EAYEP! Empowerment Program
Program Training: Blizzard meets a wheelchair full of scary objects
This past year our Program Horses, Blizzard, Angel, Coco Poco, and Comet have been especially busy in FSHR’s equine empowerment activities. Three to four days per week throughout spring, summer, and autumn; and about one day per week in the winter, these exceptional rescue horses have enjoyed relationships with volunteers, clients and students from Community Connections and Dolores schools.
The success of this program has generated interest in expanding and formalizing it (while keeping it no-or-low cost), and with the idea came the realization that there will be a need for fund-raising support.
And then there was the challenge of figuring out what the heck to call it.
EAYEP!
Pronunciation: “a’yup!”
Definition: exclamation of resounding agreement; in response, the boy replied,
“EAYEP, cowboy!”
Amy Violette has a passion for connecting at-risk/disadvantaged youth with rescued horses.
“These horses beautifully communicate positive life lessons to people who are hurt or struggling, by showing us how they have learned to forgive and to trust again,” she says.
As FSHR Outreach Director and a longtime volunteer, Amy has a vision for FSHR: to host an Equine Assisted Youth Empowerment Program (EAYEP!), to expand our service to the community. We are seeking financial support for her to attend a clinic at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch, of Bend, Oregon, which runs a similar, successful program. Their spring, 2011 clinic is designed to assist others interested in starting a similar program (for more information, visit www.crystalpeaksyouthranch.org ). Support will help with the cost of the three-day clinic ($300), travel, food and lodging (approx. $1300 total). Any additional funds raised will go toward running EAYEP!, which we hope to launch in fall, 2011. Your support is greatly appreciated and key to getting EAYEP! off to a positive, safe, and fun start.
To make a tax-deductible contribution, simply click on the “Donate Now” button on our Homepage, which will take you to Fresh Start’s Network For Good donation page. Enter the amount you would like to contribute, and enter “EAYEP!” in the designation field. Then follow the rest of the steps on the page.
Contributions can also be made by check to FSHR, with “EAYEP info clinic” in the note field.
Mail to: Fresh Start Horse Rescue, 17390 County Road 23, Dolores, CO 81323.
You’ll be supporting the youth of Southwest Colorado while also helping the unwanted horse become wanted!