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Last week, we kicked off the first round of our Small Business Spotlight Series on Equivont. As our equine community navigates COVID-19, we wanted to continue to spotlight equine businesses that do tremendous work.
This week, we'd love to feature one of our lovely clients: Rose of Sharon Equestrian School (ROSES) located in Glen Arm, MD.
ROSES, founded by Joan Marie Twining, provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to develop basic horsemanship and stable management skills in a uniquely therapeutic environment.
In 2019, our American Stalls team had the opportunity of working with Joan when ROSES purchased an Elite Show Series MINI stall.
Ever since, we have seen firsthand the impact that ROSES makes to the local Maryland community.
We recently had a chance to sit down with Joan and ask a few questions about their story. Read more below!
Q: How did Rose of Sharon Equestrian School (ROSES) begin?
A: The planning of ROSES began in 1993, when a carpenter with 12 acres of family farmland married a special educator who had a dream to help students with disabilities through her love of horses.
By the summer of 1997, ground was broken for the construction of an ADA-compliant Therapeutic Horsemanship Program. ROSES was granted IRS 501(c)(3) status in 1998. By the spring of the following year, the equine portion of the stable was completed, and two donated horses, Merlin and Fancy, made ROSES their home.
Over the course of the next two years, on nights and weekends, construction continued, with the addition of an accessible restroom, tack room, feed room, mounting ramp, and outdoor riding ring – designed and surfaced with the special needs horse and rider in mind.
At last, in the fall of 2001, ROSES welcomed the school’s first two therapeutic riding students.
Q: What is ROSES's mission?
A: ROSES’s mission is to partner with horses to facilitate change, growth and healing in individuals with special needs. It’s the change, growth and healing we have been privileged to witness over the last 20 years that is at the heart of our mission and the most rewarding aspect of our work.
The benefits transfer to our students’ lives beyond the scope of the School as we continue to see the way the program positively impacts not only the students, but everyone involved, from our horses to our volunteers, to our board members and beyond.
Q: What do you enjoy most about operating ROSES?
A: The most enjoyable thing about operating ROSES is the way the life of everyone involved seems to be so deeply enriched by that involvement. People who have been students or volunteers from a decade ago will pop back around and feel as though they never left.
Q: How has COVID-19 impacted ROSES so far?
A: COVID-19 has seriously impacted ROSES in that classes are cancelled, fundraising parties are postponed, and donations have dried up. This is anxiety producing for a small charitable organization. We do not receive government funding and rely on individual contributions, fundraising proceeds, and minimal fees for service in order to operate.
While we realize we are not as vital a need as food and shelter, we believe human needs include physical, mental and social/emotional well-being, as well. We are doing all we can to hold steady until students can return to the farm or we can travel to them. We have been approached by a local hospital to develop a program for patients and their families, as well as one to help address staff morale.
Q: What are you most excited about the future?
A: I am excited to see how the next chapter of ROSES will unfold. Our facility has room to grow in terms of the number of people served. We were prepared to embark on a mobile program with our two miniature horses, Cooper and Ginger, before the pandemic hit.
We will be ready to go once restrictions are lifted and we all believe that our services will be needed more than ever once that happens.
Q: What tip would you give other businesses (similar to ROSES) during these tough times?
A: Don’t panic, don’t get bogged down in catastrophic thinking. Try to remain creative, seek advice from and consider partnerships with others...I read something recently by the economist/philosopher Michael Singer. He said: “No solution can possibly exist while you’re lost in the energy of a problem.” We are holding onto that bit of advice at ROSES and believing that there are better days ahead!
“No solution can possibly exist while you’re lost in the energy of a problem.”
- Michael Singer
To learn more about Rose of Sharon Equestrian School and it’s fantastic Therapeutic Horsemanship Program, please check out their website here.
Nestled in Montana’s rugged beauty, this private barn at Seeley Lake combines craftsmanship with thoughtful design, offering a haven of comfort and safety for horses and caretakers alike.
