Top 10 List
Top 10 List of What Makes the Horses of Hope Centers Unique?
1) Horses of Hope has two centers one located in Baxter Springs, KS and the other in Buffalo, MO. We provide off-site services in Lamar, Missouri as well as Fort Scott, Kansas. (St. Louis and Kansas City are the next closest centers offering similar services)
2) Offer year-long equine therapeutic and educational services that include therapeutic riding and hippotherapy provided in a climate controlled atmosphere. (Only 50% of centers operate year-round*)
3) The center currently employs 13 caring professionals.
(Fewer than 100 centers employ as many. The majority of centers employ under five.*)
4) Horses of Hope Centers annually touches the lives of over 1,000 individuals with riding and educational programs.
5) Horses of Hope Centers collaborate with five local Kansas and Missouri community colleges and universities including Missouri State University and Southwest Baptist University. Students majoring in Physical Therapy and Physical Therapy Assistant programs come to Horses of Hope to train with physical, occupational and speech language pathologists, some of whom are also NARHA certified instructors and/or AHA level 1 Therapist. Students serve as volunteers to create a collaborative community therapeutic riding program.
6) Horses of Hope Centers offer 11 years of continued services.
7) Horses of Hope Centers operate with an annual budget of between $200,000 and $500,000. ** Only 17% of centers operate with this significant budget. The majority of programs have few employees and limited programming, thus requiring a minimal budget.
8) The Center annually has a financial audit. (Only 43% of centers have an audit*)
9) All full-time staff are currently NARHA certified therapeutic riding instructors and all part-time staff are in training to receive certification in 2009.
10) Horses of Hope's- Show Team Hope- Equestrians with Disabilities riders have received four American Quarter Horse Association Year End National Awards.
* Information taken from the NARHA Member Center Fact Sheet, December 31, 2006 with 736 centers reporting.
** Taken from the NARHA Member Center Fact Sheet, December 31, 2006. Within the survey, 9% did not report their annual budget.