Rescue Horses Pay it Forward on Darien-Norwalk Line

Veterinarian, Dr. Kathi Meenan, mostly treats dogs and cats in her day job at Rippowam Animal Hospital in Stamford. But her free time is all about horses.

Meenan runs "Wishes for Horses," a non-profit on Richards Ave., near the Norwalk-Darien town line. Her all-volunteer group teaches horseback riding and care, as well as mucks stalls, cleans bridles and saddles, and walks, feeds, grooms and waters horses.

This past Sunday Meenan spent some quality time with Nikki, Aria and Hannah, Wishes for Horses' three ponies-in-residence. As she parceled out carrots purchased in bulk from Costco, Meenan recalled lamenting her fate to her boyfriend. "I said, 'I come with five horses. Who would marry me?' and he said, 'I would,'" she recalled her husband having said. That was 20 years ago. "He didn't necessarily bargain for 7 horses, which we have now. And I'd like another, but he helps out a lot."

Meenan, who has two sons – one in high school and one in middle school in Norwalk – explained that being a vet was her calling. "I was one of four kids and my parents didn't have a lot of money," she explained. "My mother scrimped and saved to pay for my riding lessons, but so many kids never get that opportunity."

The Wishes for Horses founder put her non-profit in context. "Not only is vet school expensive, with students often incurring debt upwards of $300,000, but entry level vet salaries start maybe around $70,000," she said. "Fewer men are going to vet school because of potential debt and the low starting salaries, which aren't enough to support a family. But there is an even bigger shortage of minorities in vet school."  

"City kids don't often have contact with domestic animals. They're less likely to have family pets, much less have exposure to horses. So how will they get the calling to be a vet?  You don't see minorities going into veterinary medicine."

"The way I see it, each time we can expose a child to animals...each time they see animals respond with love... Then, if a kid goes on to see a dog chained to a fence, they know it's wrong," said Meenan.

Meenan described the cumulativel impact of providing a horse experience to underprivileged youth over the years. "The work-to-ride teens move on, work with animals for a career or start their own family, buy a home and keep horses on the property." She added that the volunteers get precious work experience through Wishes for Horses. "They go on to be involved at New Canaan Mounted Troop, Ox Ridge Hunt Club, or Lion Hill in Easton."

Volunteering Takes Many Shapes and Forms
The "work-to-ride" program for teens has an impact with a ripple effect. But, although Meenan would love to accommodate all requests, spots are limited by tight funding. "So we have an application process. It includes an essay where the candidate can explain their interest, and I can tell if their mother wrote it." The all-volunteer board selects from the candidates."

Volunteers help in a variety of ways, including grooming horses, mucking stalls and returning phone calls and email. They also populate the Wishes for Horses Facebook page with photos, train new volunteers, help with fundraising, and even donate services like electrical, carpentry, and odd jobs.

Volunteer Paul Northrop recently refurbished a donated computer for the non-profit's use. Though many of the volunteers are women, Northrop's arrival was serendipitous.  Two years ago, while working for an irrigation company, he arrived early for a project at a home adjacent to the horse barn. "I have family in New York with a dairy farm. I always loved the farm life and wanted to learn to ride and work with animals again. So, I wandered over to see if they could use some help," he recalled. That was two years ago and Northrop has been volunteering ever since. He has even recruited his father and uncle to volunteer their services with repairs and upgrades like putting in a sump pump and working on the fencing.

Summer Camp and Collaboration with Local Organizations
Meenan's non-profit also offers summer camp scholarships. The program includes an educational component, where campers learn about animal care in addition to learning to ride a horse.

The non-profit also pairs up with Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops who can incorporate a badge projects into their visits. "We've also worked with the YMCA on a program and even get calls from guidance counselors with students who would benefit from horse experiences," said Meenan.

Meenan dipped into her own pocket for decades before forming Wishes for Horses last year. "I just was going into debt to fund the project," she said. "But I am very excited about the non-profit and being able to provide a horse experience to more children in financial need."

Want to Get Involved?
Wishes for Horses is planning a "Night at the Races" themed fundraiser  for April 25th at BJ Ryans in Norwalk and are accepting donations for their silent auction. For fundraiser or volunteer information, contact wishes4horses@gmail.com.

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