaningful updates, milestones, and upcoming events with you throughout the year.

Our Horse Sponsorship Program is in full swing, offering a unique opportunity to support your favorite NCEFT horse at whatever level that is meaningful to you. For more information and to read the bios about the horses available for sponsorship, please visit nceft.org/giving/horse-sponsorships.

NCEFT also thanks our generous donors who supported our Spring Campaign -- and the anonymous donor who offered an incredible matching opportunity of $30,000! It's not too late to donate!

Lastly, please don't forget to follow us on social media for photos and videos of our horses and programs, and to keep up with all the happenings around our barn.

Development Update

Thank you to the 300+ community members who made our first Spring Community Day a great success! It was wonderful to see so many of you learning about our programs, visiting the information tables, supporting the Tack Gives Back sale, and enjoying a lively afternoon of local food, music, and face painting. Our horses were just as grateful—they loved the extra scratches, pats, and meeting so many new friends! Photos from the event will be available on our website in early June.

Please mark your calendar for two more events this year!

Polo Charity Classic

Our largest fundraiser of the year will be held on Saturday, August 29th at the Menlo Circus Club. This is a fun-packed afternoon featuring two polo matches, a silent auction, Fund-A-Need, catered luncheon, open bar, divot stomp, hat contest, and other fun surprises! Tickets and sponsorships will be available for purchase on our website after June 1st. Photos from last year's event can be viewed here.

Tack Gives Back

Another "Tack Gives Back" sale will be happening in the Fall. We will be advertising this on our website and social media once we know the date.

Aldi enjoying photo time with two guests at our Spring Community Day event!

Program Updates

NCEFT has established a new partnership with the Peninsula Vet Center in Menlo Park and will be providing equine-assisted mental health and resilience services to women living with the impact of trauma. This workshop will focus on building resilience through equine-assisted activities, offering participants the opportunity to connect with therapy horses in a safe, supportive environment. These experiences are designed to foster emotional regulation, self-awareness, and a renewed sense of trust and empowerment.

Registration is now open for our two summer camps!

Happy Trails Camp

July 27-31: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

This week-long, summer day camp is filled with opportunities to explore, engage with, and enjoy the world of horses and the great outdoors. We welcome current clients from our Adaptive Riding or Hippotherapy programs and their siblings, ages 6 and up. This fun-filled week gives campers the opportunity to learn about and interact with our equine partners alongside their peers through a variety of activities. Campers can look forward to lots of hands-on horsemanship activities, games, arts and crafts, and more! Click here for more information.

Trailblazers Mental Health and Resilience Camp

June 22-26: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

This week-long summer program for middle school students (ages 11-14) will focus on building resilience and mindfulness skills, connecting with peers, interacting with horses, and enjoying our outdoor environment. Activities will include the basics of horsemanship and horse care, arts and crafts, games, nature walks, gardening, discussion, and team-building with peers. Sessions are facilitated by licensed therapists, horse handlers, and volunteers. No horse experience is required. Click here for more information .

The MiraColt™ at NCEFT

Thanks to our donors who helped us raise $10,000 to purchase a MiraColt™ motion simulator for our indoor clinic, we are now able to expand our services to individuals who are unable to mount a horse.

This incredible piece of equipment replicates a horse’s natural movement and has already proven to be a tremendous asset to NCEFT! Click here to see the MiraColt in action!

Bits and Bridles

New Physical Therapy Student Intern

NCEFT partners with universities throughout the country to offer Physical and Occupational Therapy internships to PT and OT students. Please help us welcome, Corinne Babcock, our new PT intern from Shenandoah University.

New Research Project

We are happy to be working with Stanford senior, Teddy Suisman, who has developed an evaluation tool for NCEFT that assesses the impact of our Walk and Talk mental health and resilience program. Teddy will be analyzing the data and reporting his findings back to us in early June. Stay tuned for the highlights of his work in the next newsletter!

Thank you for reading! We hope you are enjoying our newsletter! Comments or questions? Please reach out to development@nceft.org.

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NCEFT is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation established in 1971.

Tax ID #94-2378104.

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