History of Mountin' Hopes
November 1996 - Two residents of Madison County, North Carolina, Kathryn Graeter and Pat Magnus, shared a dream of creating a therapeutic horseback riding center. Together with their husbands and others they formed a Board of Directors and got to work.
Winter 1997 - The organization filed Articles of Incorporation on February 5, 1997 and adopted Bylaws on March 20, 1997. The organization began as “Therapeutic Horseback Riding Association of WNC, Inc.” Mountin’ Hopes is its legally registered d/b/a/ with the state of NC.
Summer 1997 - Mountin’ Hopes achieved its Federal tax exempt status as a 501 (c)(3) organization on July 19, 1997 and then joined the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association. We held our first Volunteer Training in late June and our first class was held on July 7, 1997. Eighteen riders enrolled in that first 8-week session. Pat Magnus was our only Instructor, with many volunteers coming to help as leaders and sidewalkers. Pat and Kathryn could hardly believe all that had been accomplished! Our first home was on Bruce Road in Mars Hill, property we leased from Mars Hill College.
Spring/Summer 1999 - After 2 sessions in 1997 and 3 in 1998, MH opened its April 1999 session with 38 riders and 3 NARHA-certified Instructors. In 1999 we began looking in earnest for a farm to purchase. On Bruce Road, we were totally at the mercy of the weather and had no running water at the barn.
February 8, 2000 - This was the closing date on our new 50-acre farm on Willow Drive in Mars Hill. A generous gift from an Anonymous Donor and a loan from the Wasson Family Disability Fund helped make this possible. This lovely property’s rolling pastures, streams, wells, barns, and plenty of space for our horses made it a great choice. A team of dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers built stalls, ran water lines and graded and fenced our riding ring. The effort was immense and classes opened on schedule in April 2000 on our own farm!
Fall 2001 - A capital campaign begun in Fall 2000 successfully raised over $130,000 to build our indoor arena with office, restroom and classroom/meeting space. We completed the new arena by late Fall 2001. With a little more fundraising, the office and classroom were ready for occupancy in Fall 2002. Major donors included the Janirve Foundation, Steelcase Foundation and the New Leaf Foundation. Additional gifts from individuals, churches and businesses made this building a reality. For the first time, Mountin’ Hopes had a heated office/meeting space for riders, families and staff! We celebrated our new facility with an Open House on October 27, 2002.
2002 - Grants from the Community Foundation of WNC made possible the development of a Five-Year Strategic Plan and the hiring of a part-time Volunteer Coordinator.
2003 - First full-time Executive Director hired
2002 - 2008 - Collaboration with Southeast Llama Rescue
2005 - Major capital improvement to office/classroom/indoor arena completed with new sidewalks, accessible parking area and a patio. Also entered into collaborative agreement with Horse Sense of the Carolinas to expand services to families.
2007 - Celebrating 11 years of service in Western North Carolina and serving close to 200 riders annually.
Call: 828.689.2291