Happy holidays from all of us at VHAT. We are so grateful to the churches, rotary groups, foundations and generous individuals who have opened up their wallets to help VHAT move forward with its dream of extending the benefits of riding and horse-assisted therapy to more people in the central Vermont community. Volunteers are contacting VHAT weekly asking to be part of the effort, and our volunteer Board and executive director have now raised enough money to create an after-school program for students with special needs for the spring of 2010. Pease Farm hosted a pilot program for able-bodied and special needs students in middle and high school last spring, and made a DVD that captures their excitement and commitment to improving their physical and mental partnership with horses.

Our next wish is to fund a summer daycamp for students with autism, and maybe you can help. One of the nicest alternatives to buying "stuff" at holiday times is to make a donation to a worthy cause in your friend or relative's name instead. Could you help light up a child's face, or spark a teenager's sense of responsibility by going to our Donation page to make a safe secure donation with PayPal? We thank all of you for your support and wish you happiness and health in the New Year.