MISSION & PROGRAMS

Mission:
Our mission is to provide a comprehensive therapeutic equine program using horses to facilitate growth, learning, and healing. Our populations include children and adults with disabilities, those who have been abused or neglected, the military, and the impoverished.

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 outreach and/or public education programs involving horses.
Our organization is directly responsible for the care and shelter of equines involved in our programs.
Over 90% of our total programs and services are equine-related.

Our organization CURRENTLY uses satellite, overflow, foster, and/or outreach facilities which adhere to all the policies, procedures and practices of our organization or did in the previous year. Facility information is provided for the organization's main, satellite and overflow facilities.
Summary of organization's recent accomplishments, goals, strategies to achieve the goals, and capabilities to meet the goals, including its long-term plans to sustain its programs:
Pal-O-Mine Equestrian is proud to share our most notable accomplishments from 2024:
     * Completed our $3 million expansion campaign, including the completed renovation of our greenhouse and Restore to Balance House
     * Accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for the 4th year in a row
     * Awarded the Platinum Level Transparency by Candid for the 3rd year in a row
     *Seven-time winner of the Bethpage Best of Long Island for Best Horseback Riding Facility
     * Provided six off-site visits with our equines to local assisted living centers, hospitals and VA center
     * Began new collaborations with the NYPD Equestrian Club to provide EAS to inner-city youth
     * Became one of 5 partners in the United Way's Mission United
     * Hosted VetFest, LEO Weekend, Hoofball Fundraiser, LICF Donor Reception and NYCF 100 Year Anniversary
     * Held our new fundraiser, Winter Wonderland, on four weekends over the winter holiday season
     * Partnered with Sesame Workshop on our Barnyard Buddies early childhood learning program
     * Provided EAL services to incarcerated female youth
     * Successfully implemented new programs: Young Farmers, Cut Flower CSA, and Horticulture Happy Hour
     * Hosted 4 Wellness Retreats
     * Had a staff member run and represent Pal-O-Mine in the NYC Marathon
     
     Our long-term organizational goals are:
     To foster independence and self-esteem in the lives of individuals by utilizing horses for growth, learning, and healing.
     To maintain the highest ethical standards and professionalism.
     To support innovation while remaining committed to safety and confidentiality.
     To ensure financial and professional integrity.
     To promote a culture of collaboration through partnerships and alignment of missions with other educational institutions and not-for-profits.
     
     Our strategy for achieving these goals is to continuously provide a comprehensive program that evaluates and assesses individualized progress and sets individualized goals for each of our 8 programs, continuously evaluate the appropriate equine match for all students and clients, the continuing education requirements for our professional staff, and our commitment to providing services in the safest and least restrictive environment. Pal-O-Mine can meet this goal through the ongoing training and development of current and new staff and current and new equines joining the program. The ownership of our property, its agricultural designation, and the completion of our $3 million expansion campaign allow us the flexibility to adapt our environment to suit the needs of our students and equines while providing services in a state-of-the-art facility. Pal-O-Mine continues to collaborate with EAGALA and CHA to host certifications and workshops. Pal-O-Mine has expanded our internship programs, with new relationships with Stony Brook University and St. Joseph’s for Social Work internships and through CAEP to begin the process for international equine internship placements. We hosted an international intern from Ireland this summer, with plans to continue to expand this program. Our programs will be sustained long-term through program revenue, contracts for services with local school districts and community organizations, innovative and successful events, a wide range of donations from individuals, and grants from corporate and private foundations. The wide range of revenue streams allows for our long-term financial success and the sustainment of our programs.



Please describe what steps your organization takes to ensure that:
1) all interactions between your equines and people are mutually beneficial and conducted in accordance with the Guidelines for Human-Equine Interactions stated below;
2) all equines in the care of our organization and/or equines that participate in the organization's program have access to clean drinking water at all times; nutritious food in sufficient quantity, including natural forage such as pasture grass and/or hay; appropriate veterinary, farrier, and dental care; shelter and protection from the weather; sufficient safe space to move around comfortably on a daily basis; and daily opportunity to freely interact and have contact with other equines:

Pal-O-Mine Equestrian is fortunate to have many resources available to ensure that our human-equine interactions are mutually beneficial and that all of our equines are sufficiently cared for. Our staff works together as a team to continuously monitor, evaluate, and make changes as needed to ensure that our equines are comfortable, respected, safe, appropriate, and selected properly for all interactions. This is part of our daily routine, and in addition, horses are provided with two 14-day breaks per year from lessons/sessions. Most of our paddocks have automatic watering systems, and the ones that do not have troughs are refilled daily and as needed. Our hay is specifically chosen and shipped from Maine for its nutrient content. All of our horses receive daily supplements and individualized feeding schedules. Our specialists (including our farrier, veterinarian, equine dentist, and physiotherapist) are easily accessed for routine and emergency services and have provided exceptional care to our herd. Our horses reside outside in herds and open paddocks with large run-in sheds and/or covered areas for protection, allowing them unlimited interaction with their herd mates. We are fortunate to own our property, which allows us the ability to maintain and make improvements as needed to ensure the care of our equines and that our human-equine interactions are held in a clean, accessible, and pleasing environment. We are also fortunate to partner with local organizations, members of the community, and Eagle Scout Troops that have been assisting us with upgrades to our run-in shelters.

Equine Assisted Services (EAS):
Our organization provides the following Equine Assisted Services (EAS):
    Therapeutic/Adaptive Riding
    Therapeutic/Adaptive Unmounted Horsemanship
    Psychotherapy/Counseling
    Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy/Speech-Language Pathology
    Academic Learning
    Personal Development Learning

23: Total number of Equine Assisted Service Providers at Pal-O-Mine Equestrian, Inc.