| Gwen's Dream |
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Gwen has been involved with and owned horses for more than 39years. She describes herself as a “true horsey person in every sense of the word.” Born in Florida, she was involved heavily in barrel racing until moving to North Carolina. She now enjoys trail riding on each of her four horses who range in age from 6 years to 22 years old. Gwen became very interested in therapeutic riding not long after her mother Patricia passed away in 1995. Pat suffered from multiple sclerosis for 32 years, spending most of those years confined to a bed or wheel chair. “I remember the desire in her eyes to be on a horse every time we were at a horse show, which was every weekend,” says Gwen. “She went to as many shows as she could and was a real trooper just sitting there watching us.” Gwen’s experiences with her mother encouraged her to establish Horses for Hope. “I know how much my mother desired to walk and be independent, and I would like to give others who suffer from disabilities those opportunities my mother never had.” Since 1995, Gwen has worked as a Corporate Accountant for Carolina Doctors Care in Raleigh, though she hopes to eventually work full time as a paid staff member of Horses for Hope. “My idea to create a therapeutic riding center to help the disabled and those who are unable to help themselves, no matter what the circumstance, came to be as Horses for Hope with the help of three friends, Dawn, Eric and Mary Ann. My goal is to build a strong organization that will last many years, beyond my own, giving therapeutic benefits to all who participate in our programs.” |
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| Gwen Grissom, President |
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