Podcasts from the Pasture: Equine Assisted Therapy-Hoe Down for Hope
On October 10th EAT will host their Hoe Down for Hope. Lulu Bogolin, Executive Director, discusses the importance of their biggest fundraiser of the year. Listen here as Lulu and I talk about what the Hoe Down for Hope supports, programming and what’s happening in the pasture: https://archive.storycorps.org/interviews/podcast-from-the-pasture-hoe-down-for-hope
The EAT Hoe Down for Hope raises funds to sustain all of the programs and the organization over the year. It also has an impact on their scholarship fund. Part of EAT’s mission statement is not to turn anyone away.
An annual program, Hoe Down for Hope funds a great deal of what’s needed to keep the ranch running: care of the horses, humans, cats, and Petunia as well as the ranch itself. Their first Hoe Down was a small BBQ in 2004. Today, the gala sells out.
The Hoe Down for Hope keeps all four of EAT’s programs running.
Lulu explained:
Our main program is our Adaptive Riding Program. This is an in the saddle program. Clients are on horseback and work on coordination, balance, flexibility, their vestibule system, fine and gross motor skills while on the back of a horse.
The EAL Program is out of saddle. While our friends are not riding horses, they are with a horse or horses, and EAL facilitators or counselors.
Our Boots in the Barn Program is for veterans and first responders.
Our Silve Saddles Program is for our friends over 55, those with a love of horses, who want to get back into the barn and around horses, and sometimes even friends who are brand new to horses. This program aligns with our therapeutic mission. We know as we age, we lose balance, flexibility coordination, and memory retention.
The Hoe Down for Hope makes it fun and easy to participate. Mr. Reid Lowe, in his third year will be the live auction-auctioneer and MC of the event. Every year 4-5 super unique items are auctioned including this year a signed Taylor Swift guitar.
The Hoe Down for Hope is known for their silent auction. Lulu feels they are blessed with the items donated to auction.
They also will hold a Fund to Need. Participants can hold up their paddle to help raise money specifically for scholarship programs.
This is also the time you can sponsor a horse with yearly donation.
With your donations, you can choose sponsorship for any of these programs or general support of a program.
In addition, they will raffle off a 75-inch TV and diamond earrings donated by Robert Hahn Jewelers.
The Hoe Down for hope is transforms the entire property, including the indoor arena, back barn into a family fun event complete with the Wildwood Creek Band, a catered dinner, and vendors.
With all of this fundraising, I asked what changes Lulu hopes to offer going forward.
“While Hoe Down for Hope raises funds to sustain our programs and organization on a yearly basis, we’ve also kicked off capital campaign.
This past May we held The Mane Event and next May we will hold this again. It is the driving force behind our strategic plan for our organization as a whole. Part of this strategic plan is to get people off a waiting list. For the past three years, there have been 100 people on our waiting list. This will allow us to be able to serve more of our community.
We’d like to cover the outdoor arena, which would double the number of riders. We would like to re-build the little glass house as our mental health program has doubled in size and we need more counseling and office space. We’d like to add private counseling offices and separate entrances.”
How are the horses involved?
“As the event has grown and the amount of people have increased, the horses are glad to be out in pasture looking from afar. They are the reasons we do this and they are here in spirit!”
Volunteers and staff and Lulu will be on site for Hoe Down for Hope making sure the event runs smoothly. Over 250 volunteers come through the gates each week. “This is a family. Volunteers, staff, everyone who is part of Equine Assisted Therapy makes this place the special place that we love.”
Everyone is included/everyone is invited/inclusion is a huge part of what we do.
Get your tickets before they sell out!
Hoe Down for Hope: Saturday, October 10
5-8pm
3369 Highway 109 in Wildwood, Missouri
$100 ticket-all inclusive ticket: dinner, dancing, drinks, activities.
Table for 8 for $700 IF you can get all of your guests registered by Oct 1st.
Tickets include everything-dancing, dinner, drinks, and activities.
314-971-0605
Everyone is included. Everyone is invited. Inclusion is a huge part of what we do.
Thank you to Lulu Bogolin, the staff and volunteers, participants, and the entire family at EAT. Thanks to Tator (the donkey) and Sam who we visited with.
And to Hollywood who is in our pictures this week.
Please join us again when we meet for another Podcast in the Pasture.
Thank you StoryCorps!
Expect Good. Defy Gravity. Sparkle ON! Walk On!
For more St. Louis Girl Storytelling blogs and St. Louis Girl Podcasts and Interviews and to find out how I empower people to discover and use their voice through storytelling:
To reach Lulu Bogolin and EAT:
314-971-0605
Equine-Assisted Therapy, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing therapeutic horseback riding and non-riding activities for individuals with challenges within the St. Louis area.
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