EQUUS Foundation

MISSION & PROGRAMS

Mission:
Founded in 1939 as a chapter of the Junior Cavalry of America, NCMT's mission is to build leadership, responsibility and confidence in youth through sound horsemanship and to enrich the lives of individuals with special needs through equine assisted activities. We provide a comprehensive, hands-on learning experience that emphasizes teamwork and follows a proprietary curriculum focused on horsemanship, riding, and equine care instruction. Additionally, our "Super Troopers" therapeutic riding and equine care program serves children and adults with special needs.

Our organization conducts Equine Assisted Services in accordance with the EQUUS Foundation Guidelines on Qualifications of Organizations Conducting Equine Assisted Services (EAS).
Our organization provides community outreach and/or public education programs involving horses.
Our organization is directly responsible for the care and shelter of equines involved in our programs.
100% of our total programs and services are horse-related.
Our organization does not use satellite, overflow, foster, and/or outreach facilities

Equine Assisted Services (EAS):
Our organization provides the following Equine Assisted Services (EAS):
    Therapeutic Mounted Services
    Therapeutic Unmounted Services
    Equine-Assisted Learning involving Personal and/or Professional Development

6: Total number of Equine Assisted Service Providers at New Canaan Mounted Troop

     1. Caroleigh Evarts

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

New Canaan Mounted Troop

RELATIONSHIP: Employee

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Therapeutic Mounted Services

Therapeutic Unmounted Services

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

Caroleigh Evarts is NCMT's therapeutic program director. She is a PATH certified instructor and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role. She is well connected to the community and programs that serve individuals with disabilities.

2. Carrie Brady

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

New Canaan Mounted Troop

RELATIONSHIP: Independent Contractor

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Equine-Assisted Learning involving Personal and/or Professional Development

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

Carrie Brady is certified E3A and PATH ESHML.

3. Hannah Jones

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

New Canaan Mounted Troop

RELATIONSHIP: Employee

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Therapeutic Mounted Services

Therapeutic Unmounted Services

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

Hannah Jones is a PATH Int. certified instructor and has been teaching Therapeutic/Adaptive Riding and Unmounted Groundwork with our Super Troopers program since she received her certification.

4. Julianne Mosoff

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

New Canaan Mounted Troop

RELATIONSHIP: Employee

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Therapeutic Mounted Services

Therapeutic Unmounted Services

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

Julianne Mosoff has a Bachlors degree in history and journalism from NYU. She is PATH CTRI certified and Certified Horsemanship Association for English and Western teaching.

5. Liz Donovan

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

New Canaan Mounted Troop

RELATIONSHIP: Independent Contractor

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Therapeutic Mounted Services

Therapeutic Unmounted Services

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

Liz Donovan is PATH certified CTRL

6. Stacy Gendels

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

New Canaan Mounted Troop

RELATIONSHIP: Independent Contractor

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Therapeutic Mounted Services

Therapeutic Unmounted Services

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

Stacy Gendels is a PATH certified instructor and has been teaching for over 5 years.

Overview of our programs involved with providing EAS to individuals with special needs:
     Super Troopers Program: NCMT uses its donated horses and ADA compliant facility to provide equine assisted therapeutic activities to individuals with special needs. As a PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) center member, it adheres to strict professional standards and policies for the program.

     There are three EAS offerings:
     Adaptive Riding - help participants reach physical, cognitive, behavioral and communication goals. Customized lesson plans incorporate activities on horseback to improve mobility, balance, posture and coordination while learning the fundamentals of riding skills.

     Equine Care -unmounted adaptive activities to foster the human and horse connection and teach about barn safety, equine behaviors, nutrition, grooming and ground work. Acquired skills help enhance physical, cognitive and emotional development as students interact with their equine partners.

     Horse Wisdom Project Workshop- an equine assisted learning and experiential educational program serving children and adults in our community at large. For each specific group, ie. parents or teens, the Horse Wisdom Project instructors creates a curriculum composed of unmounted exercises with the NCMT horses. Using an arena or paddock, and the Learning Center, these one time workshops will run from 2-3 hrs long depending on the group’s objectives. We are currently collaborating with the VOICES Center of Resilience for our Horse Wisdom Project.

     The Super Troopers program operates year round.

     Super Troopers therapeutic program served 197 individuals in FYE 6.30.22, including 122 children and 75 adults; 130 were female and 67 male; 15% were minority students.

     10% of students resided in Norwalk & Westport, 38% resided in New Canaan, 16% in Stamford, 16% in Fairfield and the balance were from neighboring towns.

     38% of adult Super Troopers students were from a low to moderate income population and relied on scholarships to participate in the therapeutic programs.

     NCMT anticipates significant growth in the number of students served in the current fiscal year. Compared to FY 21 we were able to increase enrollment for both equine care and adaptive riding lessons.

     Our 2023 spring lessons started on March 12th

Community Outreach and/or Public Education:

Overview of our programs involved with providing community outreach and/or public education programs involving horses:
     Troopers Program: NCMT provides a youth development and educational horsemanship program based on accountability, responsibility, kindness and respect. The Troopers program operates seven days per week during the school year. Additionally, NCMT offers a youth summer camp program from mid June to August.

     The Troopers program serves about 146 students (7-17 years old) during the academic year and an additional 50-55 children enroll in a summer program. 53% are from New Canaan, 17% from Darien, 7% from Wilton, 8% from Norwalk, 4% from Westport, 2% from Greenwich, 4% from Stamford and the balance from neighboring towns.

     Approximately 8% of students from a low to moderate income population are eligible for scholarships.

     All students are required to participate in a weekly Equine Care Day where they learn about barn safety and management skills, perform barn chores, help address the basic needs of the horses, and attend an equine care lecture. Weekly group riding lessons follow a curriculum based on the fundamentals of hunt seat equitation and the principles of sound horsemanship.

     Community service, mentorship, and a leadership council are all core components of NCMT's overall curriculum. Troopers aged 14 or older can become trained and volunteer in NCMT's therapeutic "Super Troopers" program. Based on merit, Troopers are promoted through the ranks, heralding back to the historical founding of NCMT in 1939 as a chapter of the Junior Cavalry of America.

     NCMT relies on donated horses and ponies to provide affordable and quality horsemanship programs, with the objective of "giving horses a second chance so kids can have a first."

     NCMT depends on a combination of tuition fees, fundraising and grant award proceeds to support all of its activities. It provides scholarship funding to families who demonstrate financial need.

     Multiple years of successful collaboration with the New Canaan Public School/Launch program to enroll students in the equine care program for 22 weeks during the school year.

     Ongoing partnership with STAR-Lighting the Way in Norwalk to enroll eligible adults in our programs. Many participating low-income adults have attended the programs on scholarship for several years.

     In 2017, a new partnership began with the Center for Discovery of Fairfield CT to provide a year around equine care program for children (ages 11-17) with mental health disorders.

     NCMT and the New Canaan YMCA worked together to host the YMCA "Teen Scene" recreational program for teens and young adults with special needs at NCMT. Participants spent time in the barn learning about our horses with teenage Trooper buddies.

     NCMT provides a weekly summer program, over 5 weeks, for Horizons students. Horizons at New Canaan Country School provides enrichment programs for underserved youth.

     NCMT will host New Canaan NewComers and Young Women's League for a day at the barn and equine care demonstration

     NCMT and Gilford Public Schools have a relationship for students attending our programs.

     Little Troopers - was launched this year for children 4-7 years old to learn equine care at an age appropriate level.

Research/Medical Use of Equines:
Our organization has never made, and would not ever consider making, equines available for research studies or medical training that involves invasive procedures and/or that which may cause pain or suffering to the equine.

Religious Affiliation:
Our organization does not promote religious education, religious purposes, or a specific religious faith or use donations for religious education or religious purposes; require participants to be of a certain faith; require participation in religious, instruction, activities or services; or require participation in prayer, worship, religious instruction or other religious activities as a condition of receiving social or secular services offered.

Auction Donation:
Our organization has never allowed, or would not consider allowing, an equine to be sold, transferred, released, or otherwise placed into possession of any person or organization that would cause or allow the equine to be sold at auction for slaughter.

POLICIES: ACQUISITION

Our organization acquires horses/equines from the following source(s):
    Donation
    Lease
    Purchase/Adoption from Owner
    Abandonment

Our organization does not acquire horses/equines from the following source(s):
    Auction
    Kill pen/Feedlot
    Return
    Surrender
    Seizure

Our organization will accept the following:
    Geldings
    Mares

Not Checked:
    Pregnant Mares
    Foals
    Stallions
    Only Stallions to be castrated

Additional information about our acquisition policies and practices:
We will accept any horse that is suitable to teach children to ride hunt seat. Any horse that is not gaited (learning to post and trot on gaited horse is difficult)would be suitable for our program.

     All of our horses are accepted for a minimum 30 day trial with a donation agreement. If a horse were to be abandoned after the trial period, we would take care of the horses and re-home appropiately if necessary.

POLICIES: INTAKE, ASSESSMENT & TRAININING

Prior to a horse being accepted and/or arriving at the facility, the organization requires the following with respect to the health status of the horse:
    A current Coggins
    Vaccination records that have been administered within the last 12 months
    If health records are not available or are out-of-date, the owner is responsible for having vaccinations administered.
    If health records are not available or are out-of-date, our veterinarian will administer appropriate vaccinations

Not Checked:
A health certificate signed by a veterinarian and dated no more than seven days prior to arrival attesting to the health status of the equine is provided to our organization either prior to or upon arrival of the equine

Prior to a horse being accepted and/or arriving at the facility, the organization has the following policies in place:
    The owner of a potential equine is interviewed over the phone or in person prior to seeing the equine
    The equine is evaluated at its place of residence
    The owner completes an application/contract which constitutes the agreement between the owner and our organization
    The owner is financially responsible for the shipping of the equine to and from the organization
    Equines are on trial for up to 30 days
    Equines are on trial up to 60 days
    The trial period may be reduced based on the equine's progress
    During the trial period, the organization accepts financial responsibility for the care of the equine, including board, feed, shoeing and any necessary veterinary care, up to a fixed amount agreed upon by the organization and the owner
    The trial period may be terminated by either the organization or the owner for any reason

Not Checked:
    Equines are not taken on trial
    Equines are on trial for 60 or more days
    During the trial period, the organization accepts total financial responsibility for the care of the equine, including board, feed, shoeing and any necessary veterinary care
    During the trial period, the owner/donor is financially responsible for the care of the equine, including board, feed, shoeing and any necessary veterinary care

Following arrival of the equine at the facility, the following is performed:
    Physical examination by trained barn staff
    A Henneke Body Conditioning Score or other body conditioning score is assigned
    Physical examination by a farrier
    Physical examination by a dentist
    Coggins test
    Blood work other than Coggins
    Fecal test
    Vaccinations
    De-worming

Not Checked:
    Physical examination by a veterinarian upon arrival and/or prior to quarantine departure
    Photographs are taken of each equine upon arrival at the facility and kept with the equine's health records
    The equine is scanned to check for a microchip
    The equine is microchipped if the scan indicates that there is no microchip

Upon intake, the organization has the following quarantine policy in place:
The equine is confined to a designated and separate area for isolation and quarantine at the facility for a prescribed period of time

Not Checked:
The equine is confined to a designated and separate area for isolation and quarantine off-site for a prescribed period of time
The equine is not quarantined

The typical length of quarantine is:   Up to 10 days

Horses are assessed for following skills and behaviors:
    Retrieval from a pasture/paddock
    Leading with a halter and lead rope
    Temperament, disposition and attitude, such as rated from very calm to very high spirited
    Saddling
    Bridling
    Lunging
    Loading onto and unloading off a trailer
    Mounting and dismounting
    Riding at the walk
    Riding at the trot
    Riding at the canter
    Riding by a beginner and/or unbalanced rider
    Jumping
    Tolerance to unusual objects and loud noises
    Known vices, i.e., cribbing, biting, kicking, weaving, stall walking, etc
    Grooming
    Bathing
    Clipping
    Tolerance to multiple handlers at the same time

Not Checked:
Driving (Pulling a carriage)

Our organization has the following policies and procedures in place pertaining to the ongoing assessment of horses in its care:
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine chiropractor
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine acupuncturist
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine massage therapist
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine nutritionist

Not Checked:
    The Henneke Body Condition score or other body conditioning score is updated at least annually
    Photographs are taken of each equine monthly and kept with the equine's health records
    Photographs are taken of each equine annually and kept with the equine's health records
    Physical examination by a veterinarian at least annually

Our organization has the following policies and procedures in place pertaining to the weight-carrying or workload capabilities of horses/equines that are ridden in our care:
Our organization evaluates at least annually and maintains a written record of the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden

Not Checked:
Our organization does not evaluate the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden
No equines are ridden; not applicable

The following variables are considered in determining the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden:
    Equine age, weight, breed, body condition, fitness, balance, health and soundness
    Weight and proper fit of the saddle and other equipment
    Terrain and footing in the working environment
    Duration and frequency of working sessions, as the frequency with which an equine is subjected to maximum weight carrying and/or workload
    Temperature and/or weather conditions

Not Checked:
    Equine conformation to include the top line, length of back, strength and width of loin, bone density (measured by the circumference of the cannon bone just below the knee)
    Size, shape, condition and angle of the hooves
    Participant weight, height, body proportions, balance, fitness and riding skills as well as behavioral issues and safety concerns
    Nature and pace of work, repetitive or varied, radius of turns, degree of incline and regularity of footing when equine is subject to maximum weight-carrying capacity
    Seasonal impact on the equines' workload and weight-carrying capabilities and limitations
    Our organization does not evaluate the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden
    No equines are ridden; not applicable

Horses provided formal training (groundwork or riding):   2-3 times per week

Additional information about our intake, assessment & training policies and practices:
Our herd is fecal tested twice a year.

     We quarantine equines arriving from a facility with minimal perceived risk for 7 days.

     If we have a sick horse, we quarantine and practice biosecurity as specified in the AAEP guidelines.

POLICIES: BREEDING

The organization has the following policies related to breeding and stallions:
The facility or facilities where our organization conducts its programs, including foster facilities, does NOT breed equines.

Not Checked:
The facility or facilities where our organization conducts its programs, including foster facilities, breeds equines
The facility or facilities where our organization conducts its programs, including foster facilities, are permitted to house stallions

POLICIES: EUTHANASIA

The organization has the following policies related to euthanasia:
    Our organization will never have an equine euthanized for space
    Our organization may have a healthy equine euthanized if it is a threat to itself, other equines, or people and euthanasia is recommended by a veterinarian
    Our organization may have an equine euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian after all reasonable treatment options have been explored
    Euthanasia is done on site when possible to decrease trauma from transport
    Euthanasia is done at the veterinarian's facility
    Disposal of the carcass is handled within 24 hours

Not Checked:
Our organization will never have a healthy equine euthanized under any circumstances

The following are authorized to administer the procedure for your organization in accordance with state laws:
Veterinarian

Not Checked:
    A certified euthanasia technician
    Senior staff with appropriate training
    Employee of animal control shelter or humane society with appropriate training
    Veterinary student under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian
    Not applicable. Our organization prohibits euthanasia under any circumstances

POLICIES: RE-HOMING

View Re-homing Agreement
Our organization has the following re-homing (adoption/purchase) policies and procedures in place:
    All potential adopters/purchasers complete a written contract which constitutes the agreement between our organization and the new owner
    Our organization does NOT re-home an equine to first time equine owners
    Our organization will only re-home an equine to a location where another equine resides
    The distance of a potential adopter/purchaser's home from our facility is a consideration for when re-homing an equine

Not Checked:
    Potential adopters/purchasers must visit our organization and be observed with the equine on site
    Our organization conducts a site visit of the adopter/purchaser's facility before the transfer of the equine to the adopter/purchaser's facility
    Potential adopters/purchasers are encouraged to do a short-term, on-site foster with the equine
    Adopters/purchasers are NOT required to provide updates

The uploaded Re-homing agreement includes the following re-homing (adoption/purchase) statements:
    The agreement reflects that any individual or organization in possession of the equine as of the date of the agreement and any time thereafter is bound to not sell the equine at auction for slaughter or allow the equine to be sold, transferred, released, or otherwise placed into possession of any person or organization that will cause or allow the equine to be sold at auction for slaughter.
    The agreement states that should the adopter decide to re-home the equine, our organization must grant approval of any individual or organization intending to take possession of the equine for any reason prior to the equine being placed into the possession of such individual or organization, including being provided written notification of the name, address, and telephone number of any individual or organization intending to take possession of the equine for any reason.
    The agreement states that re-homed equines cannot be bred
    The agreement states that if there is any breach of contract the equine must be returned to our organization

Not Checked:
    The agreement states that should the adopter decide to re-home the equine, our organization must be notified of the name, address, and telephone number of any individual or organization intending to take possession of the equine for any reason prior to the equine being placed into the possession of such individual or organization.
    The agreement states that re-homed equines CANNOT be sold, adopted, transferred, auctioned, released, given away, or otherwise placed into the possession of another individual or organization under any circumstances.
    The agreement states that the terms of our organization's agreement will be binding on any future individual or organization taking and/or in possession of the equine for any reason.
    The agreement states that our organization reserves the right to make unannounced visits
    The agreement states that our organization reserves the right to make scheduled visits
    The agreement states that adopters/purchasers can return an equine to our organization free of charge
    The agreement states that adopters/purchasers can return an equine to our organization for a fee
    The agreement states that adopters/purchasers are required to provide updates (photos, vet records) for one year
    The agreement states that adopters/purchasers are required to provide updates (photos, vet records) for two years
    The agreement states that adopters/purchasers are required to provide updates (photos, vet records) for three or more years
    None of the statements are included.
    The organization does not re-home equines under any circumstances; our organization retains custody of our equines and ensures care of the equines for their lifetimes.
    Our organization does not have the authority to transfer ownership and/or does not own any of the equines involved with our programs.

Our organization requires references from the following:
Personal/Other

Not Checked:
    Veterinarian
    Farrier
    Not applicable or no references required.

Transfer of ownership occurs:   Immediately (at the time of adoption/purchase) or less than one year

The average equine re-homing (adoption/purchase) fee received by your organization:
Not applicable; None received

Our organization has the following policies and procedures related to horses that need to be retired, are no longer useful, or are no longer manageable:
    Equines may be found suitable homes by our organization
    Equines may be returned to their owners
    In the case an equine is unmanageable and demonstrates repeated dangerous behaviors, the equine may be euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian
    In the case an equine is unsound and/or unhealthy and cannot be treated to relieve suffering, the equine may be euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian

Not Checked:
    Equines may remain at our organization for their lifetimes
    Equines may be sent to auction
    If a suitable home cannot be located within 12 months, the equine may be euthanized
    If a suitable home cannot be located, and space is not available for the equine to remain at the organization, the organization will secure a suitable home for the equine and accept financial responsibility for the lifetime of the equine

Additional information about our rehoming policies and practices:
We are not an adoption, re-homing organization. When we re-home a horse it is for retirement. We find the best suitable home for them. The agreement attached is for transfer of ownership for retirement.
Agreement updated July 15, 2022.