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Davis Mountains Therapeutic Riding Center 2010 Year-end Report

MISSION: The Davis Mountains Therapeutic Riding Center

(DMTRC) connects people living with disabilities with horses

to enhance quality of life, improve physical functioning and

increase independence.

DMTRC has completed its first fiscal year of operation and is now eight

months old as an official 501c3 nonprofit organization. We thank every-

one who has made it possible for us to be able to provide lessons to so

many people in so short a time. Therapeutic Riding is expensive and

labor-intensive: purchasing special safety equipment, building fencing

and accessible mounting structures, caring for and training horses, main-

taining and repairing grounds and facilities, purchasing adequate

Insurance, and, of course, conducting lessons. Please see page 3 for a list

of some of the generous people who have contributed their time and re-

sources to meet these needs.

Great strides have been made in bringing the mounting area to meet

national safety standards.

Wheelchair accessible

mounting ramps have

been completed by volun-

teer, Randy Ersch, and construction of the fence around the

mounting area is underway through additional volunteer

efforts. Projects to be completed prior to beginning April

lessons include installing the fence and gates, planning and

raising funds for the “Sensory Trail” and a “Reception Build-

ing”, and acquiring an additional therapy horse.

There are no paid staff at DMTRC. All program delivery and

administrative management is accomplished through volunteer hours. Instruction is accomplished through the

efforts of Founding Director, Fonda Ghiardi, a NARHA Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. DMTRC is

recognized by NARHA as an insured Center Member.

(visit www.NARHA.org)

401 E. Douglas Drive • P.O. Box 607 • Fort Davis, Texas 79734 432-426-2363 • Email: info@davismountainstrc.org • Website: www.davismountainstrc.org

DMTRC’s vision is to become a NARHA accredited

riding center serving people living with disabilities

in the Big Bend area and beyond for many years to

come. We hope you will join us in our efforts to

improve the quality of life for people with

disabilities through a connection with the horse. See page 4 for Future Plans.

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Davis Mountains Therapeutic Riding Center - 2010 Year-end Report

Events & Outreach March 21: DMTRC presented a public demonstration of

therapeutic riding. Over 30 people attended. May 22: DMTRC received its 501c3 designation letter.

June 20: The Open House event was held and the entrance sign dedicated. Over 125 people attended.

April 6: Lessons began.

July 4: DMTRC participated in the Fort Davis “Coolest 4th” Parade.

July 30-August 1: Instructor and Board Chair attended NARHA Region 8 conference in Texarkana, TX.

August 24: Instructor and Board Chair made a presentation to Rotary Club of Van Horn.

November 4: Instructor and Board Chair made a presentation to Rotary Club of Alpine.

Clients & Classes DMTRC began offering lessons on April 6, 2010, and closed for the winter months on November 1.

In its first season of classes, DMTRC served: • nine individuals • eight qualifying as “disabled” • one qualifying as “abled” • Children and adults aging from 7 years to mid-60s.

Disabilities reported include:

• Charcot-Marie-Tooth Syndrome • Autism • Spina Bifida • Emotional disorders • Other physical disabilities

Seven clients were able to pay a $25.00 fee for each lesson. Nearly 100 hours of lessons were delivered with one Instructor and assistance from many volunteers.

Frank Lopez of Alpine donated the DMTRC.

Over 125 people came to DMTRC’s Open House.

Mounting is made easier and safer with the beautiful

new double mounting ramps.

More than thirty people learned about therapeutic riding at the “Demo” .

Frank Lopez of Alpine donated the DMTRC entrance sign.

Over 125 people came to DMTRC’s Open House.

2010 Year-end Report - Davis Mountains Therapeutic Riding Center

Two hard working volunteers: Squirrel and Ginny Crippen.

Maxine & John Cicala Kay & David Crum Marjie Erkkila Dwain Edwin Jenny & Bill Eversole Fonda Ghiardi Jean Hardy-Pittman Glen Halsell

Elaine Harmon Rick Herrman Kate & Larry Hutto Laura Langham Madge Lindsay Maggie & Mike McCollum Buster Mills Nancy O’Brien

Margaret O’Donnell Carol Patillo Rotary Club of Alpine Howard Shelley Sandy Stewart Judy Thomas Eldon & Jean Wanrow

THANK YOU! Our volunteers and our donors - our community - have contributed nearly 300 hours (as side walkers, carpenters, horse handlers, landscapers, barn cleaners, event planners, marketing consultants and tack polishers) and have responded generously to DMTRC’s mission through both cash and in-kind donations. Every contribution is greatly appreciated.

Karen Bark John & Maxine Cicala Ginny Crippen Daileen Bob Dillard Dave Duncan Randy Ersch Kelly Fenstermaker Monica & Jim Flynn Clare Freeman Marlen Gray Tex & Tom Harrison Rick Herrman

Sue & Richard Hill Holly Holland Isola Family Johanna Kuehne Maggie & Mike McCollum Buster Mills Keith Mills Nancy & Charlotte O’Brien Margaret O’Donnell Amy & Asia Rasch Kalyn Stephens Sandy Stewart

In memory of Kelly Fenstermaker Tita Kramer • Linda Lavender & George Cochran •

Judy Thomas • Lucinda Tweedy • Marvin Watson • Kay Wilde

Volunteers

Financial Summary INCOME (CASH) Client fees 1,975

Donations 2,226

Board Member contributions 2,613

TOTAL INCOME $ 6,814

EXPENSES (CASH)

Grounds/improvement 2021 Special Equipment. 368 Horse Care 326 Overhead 196 Program 994 Special Events 855

TOTAL EXPENSES 4,760

NET INCOME (CASH) $ 2,054

IN-KIND GIFTS

Grounds, supplies, advertising, misc. 567* Horse care 4,000* Printing, sign, misc. 1,975 Grounds, equipment 560

TOTAL IN-KIND INCOME $ 7,102

TOTAL CASH/IN-KIND INCOME $13,916

*Board member contributions

Donors

In-kind gifts Catalyst Group, Inc., office supplies • Grand Companions, printing • Heavenly Skies, food • Higgenbotham Bartlett, materials • Jarratt Dirt

Works and Paving, Inc., gravel • Max Kandler, photography • Frank Lopez, entrance sign • Laurie Meadows, helmets • Buster Mills, materials/

equipment • Poco Mexico, food • Printco, printing • Judy Reichelderfer, helmet • Donna & Dennis Yadon, tack

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DMTRC has been named beneficiary of Leadership Big Bend Class of 2011.

Meet Jack, a Norwegian Fjord pony,

DMTRC’s newest “Volunteer”!

Page 4 Davis Mountains Therapeutic Riding Center

P.O. Box 607

Fort Davis, Texas 79734 Future Plans 2011 • Acquire one or two additional therapy horses • Complete mounting area fencing • Build “sensory trail” and Reception Building • Solidify volunteer training program • Add roof and lights on round pen • Expand outreach to increase volunteers and client base • Expand and develop board of directors • Develop website and available internet tools • Create development plan to include foundation requests,

corporate sponsors, annual campaign, in-kind donations, “web-raising” and annual fund raising event

• Develop budgeting and accounting processes • Increase budget to cover actual operating costs • Evaluate capacity for expansion

2012 • Increase budget to include instructor salary • Secure sustainable resources to support paid staff • Conduct search and hire a Certified Instructor • Apply for national accreditation

Davis Mountains Therapeutic Riding Center - 2010 Year-end Report

Board of Directors Fonda Ghiardi, Founding Director and NARHA Certified Riding Instructor Margaret O’Donnell, Chair Sandy Stewart, Secretary Rick Herrman, Treasurer Buster Mills

Board of Advisors Jim Luecke, M.D. Maggie McCollum, MSW

Photography provided by Max Kandler