A Letter from the Director

We have so much to celebrate in this annual report. Things have never been better at the farm or in the organization as a whole. We had a terrific year with amazing events, new collaborations, and creative programming. We’re very excited about all we have planned for 2024!

So many of our successes are a result of collaborations within our island community and beyond. The horses, our wisest teachers, rely on collaboration for their wellbeing. A herd is necessary for safety, survival, comfort, and play. This connected approach is the foundation of all that we do at Misty and why we are a hub for community learning and healing.

I love watching our herd continue to evolve and strengthen. I am grateful for the team of dedicated two-legged staff and our engaged herd of four-legged staff who continue to be our best guides through transition and growth.

This year, our number of community partners grew to 37 like-minded organizations. Together with Boys and Girls Club, Camp Jabberwocky, Island Autism Group, Island Wide Youth Collaborative, Kinship Heals, YMCA, and countless others, we have impacted 7,650 people in 2023! All of these individuals have access to the healing power of horsemanship because of  the generous support of our donors and volunteers!

Horses know there is strength in a herd and that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Thank you for being part of our herd!

With thanks,

Mission
and Vision

Our mission is to create a nurturing environment where horses and humans can work together to transform lives.

Our vision is to make an impact on the world, one horse experience at a time.

Misty’s goal is to provide a unique, magical, and transformative experience (unlike most traditional riding barns) in which people can connect with horses and themselves on a deeper level. Misty works with students to understand their emotional, physical, and cognitive needs, and how working with horses can enhance their health and wellness. Misty is welcoming and open to all individuals, regardless of age, race, sex, income, or any other demographic.

Empowering Youth

“My name is Cameron Ganser. I am 17 years old. I’ve been at Misty as a student and volunteer for almost 9 years, ever since they opened. I started riding when I was around 4 years old. Noble was actually one of the first horses I rode when he was at Rising Tide. I remember when Misty had its first Open House back when I was 8 or 9. My mom knew it was going to be an amazing place and that it would change my life. And it did. I started doing Girl Power with Rebecca Miller and that taught me a lot about creating relationships with horses and friends. Having experience with riding, my mom wanted me to know that there’s more to being with horses than riding and Girl Power was just that. I was able to hangout with the horses and learn body language. Once Misty started doing other programs I was doing them too. I took Horsemanship classes and Mounted Archery. I was one of the first members of the Drill Team and I still come to ride with them when I’m home from college. Over the years, at Misty, I’ve learned not only how to relate to horses, but I’ve also developed some deep, lasting relationships. I’ve also learned a lot about myself. I’ve become more confident and self-aware. My mom always says that Misty is my happy place, and I think that’s true.”

Cameron Ganser, Misty Meadows Student and Teen Advisory Board Member

Out of a Wheelchair & Onto a Horse!

“This past summer I had the opportunity to volunteer at Misty Meadows as a horse handler for Camp Jabberwocky after a three year hiatus of this collaboration due to COVID and directorship changes.  Growing up on the Vineyard I was a horseback rider and became a Pediatric Nurse at Children’s Hospital in the 80s.  The combination of working with young people and horses is a win win for me.

I have been volunteering with Camp Jabberwocky and therapeutic riding on the Vineyard for almost 10 years; starting back at Rising Tide.  I have seen a host of disabilities, abilities, and physical capabilities.  I have experienced first hand how difficult it can be to assist with the mounting and dismounting process.

Fast forward to Misty Meadows June 30, 2023.  A therapeutic lift is installed in the ring at Misty and Camp Jabberwocky returns.  The first rider is pushed up the ramp in her wheelchair, the lift is carefully fitted around her and I lead Coco up the the block.  Coco is absolutely calm, cool and collected.  Me, definitely a little nervous!  The camper is lowered easily onto the horse’s back and the magic begins!  Smiles on everyone….especially our camper!  It was so easy, so safe and a real milestone!  

The feeling of accomplishment for our organization, our campers and volunteers was felt in the core of my soul!  I don’t want to be anywhere but Misty when these opportunities present themselves.  There is nothing better than giving your time, energy and financial support to such a worthy organization!”

Nancy Thomas Caraboolad, age 67, Misty Meadows Volunteer

$50,000 - $249,999

The Cashman Family

$10,000 - $49,999

Blue Lane Events (In Kind)

Nancy & Geoffrey Caraboolad

Carol Kenney

John and Charlotte Klein

Louise Reed

Kathryn Salmanowitz

John Schaefer & Pamela D. Zilly

$5,000 - $9,999

Jim Attwood & Leslie Williams

JoAnn & Jack Fruchtman

The Hasten Foundation

Healey Family Foundation

Brie Henderson

Morgan Hodgson & Bill Lake

Lubo Fund, Inc.

Kathleen McNamara

McNamara Foundation

Susan Peltier

John Thibodeau

George & Joan Thomas

The Umberto Romano
and Clorinda Romano Foundation, Inc.

Jennifer & Steve Warner

$1,000 - $4,999

Craig & Susan Bancroft

Jennifer Blum

The Boneyard

Geraldine Brooks

David A. Merry & Sons, Inc.

Jean Dickason

Donna DiFillippo

Diane Early

Robert & Angela Egerton

James Elliot

Alysa Emden

Abby Fligor

Pamela French

Sharon Gamsby

Neva & Howard Goldstein

Hancock Real Estate

Kenneth Holbert PH.D. & Barbara Holbert

Lisa Hummelberg

Brian Kenney

Kristen Kenney

Lynne Kenney

Sevda Kleinman

Jill Lane

LP Connections (In Kind)

Jessica & Conor Lynch

Janet McFadden

David & Arleen McGlade

Laurie McTeague

William Munton

Katherine O’Brien

Margaret Oliveira

Laura & Brian Plunkett

Randi Baird Photography

Nancy Randall

Ally Reed

Monica Shelton Reusch

Sarah Rorer

RW Tile

Eileen Sandberg

Andrew Sieg

Smith Bodfish Swift Co. Inc.

Marcia L Smith

Mary Stanton/Stanton Family Foundation

Bonnie Waitzkin

Hope Woodhouse

$500 - $999

A2A Pharmaceuticals Inc

Ellen Arian

Charlotte Bolduc

Annie Cabot

Jeremy Henderson & Catherine Samuels

Melissa deLisser

Martin Gilliard

Mitchell Greess

Edwin & Ellen Harley

Beth Harris

John & Hillary Keene

Leelee Smith Klein

David Kloss

Chryssa Maragos

Morning Glory Farm (In Kind)

Caitlin Nobile Knopp

Ellen & Dan Pesch

Sheila Rayyan

Walter Ricciardi

Betsy & Richard Sheerr

Julie Skinner

Margaret Sweeney

James Warner

Liz Winson

$250 - $499

Joanne Brine

Laura Bryan

Julie Chandler

Chilmark General Store

Kim Conway

David DiFillippo

Brigid Doherty

Sam Feldman

Joyce & Hugh McCormick Charitable Fund

Molly Glasgow

Myron Glucksman

Lyn J. & David A. Grogan

Thomas Hallahan

Martha Klein

Walter & Diane Looney

Trish Lyman

Frank McCulloch

Townsend & Gail Morey

Emily & Steven Moskowitz

Douglas Ruskin & Ginger Norton

James & Elizabeth Pickman

Reynolds, Rappaport, Kaplan & Hackney LLC

Kasha Ritter

Andrea Ross

Audrey Schneider

Bruce Stuart & Katherine Shaw-Stuart

Neides Silva

Pamela Small

Tea Lane Real Estate

Marta Van Ranst

Eileen Wuerthele

$100 - $249

Penny Ackley & Lynne Mixner

Allen Rugg & Suzanne Boyer

Gary & Linda Brenner

Rhonda Brown

Ellen Celli

Paula Conover

Amy Cooper

Diana DeBlase

Glenn G. DeBlase & Helen M. DeBlase

Dianne V. & Thomas A. Durawa

Gene Ferguson

Alison Abdu & Barry Glass

Nancy Hall

Colleen Hannon

Ann & Jeff Harris

Katherine Janian

Eugene P. & Concetta C. Kelley

Jim & Ann Kordahl

Richard Leonard

The MacKenty Family

Melvin S. Cutler Charitable Foundation

John Mitsinikos Jr

Sarah D Moore

Tom Murphy

Nancy Nachbar

Marilyn O’Connell

Kathryn & Ike Perkins

M.E. Pratt

Patricia Rance

Patricia M Colbert & Russell Steenberg

Anne Serafin

Rosalie Shane

Diane Smadbeck

Kathleen Smith

South Mountain Company

Karin Stanley

Pam Thomson

Charlie Utz

Snezana Westby

Susie White

$1 - $99

Elizabeth Adams

Hilary Blocksom

Charles Bowman

Gonzalo Cordova

Scott Crawford

Nina Domenico

Sheila Elliott

Deborah Fallon

Shantal Gabriel

Guidely

Kris Hanrahan

Tanya Helm

Ry Hills

Sarah Holbert

Suellen Knight

Karen Konkus

Helen & Richard Kosinski

Michelle O'Grady

Mary Louise Purves

Brooks Robards

Bruce Stewart

Nancy Tehan

Miranda Tso

Elizabeth Weinstein

Linda Weltner