Celebrating 20 Years of Horses for Hope: New Management, Milestones, and a Bright Future
In recognition of today, the 1st of August, also commonly known as the Horses' Birthday, Horse for Hope celebrates its own little herd of champions. Horses and ponies, who with the support of many wonderful participants, are working every day to overcome their own adversities.
Founded in 2004 by Colin Emonson, Horses for Hope has grown into a unique and impactful program and is now further expanding with new management taking the reins. Kim Hider has been welcomed to the team as the new manager. Reflecting on this transition, Colin said, “With Kim’s experience and dedication, I am confident she will steer Horses for Hope towards even greater achievements. Along with the appointment of Kim, we have been fortunate to recruit three new Directors to our board: Cheryl Hammer, Michelle Luscombe, and Zoe Gamble. All bring a wealth of experience in community, finance, and the not-for-profit sector, and I am confident they will help lead the organisation into the next stages and beyond.”
Horses for Hope was established as an alternative to traditional counselling for at-risk youth in out-of-home care. These young people, who had disengaged from school and were living outside the family unit due to safety concerns, were considered an extremely vulnerable group.
Today, it stands as a small but daring independent charity and a world leader in Equine Assisted Narrative Therapy, continuing its legacy of helping humans and horses heal together after facing some of life’s biggest hurdles.
Kim, who has quickly embraced her new role, said, “I am committed to preserving and fostering the program, while respecting and recognising Colin’s dedication and the impact it has had over the past 20 years. I feel privileged to lead the organisation into the next stages and want to acknowledge the small and extremely dedicated staff including our Counsellors and Horse Practitioners who, under Colin's leadership, make this program happen. If anyone would like to discuss Horses for Hope's future direction or partnership opportunities, I would love to hear from you. As a not-for-profit, we always need additional financial support to grow and develop, with the goal of ultimately assisting as many people in our community as we can.”
On October 12th, as part of our 20-year celebrations and International Mental Health Week, we are opening our gates and welcoming the public to our Display Day. This event will provide a rare opportunity to view our one-of-a-kind alternative therapy with demonstrations and tours. More information and times will be available on our website shortly.
"We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has contributed to the success of Horses for Hope over the past two decades," said Colin. "These events are our way of saying thank you to our supporters and an opportunity to showcase Horses for Hope's unique model of therapy."
For information or to support the development of the program, or to speak to Kim, please contact Horses for Hope at info@horsesforhope.org.au or visit our website at www.horsesforhope.org.au