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News...News...News...News |
August 8, 2010 - Meet Henry Kapono!
Riley's Place is pleased to introduce you to our newest addition, "Henry Kapono". A naming contest for Ayana's lovely colt yielded almost 50 entries, and the judging panel took extra time to pick the perfect name for this friendly little boy. "Henry" was the only name suggested by two different contestants: Naomi Torres, age 5, liked the name "Henry" after seeing a picture of the foal and proclaiming very simply, "Well, you should name him Henry"; and Nick Mattes felt the little horse should have a first and a last name, suggesting"Henry Kapono". In honor of our Hawaiian friend, King Lamadora, who passed away in April, we liked the Hawaiian last name, "Kapono." (which means "righteous" ) And since our little Henry Kapono's sire was named "Ike", for musician Ike Turner, we thought it appropriate to continue the musical connection! Henry Kapono is an award winning and Grammy nominated singer/songwriter. He has taken home numerous Na Hoku Hano Hano Awards (Hawaii's equivalent of the Grammy's) including Male Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year, Single of the Year, and Album of the Year. He is also the author of the award winning children's book, A Beautiful Hawaiian Day. His most recent CD is entitled "The Wild Hawaiian." When you come to see our little "Henry Kapono", with his already wild mane, you will agree that it's the perfect name for our special boy.
A special thank you to all those who participated in the contest. We had some excellent suggestions for names, and will think of them as new animals join the Riley's Place family.
Click to view video of Henry Kapono |
July 30, 2010 - IT'S A BOY!
Riley's Place is thrilled to announce the birth of Ayana's (Yaya's) foal, an adorable little colt, as yet to be named! He arrived in the early morning quiet on Friday, July 30th. Yaya's a great Mom, protective and gentle. After being examined by the vet, our little guy was pronounced healthy! Please stay tuned for lots more pictures.
Watch the Baby Horse Grow - click this link for more photos |
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Riley's Place Article in "Reining by the Bay" - click to read |
New Bunny Cottage/Office
Donated by the Galen family |
Riley's Place Partners with Webb Ranch
Riley's Place is excited to announce the launch of our newest program! Working together with our wonderful new Partner organization, Webb Ranch Riding, we proudly offer:
"Fun on Horseback".
With the experienced guidance of Riley's Place staff, children facing health or family challenges can enjoy grooming, saddling, bridling, and of course, riding a horse! Located in Portola Valley, Webb Ranch provides a warm, friendly, safe and fun family environment, as well as many gentle and kind horses.
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Webb Ranch has been owned and operated by the Webb Family since 1922, with our 5th generation
currently living on and taking part in daily operations of the ranch. It is the Webb Family’s wish to
continue with the family tradition of providing a warm, friendly, safe and fun family environment to our
equestrian and equine friends and to continue to produce and provide the highest and freshest quality
produce to our community and customers.
Riley's Place is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children on the San Francisco
Peninsula experiencing chronic or life threatening health problems and/or challenging family situations such
as homelessness. The programs offered through Riley's Place encourage and facilitate children's interaction
with animals, allowing them to experience the joy and healing that spending time with animals and enjoying
and appreciating nature can bring.
www.rileys-place.org
www.webbranchriding.com |
Riley's Place Article in the San Mateo County Horsemans Association Spring 2010 Newsletter - click to read |
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Baby News
We have some very exciting news to share with you. Our little mini horse, Ayana, is pregnant!! We are expecting a baby miniature horse in August!
You may remember that we adopted Ayana ("YaYa") last September. She was part of a herd which was surrendered to the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA -- a stallion was part of that herd. An ultrasound in September did not detect a pregnancy, but over time, we noticed that Ayana was getting "rounder". Thinking we were being overly generous with her hay, grain, and grazing time in the lush green grass, we restricted her diet. She continued to gain weight, and so she had a blood test which confirmed the news this week.
Surprise!!! While we were not expecting to add another horse to our Riley's Place family, we can certainly offer this baby a wonderful home ... with room to play and grow, good food to eat, exemplary care, and an abundance of love and attention. What a blessing!
Ayana won the Peninsula Humane Society's 2009 Animals are Kind to People Award, and we are sure her baby will follow in her sweet hoofprints.
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This summer we will have a Baby Shower to celebrate this foal, and we will keep you posted on the date of this event as the time gets closer.
If you would like to help with the necessary expenses which go along with a new baby, (a baby-safe pasture fence; veterinarian care; feed; bedding; hoofcare; vitamins; equipment), you can donate online.
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Riley's Place featured in Stanford University Publication - read more... |
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Hannah with her personalized Riley's Place Bag
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Partnership with Peninsula Humane Society's Pet Assisted Therapy Program
Riley’s Place is proud to partner with the Peninsula Humane Society’s Pet Assisted Therapy Program. Our combined programs will encourage and facilitate children’s interaction with animals, allowing them to experience the joy and healing from spending time with animals. |
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Riley's Place Volunteer of the Year
Leyla Nielsen received Riley's Place Volunteer of the Year award! She volunteered at our Program visits to Ronald McDonald House, and at all our Open House events, AND she gave up every Sunday to take care of our mini horses. |
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New Baby Goats
Riley's Place is delighted to announce the addition of two baby goats to our family. Laverne and Leo are 6-month old twin Nigerian Dwarf goats. |
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January 2010 |
The Bottini family donated a golf cart which will be our "Ladybug Shuttle," ferrying the children from the parking lot to our barn. They will paint ladybugs on it, and the journey to the barn will be part of the fun! |
Jan Steenkamp volunteered his time to assemble Kachina's cart. |
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Riley's Place and Ayana win Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA Award
We are so proud to announce that Riley's Place, and our mini horse, Ayana have won the "Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA's 2009 Animals Are Kind to People' award! Here's the note we received:
At this year’s Volunteer and Community Appreciation Celebration . . . Paws for Applause, we are honoring Ayana and Riley’s Place with the “Animals Are Kind to People Award” for your work with Ayana, a 10 month old miniature horse filly recently rescued by PHS/SPCA, then adopted to Riley’s Place. Ayana enriches the lives of children experiencing chronic or life threatening health problems and challenging family situation through interaction and contact allowing them to experience the joy and healing that spending time with animals can bring. The purpose of this uplifting evening is to pay tribute to a unique group of heroes, individuals and organizations whose efforts have helped improve the quality of life for animals. |
Paws to Applause Celebration - December 1, 2009
Riley's Place and our miniature horse, Ayana, won the 2009 Animals Helping People Award. Riley's Place Volunteers and the two miniature horses - Ayana and Kachina attended the event. Click to watch a YouTube video of the event. |
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Welcome to Robin
We are very happy to welcome a new member of the Riley's Place animal family. "Robin" is a lovely, sweet, friendly and cuddly bunny which we adopted from the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA. (See her picture, attached). Robin will be part of our "Four Legged Friends on Wheels" team, visiting children and their families at Ronald McDonald House and Shelter Network-Haven Family House. How great to have a variety of animal sizes, shapes and textures for the children! This loving bunny loves to sit on laps, and she closes her eyes in bliss when she is patted and stroked. |
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New Junior Committee Launched
We are launching our "Junior Committee." First meeting is Saturday, November 14 at 3:00 pm. This is a great way for children aged 8 - 15 to get involved. They can help with animal care and socialization, facilities maintenance, fundraising and community outreach events, as well as being a great source of ideas and enthusiasm! Please R.S.V.P. to Wendy by phone 650-703-5199 or email wendy@rileys-place.org. |
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Riley's Place participates in Woodside Day of the Horse Festival
Riley's Place has been involved in some Community Outreach projects, including a booth at Woodside's Day of the Horse Festival; an evening presentation to students at Stanford's Branner Hall/Haas Center for Public Service; and we will be giving a presentation on November 3rd to the Redwood City Rotary Club. |
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For Immediate Release
PHS/SPCA Contact:
Scott Delucchi, 650/685-8510 or 650/255-2113
Riley’s Place Contact: Wendy Mattes, 650/703-5199
PHS/SPCA Rescues, Then Finds Homes For 10 Miniature Horses
Society partners with Riley’s Place in Woodside |
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(San Mateo, CA) – October 2, 2009 — One week ago, the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA (PHS/SPCA) was faced with taking 15 miniature horses into its Airport Blvd. facility and finding space among the 1,000+ animals crowding the shelter. Today, all the horses have new homes, and PHS/SPCA has a new partner. |
One of the rescued horse’s new homes is at Riley’s Place, a Woodside non-profit whose mission is to enrich the lives of Peninsula children experiencing chronic or life-threatening illnesses and/or challenging family situations such as homelessness. Mobile and onsite program offered by Riley’s Place encourage and facilitate children’s interactions with animals, allowing them to experience the joy and healing that animals can bring.
PHS/SPCA’s urgent need for partners like Riley’s Place, adopters and foster homes began September 22 when a San Gregorio couple overwhelmed by their growing herd of horses surrendered all but two to PHS/SPCA. Three of the horses were pregnant, most were undersocialized and all required hoof trimming, veterinary checks, and de-worming medicine.
The situation could have turned into an animal cruelty situation, as it’s illegal for people who own animals to withhold necessary veterinary treatment. This couple realized their predicament, cooperated fully and surrendered the animals to PHS/SPCA.
Soon after spreading word of the need for donated hay, foster homes and adopters, PHS/SPCA heard from a handful of interested parties. One was Riley’s Place. Another was Animal Assisted Happiness, a non-profit in Los Altos, which also provides animal therapy. Three of the horses were transferred by PHS/SPCA to a farm in Lodi, CA, three to a farm in Galt, CA, and two others were adopted by local residents.
“I’d love to live on these farms,” beamed PHS/SPCA Lead Humane Investigator Christina Hanley. “The horses have amazing homes with very knowledgeable people.”
Riley’s Place may adopt more farm animals or domestic animals from PHS/SPCA in the future. “Helping this miniature horse find a new, great home where she will work with children and families with special needs has truly touched all of our employees,” said PHS/SPCA Sr. Vice President Scott Delucchi. “We hope to facilitate many more adoptions with Riley’s Place.”
Miniature horses weigh between 100-200 pounds, are 30-40 inches tall at the shoulder and can live between 25-35 years. They can be social and interact well with people. They can be kept as family pets, though they retain natural horse behavior and must be treated like an equine, even if they primarily serve as a companion animal. |
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9-28-09 News
Riley’s Place received word from the Peninsula Humane Society that 15 miniature horses were in need of immediate intervention. We at Riley’s Place are so happy to be able to adopt a rescued mini, providing her with a nurturing home, good care, and all the love and attention she could ever want! To be able to help children, and at the same time, to help animals, is truly a blessing.
But now we need your help more than ever! Please consider sponsoring our new mini for a month ($300), or a year ($3,600). |
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NATIONAL CENTER FOR EQUINE FACILITATED THERAPY (NCEFT) WELCOMES RILEY’S PLACE
New Organization Finds Home on NCEFT Campus; Brings Animals Together With Children in Need.
WOODSIDE, CA (August 1, 2009) -- The National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy (NCEFT) today welcomed to its campus Riley’s Place, a new non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children on the San Francisco Peninsula experiencing health and family challenges by facilitating their interaction with animals, allowing children to experience the joy and healing which come from spending time with animals and nature.
With a permanent site for visitors nestled within the grounds of the well-known National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy (NCEFT) in Woodside, Riley’s Place will offer free programs for children in need. There will be both a site-based visiting program with animals and an out-bound program, Four Legged Friends on Wheels, that will take animals off-site to visit children and families in need throughout the community. Funds are now being raised to run the programs and to build a new barn for the Riley’s Place animals at NCEFT.
“All of us at NCEFT are excited to be able to expand our reach into the community with the additions of the programs offered by Riley’s Place,” said Gari Merendino, Executive Director at NCEFT. “Wendy Mattes is a unique individual with the energy and heart to change the lives of these children and we are pleased to provide the environment for that to happen. We anticipate sharing our volunteer resources as well as our facility with Riley’s Place so that the children coming to Riley’s Place and the adults, children and Military Veterans who come to NCEFT experience the unique support and caring that our community has to offer.”
“We are so fortunate to have found a home for Riley’s Place on the NCEFT campus,” says Wendy Mattes, Executive Director of Riley’s P lace. “It was critical for the mission and heart of Riley’s Place to locate our site-based programs in a nurturing and supportive environment for children and their families to find peace, joy and relaxation, as well as to honor the memory of Riley Church. We expect to welcome our first on-site visitors this year, and our out-bound visiting program is already in full swing. You will see Riley’s Place volunteers and animals spreading joy and healing to the children throughout our community with visits to places of healing and comfort like Ronald McDonald House, Shelter Network shelters for homeless families, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, and also in private homes.” |
About Riley’s Place
Riley’s Place was founded in 2008 by a group of caring people from the local community in honor of a young lady named Riley Church who, at the age of 14 died of brain cancer in 2006 after a two-year battle. Riley’s love of nature and all animals – especially cats, dogs, horses, lambs and goats – shaped her joyful and compassionate spirit. When Riley was no longer able to ride horses and spend time with other animals, a group of friends brought a miniature horse to visit her at home. The visit brought healing, joy and fun to Riley, her family and friends and became the inspiration for Riley’s Place and the programs that would bring the same benefits to other children in need. The site-based program and the outreach program are free. Our mission is to serve children with chronic or life threatening illness, children who are homeless, or children who have never had an opportunity to experience or appreciate the healthful benefits of interacting with animals and nature. To schedule a visit from Riley’s Place animals and volunteers, or to find out more about the programs, plans and how to donate to Riley’s Place please visit www.rileys-place.org , or call/email Wendy Mattes, Executive Director (650) 703-5199. wendy@rileys-place.org. |
About NCEFT
NCEFT is a non-profit, California 501(c)(3) corporation that improves the lives of children and adults with disabilities by providing equine-assisted therapy and equine assisted activities and promoting research and education in the field of hippo therapy.
Contacts: Gari Merendino, Executive Director Wendy Mattes, Executive Director
NCEFT Riley’s Place
(650)-851-2271 (650) 703-5199
gari@nceft.org wendy@rileys-place.org |
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Statement of Values and Code of Ethics
- Commitment to excellence, accountability and maintaining the public trust
- Respect for the worth and dignity of all individuals
- Inclusiveness and social justice
- Respect for pluralism and diversity
- Responsible stewardship of resources, transparency, integrity and honesty
- Respect for and responsible stewardship of the horses that serve NCEFT
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Our Facility
The NCEFT facility includes a fully restored 1920 dairy barn with additional paddocks to accommodate over 50 horses. Two arenas with state-of-the-art footing and an Outpatient Physical and Occupational Therapy Clinic supports year-round programs.
“Every square foot of the NCEFT property is utilized for healing and hope
for individuals, families and horses. “
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