2016 Annual Report
Camp Able of Buffalo Gap
Krysteena and Esther, riding Mudd, 2016
Mission
Ella and Gracie, 2016
Camp Able’s Mission is to cultivate healthy,
independent living for people with special
needs through equine-assisted therapy and
skills-based training, with a special focus on
using horses that have been rescued from
difficult circumstances.
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Equine Therapy
Equine-assisted therapy is used
to improve the cognitive,
physical, emotional and social
well being of people with special
needs. Through the gait of the
horse, individuals develop core
muscle strength and stimulate
cognitive and neurological
pathways that improve balance,
coordination and self-confidence.
Participants at Camp Able have
included those with autism,
stroke, emotional and intellectual
disabilities, cerebral palsy, Down
syndrome, post-traumatic stress,
blindness, paraplegia and other
conditions.
Sebastian riding Mama, Troy and Hope, 2016
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Horse Rescue & Rehabilitation
Camp Able seeks to rescue horses from abuse or neglectful
situations, and then rehabilitate them to their best health. All are
evaluated for use in therapeutic riding. Those not used in equine
therapy are found adoptive homes or cared for at our facilities.
Generally, our herd is about 34 horses, with more than half trained
for use in equine therapy. Pictured below are the first group of
horses to enjoy our new pasture built in 2016. To the right, Renee
Hicks, our founder and a certified and registered equine therapist,
shows Marcus how to bridle Whiskey, who has been one of our
most popular therapy horses.
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Dear Friends of Camp Able of Buffalo Gap:
If we could, we would mail you a hug. The kind of hug that
your favorite aunt gives you on Thanksgiving Day or the
kind an exuberant child gives his best buddy after their
first peewee baseball win. Why? In 2016 you helped us
help more people with special needs than we ever
thought possible.
Because of you, in 2016:
• We served substantially more people, with 315
individuals participating in at least one of our
programs throughout the year. (In 2015, we served
151 individuals.)
• We expanded our programs to better accommodate
those who could benefit: we held 2 Explorer Camps;
introduced the new Pathfinder Camp; conducted 6
Special Therapeutic Riding Events; and added new
Student Camps and Swim Camps.
• We provided our services to all who requested help
regardless of their financial situation.
• We expanded our partnerships with local school
districts and universities.
• We added 11 new horses and found adoptive
homes for 3.
• We prepared a new pasture at a nearby ranch to
help manage and feed our herd of horses.
• We repaired and landscaped our riding trails.
• And we improved productivity and efficiencies
associated with ranch management and horse care.
In short, when you gave of your time, love, skills, assets
and dollars, you made it possible for Camp Able to
continue to grow and achieve its mission to help people
with special needs and to rescue horses in need of shelter.
In the pages of this annual report, we have shared the
pictures and stories of just a few of those people and
horses your generosity helped. You will see children who
have acquired new skills and a greater sense of
confidence. You will see wounded military veterans finding
a new therapeutic outlet. You’ll see horses rescued from
abuse or neglect, and the impact your dollars made in
returning them to health and in giving many of them a new
purpose in life as therapy horses.
On behalf of all those you have helped, we thank you from
the bottom of our hearts – and send hugs to you all!
We expect 2017 to be equally as exciting as 2016, and we
hope you will once again be by our side for the ride. It
promises to be a beautiful adventure.
Lota Zoth
Volunteer Executive
Director
Lori Weiman
Chair, Board of Directors
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Day Camps
Sarah is a 12-year-old who loves to ride horses. She also
happens to have cerebral palsy. When she started riding at
Camp Able she could not sit upright, but after regular Day
Camp sessions her core muscle strength improved
dramatically. As you can see, she thoroughly enjoys riding
Lightning with help from Renee, Cary and Jessica.
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Explorer Camps
Lacey, 8, has participated in
Camp Able’s programs for
four years. She’s continued to
learn new skills and gain new
friends, like Elizabeth, her
buddy at one of our 2016
Explorer Camps.
These 4-day overnight
summer camps offer children
with special needs and their
families the opportunity to
play, grow and discover the
possibilities of what they can
achieve.
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Pathfinder Camps
At age 6, Aidan was
nonverbal and needed to be
restrained by two
harnesses. While riding at
Camp Able, he spoke for the
first time. Now 9, he rides
freely, and is writing and
reading at school. Aidan and
his family moved away from
Abilene in late 2015, but
they returned in August
2016 to participate in Camp
Able’s pilot Pathfinder
Camp, a non-residential
summer camp offered to
families with special needs
children who have
previously participated in our
Day Camps.
Brittney, Aidan riding Queen, Gloria and Mariah 2016
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Student Day Camps
Kendall is an 11-year-old with autism
who has participated in equine
therapy since 2012. At the outset he
was nonverbal and uncooperative.
Today, he participates in group
activities, follows directions, and
reads at a 4th/5th grade level. Now at
Jim Ned Middle School, Kendall
regularly participates in Camp Able’s
Student Day Camp program.
Kendall riding Chief, 2016
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Swim Camps
Rebecca, 12, continues to
blossom as she participates in a
number of Camp Able’s
programs. This year, during
Swim Camp, she swam the
length of the pool independently
and learned to dive. She also
mastered jumping off the diving
board, as did many of her
classmates in the Merkel
Elementary Life Skills Group.
Renee and Rebecca, 2016
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Sam and Renee, 2016
Special Events
Special Needs
Sam, 24, participated in
one of Camp Able’s
Special Events during
2016. A resident of
Chase’s Place in the
Dallas area, Sam is
constrained by a
ventilator, but with the
help of a number of
volunteers, he was able
to enjoy a day of
Therapeutic Riding with
his friends and family.
In 2016, Camp Able
also provided equine
therapy to a group of
young adults with
special needs from the
Down Syndrome
Association of Houston.
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Charles riding Mudd, Tiffany, Tom and Renee, 2016
Special Events
Military Veterans
Camp Able is honored to provide therapeutic
riding activities for military veterans and their
families at special events in partnership with
other support organizations. For example, on
the left, Charles from Houston’s Blinded Vets
Association gets ready to ride Mudd with help
from our volunteers, while below, Monique
from Dallas-based Grace After Fire, rides
Annabelle. In 2016, we also were pleased to
work several times with Houston’s Expeditions
Balance veterans’ organization.
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Volunteers
Camp Able’s life blood is its dedicated group of
volunteers - which includes everyone from its
founder to its executive director and all others
who work with our horses, children and
veterans, as well as those who take care of
facilities, property and equipment, public
relations and fundraising. We extend a special
‘thank you’ to the growing list of people who
give of their valuable time, love and skills to
help Camp Able achieve its mission.
Stephanie, Sue, Kristi and Cynthia, 2016
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Financial Overview
2016 Sources of Funding = $207,767
(Unaudited, not including Volunteer Hours)
Full financial statements for Advocates for Camp
Able are available upon request.
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Financial Overview
2016 Uses of Funding = $208,699
(Unaudited, not including Volunteer Hours)
1%
*
*
*Included in “Programs - Capital” are expenditures associated
with acquiring a tractor, a stock trailer (in-kind), a utility
vehicle, and horses (in-kind), all items necessary to conduct
Camp Able’s core business programs in providing equine
therapy and rescuing horses.
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Donors & Contributors
It is through the generosity, kindness and commitment of our many donors, contributors and volunteers that Camp Able of Buffalo Gap can
achieve its Mission and Vision. For those we serve, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Every effort has been made to be complete
and accurate on these lists. Please send corrections to [email protected].
Foundations & Trusts
The 1687 Foundation
Abell-Hanger Foundation
Big Country 100 Men Who Care
Community Foundation of Abilene
Denny Family Foundation
Dodge Jones Foundation
Ann and Don Fizer Foundation
Greathouse Foundation
Jean K. Hays Charitable Endowment Fund
Hendrick Hospital Foundation
The Murrell Foundation
Santel-McGinnis Family Charitable Fund
Scott and Michelle Senter Charitable Fund
The T & T Family Foundation
Individuals
Anonymous
Jan and Brian Babiak
Jeanne Bacon
Dean Baird
Rebecca Bamber
Ricky Barnes
David and Tracy Barnett
Susan Barnhart
Amber Beall
Bill and Brenda Bertrand
Patricia Bottoms
James and Janet Brooks
Charisse Burton
Margaret and David Bush
John and Donna Bush
Bee Buxkemper
Claudia Cardinal
Judee and Ray Carillo
Doug and Theda Carpenter
Melanie Carr
Otto Carter
Herb and Melissa Cartwright
Linda Coleman
Peter and Michelle Collins
John and Janet Connolly
John and Katherine Coniglio
Kim Cooksey
Carl Corthron
Cary Corthron and Lota Zoth
Benjamin Cress
Terri and Joe Cress
Steve Danielson
Kevin Denman
Ann DeSalvo
Ken and Charlotte Dickerman
Tim Dillard
Christine Dingivan
Donn Dixon
Shay Earnest
Mrs. Verle Englerth
Terry and Garnet Essex
Patricia Evans
Jeff Farrow
Betty and John Faverino
Jacques and Linda Fusilier
Teri Fusillier
Zach and Angie Fusilier
Steve Gilder
Phyllis Graham
Larry Greer
Becky Hammack
Gary & Diana Handley
Brian Harmon and Elly Erwin
Ruth Ann and Tom Harmon
Debbie Harrison
Gene and Nancy Henderson
Gary and Nancy Heuerman
Rondall and Leonore Hicks
Jeff Hicks
Renee Hicks
Thomas and Britni Hicks
Steve and Susie Hill
Cindy Holden
Ann Holt
Richard Howard
Shirley and Waylan Jackson
Johnny and Shirley Jennings
Edward Johnson
Mindy and Tom Edd Johnson
Kerry and Angela Jones
Maura Kahn
Leanne Kelley
Joyce Kerker
Mitch and Lisa Kerley
Kristi and Jerry Killion
Peter and Jayne Korolkoff
Nita Laney
Linda Larsen
John and Emily Lomax
John and Rhonda Lomax
Cyndie Mace
Felicia Mace
Cathy Carlin Mahannah
Derek Mayfield
Nathan and Dona McCartney
Tennie McCarty
Joel and Amy McCready
Gloria McDaniel
John McDonald & Sherri West
Julie and Dennis McGowan
Jessica McGuire
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Donors & Contributors (continued)
James and Jeanne McMillan
Kevin and Dana Meier
Joan Meyer
Steve Miller
Cyndy Montgomery and Don Tilden
Pat Moran
Karen Morgan
Jamie Lacey-Moreira
John and Erika Moyna
Keith and Ashlee Oglesbee
Maureen Grady Naset
Christine Nash and Andrew Chen
Cathee Newberry-Terry
Garrett and Sydney Nichols
Landon Nichols
The Palma Family
Eddie Pangaro
JoDee Pate
John Pelham
Jim Penney
Tom and Lisa Perini
Aliceann Phillips
Ron and Alice Piri
Jackie and Joellen Qualls
Jerry and Mona Rainey
Justin and Brittney Rainey
Sally Sims-Ratliff
Anne Reed
Jack and Becky Rentz
Nancy and Jon Reves
Jana and Gary Rice
Kathy Richardson and Karl Lee
Kelsey Robinson
Susan and Michael Robinson
Sandy and David Roden
Danyel Rogers
Joe and Sheree Rogers
Stephen and Kim Schultz
Sevie Schonerstedt
Vicki Sconce
Fred Scott
Eric and Laura Seaton
Betty Jo Senegal
Tevin and LoriAnn Senne
Bill Senter
Scott and Michelle Senter
Billye Proctor Shaw
Ronald and Mary Sipe
Carla and James Smith
Nadene and Jon Smith
Peg Smith
Jeannie and Brian Sorensen
Mark and KC Spring
Ron and Melinda Springer
Bob and Kathy Springs
Linda Szyper
Karen Stephan
Toni Stiefel
Tiffany Taylor
Ernie and Kelli Talarico
Hunter Thomas
Theresa Therwhanger-Tollett
Lynn Toney
Jon Tonne
Donna Underwood
Robert and Liz Wagstaff
Lora Walker
Wayne Walker
Sara Watkins
Aaron Watson
Barbara Weiman
Eric Weiman
Laura and Matt Weiman
Note: The production of this Annual Report, as well as the mailing and printing of a limited supply of
printed copies, were made possible by the contributions of volunteers and donors.
Lori Weiman
Paul and Linda Weiman
Betty Wessels
Stanley and Dorothy Whisenhunt
Bill and Karen Wilkins
Cynthia and Scott Woltemath
Scott Yoeman
Tenna and Bobby Yoes
Jim Young
Karen Zeman
Businesses
Abilene Equipment Center
ASCO
AstraZeneca
Best Tree Service, LLC
Charlene’s Country Comfort
Coleman Livestock Auction
Davis Kinard & Co., PC
Deutschlander Freshwater Catfish
Double Diamond Signs
Extreme Exteriors Garden Center
FDLIC
Firehouse Fitness
It's In the Bag
Lighthouse Photography
Matthews Land and Cattle Company
Merkel Middle School
New Covenant Sunday School
Jerry Palmer Sales
Parkway Advisors
Pecan Valley Title Company
Reach for a Difference
Southwest Air Conditioning and Heating
West Texas Pools and Spas, Inc.
Woodmen of the World
Young's Concessions
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Board of Directors
Cary Corthron, Secretary/Treasurer
Nancy Henderson
Renee Hicks, Founder & Lead Therapist
Nadene Smith, Vice Chair
Lori Weiman, Chair
Partnerships & Collaborations
The 1687 Foundation (Midland, TX)
Abilene Christian University, School of Nursing
Blinded Veterans Association (Houston, TX)
Chase’s Place (Dallas, TX)
Down Syndrome Association of Houston
Expeditions Balance (Houston, TX)
Grace After Fire (Dallas, TX)
Jim Ned Consolidated Independent School District
(Tuscola, TX)
Merkel Independent School District
Reach for a Difference (Abilene, TX)
Sovereign Grace Classical School (Abilene, TX)
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Graduate
School of Biomedical Sciences (Abilene, TX)
The YMCA of Abilene
Core Values
Respect: We believe all individuals are worthy of respect
and honor and will be treated as such.
Equality: We encourage society to embrace people who
have different needs and challenges and to identify them
as whole and of equal value.
Empowerment: We strive to empower individuals with the
tools and opportunities they need to leverage their
capabilities and achieve a whole life.
Compassion: Our compassion for horses and humans
will be expressed through our strong desire to alleviate
suffering and enable recovery.
Collaboration: We will collaborate with others also
dedicated to the rescue of horses and advancing the
cause of independent living for all individuals.
Dignity: We believe in the fundamental importance for all
individuals to have a sense of pride in oneself and a
feeling of worthiness.
Balance: We strive to help others achieve a whole life by
learning how to balance their strengths and weaknesses.
Patience: Our patience with horses and humans will be
demonstrated by our steady perseverance and eventempered care.
Diversity: Together we work to ensure everyone,
regardless of gender, income, faith, cultural background
or sexual orientation has the opportunity to live life to its
fullest.
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Vision
Ana and Nick, 2016
Camp Able’s Vision is that selfsufficiency is a reasonable and
achievable goal for humans regardless
of mental, emotional and physical
capabilities, with the full acceptance
and understanding of their caregivers
and society at large.
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Magic Happens Here
Camp Able of Buffalo Gap
P.O. Box 695
Buffalo Gap, TX 79508
325-572-4145
[email protected]
www.camp-able.org
Facebook/Instagram/Twitter:
@CampAbleBG
Mason, 2016