Wings and Hooves Therapeutic Riding Turning "I Wish" into "I Can"

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Karen Cuneo, Founder, President and Lead Instructor

Founder, Board President and Lead Instructor

Karen Cuneo is the founder and lead instructor of Wings and Hooves Therapeutic Riding, Inc. After returning to college to pursue an additional degree in Equine Science, Karen received her NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) Instructor Certification in May, 2009. While working towards her degree, Karen has set up Wings and Hooves in order for riders with different challenges to excel. Karen, who has worked in the financial industry since 1983, discovered horses to be an excellent source of stress relief and relaxation. Karen has a successful show history, winning various blue ribbons in the Purebred Hunter Pleasure and Half Arabian Western Pleasure divisions. Karen now cheers on her daughter, Kristen, who is a very successful rider on the Arabian and Half-Arabian Regional and National circuit, earning multiple Regional championships and National awards. Karen subscribes to the saying, “When looking into the eye of a horse, he looks into your soul.” Karen believes equine activities bring out the best in people and allow individuals to soar while realizing their incredible potential. Karen resides in East Kingston with her husband, Paul, and daughter, Kristen, both of whom are vitally important in setting up and running Wings and Hooves.

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Colleen Boylan with Emily Caron, friend and rider of Wings and Hooves

Executive Director

Colleen Boylan arrives to Wings and Hooves with nonprofit experience and a personal passion for horses. Colleen has worked with several nonprofit organizations in various capacities, but most recently as a case manager with an international mentoring agency. She has shown Arabian and Half-Arabian horses competitively, winning several Regional and Reserve National Championships, including a 2009 United States National Championship in the Half-Arabian Park Amateur to Ride division. Colleen admires the reliable work-ethic of a retired show horse and respects the horses’ desire to accept new responsibilities associated with therapeutic riding. Colleen enjoys working at Wings and Hooves primarily because of the awesome people she gets to meet and work with every day, but also because her retired show horses are right next to her office! Colleen believes in the natural, therapeutic value of an equine partnership and looks forward to facilitating many more through Wings and Hooves. A resident of Derry, New Hampshire, Colleen enjoys running with her two dogs and reading a good book.

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Say hello to Calypso

Hi, I’m Calypso!

A little about me:

My Registered Name is Calypso.

I am Loved by all of Kingswood Farm.

My birthday was a long time ago, and I am a 26-year old Quarter Horse gelding.

I don’t know my real parents, but was lovingly adopted by Karen, Paul, and Kristen.

My favorite thing in the world is Kingswood Farm where I can play outside with all my horse friends, get groomed all the time, and eats lots of good treats that Trixie picks out for us.

My Past Riding Experience:

I’ve had a different past than most of the horses here. I used to round cattle at farms out West for my job. Since I was so good at it, I competed at horse shows in the Team Roping and Cattle Penning divisions. I was pretty good at it and enjoyed the responsibilities of making sure all the cows got to the place they needed to be. Although some cows can be stubborn, I have a knack for speaking cow and reasoning with them.

My Most Favorite Memory:

My most favorite memory is the day Karen decided I could help out at Wings and Hooves. After having an important and steady job for so long, it was nice to know that I was needed in a different capacity. I may be old and arthritic, but I’m still really useful and can help the therapeutic riding program in whatever way they need me.

My Job at Kingswood Farm:

My job here is to be a loving companion to any horse at Kingswood because I get along with everyone. (Probably because I’ve met so many cows and horses during my lifetime!) I’m also responsible for helping riders become confident and successful. It’s so nice to know that I’m needed here at Wings and Hooves.

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Mr. Wise Guy (Wiser)

Hi, I’m Mr. Wise Guy!

A little about me:

My Registered Name is Mr Wise Guy (some people call me Wiser).

I am Loved by Kristen and Karen Cuneo.

My birthday is April 25, 1988, and I am a 21-year old Arabian gelding.

My mom’s name is Scarlet Wind and my dad’s name is Wisdom.

My favorite things to do are showing in the English and Costume divisions, playing with my best friend (Lordy) in the paddocks, getting my withers scratched, eating treats, and hanging with my girl, Kristen – She’s so beautiful and such a talented rider.

My Past Riding Experience:

I started showing as a Purebred English Junior horse and have quite a lengthy resume of blue ribbons in the English Pleasure Open, Amateur, Junior to Ride, and Walk-Trot divisions. I have roughly 12 Regional Top Five, Reserve Championships, and Championships combined. I’ve also ridden to several US, Canadian, and Youth National Championship Titles, including 5 Top Tens, 4 Reserve Championships, and 2 Championships! I still really enjoy going to shows and winning blue ribbons with my girl, Kristen and some of the newer riders. I even received a Legion of Excellence award to recognize my many achievements as show horse! Kristen rode me with my old trainer at a show to receive the award!

My Most Favorite Memory:

One of my most favorite memories is meeting Kristen when she was only 9-years old. I loved being able to take such good care of a little girl while learning how to be a successful walk-trot horse. Together, we rode to a Top Ten at 2005 Youth Nationals in the Arabian Costume Division! I taught my girl a lot, but also learned a bit. Now, Kris and I have fun riding on trails, going to local shows, and teaching others.

My Job at Wings and Hooves:

I love my new job at Wings and Hooves! I’m in charge of helping more people build confidence through riding. It’s a lot of fun to teach our riders all about horses, riding, and showing. Due to an old injury, there’s some nerve damage in my tongue, which is why it hangs out of my mouth sometimes. It doesn’t bother me. In fact, I like that I’m different because I can relate to some of my riders and show them that even with challenges, we can all be really, really, really successful at whatever we put our mind to!!

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Memory Maker says hi!

Hi, I’m Memory Maker!

A little about me:

My Registered Name is Memory Maker.

I am Loved by Annie Boylan.

My birthday is May 24, 1991 and I am an 18-year old Half-Arabian gelding.

My mom’s name is Dream Dream and my dad’s name is Cologne.

My favorite things to do are to eat grass in the pasture, be ridden bareback, and ride patterns with my Equitation riders. I also really, really love to eat peppermints. The farm even calls them “Memmy Mints” because I love them so much. Sometimes my person takes a handful of them from restaurants to sneak back to me.

My Past Riding Experience:

I’ve had lots of experience in the show ring! I’ve shown in the HA Hunter Pleasure Amateur, Junior, and Walk-Trot divisions. I’ve also shown as a Halter Horse because I’m so handsome and as an Equitation horse because I’m so comfortable to ride. I’ve earned lots of ribbons, including 3 Regional Top Five titles and a Region 16 Reserve Champion Title in the Half-Arabian Hunter Pleasure Amateur Owner To Ride Division.

My Most Favorite Memory:

The most exciting memory for me was when my person, Annie, and I were Half Arabian Hunter Pleasure Junior to Ride 13 and Under Reserve Champions at 2003 Youth Nationals in Albuquerque, New Mexico! I love to look at my many ribbons and trophies because they remind me of how hard Annie and I worked together to become so famous.

My New Job at Wings and Hooves:

I now enjoy my new job at Wings and Hooves because I get to teach new riders how to ride and have fun. I sometimes like to challenge my more experienced riders and show them that they can do whatever they set their mind to doing.

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Khlassic Statement

Hi, I am Khlassic!

A little about me:

My Registered Name is Khlassic Statement.

I am Loved by Karen Cuneo.

My birthday is February 11, 1997, and I am a 12-year old Arabian gelding.

My mom’s name is Khalico and my dad’s name is Statementt.

My favorite things to do are going in the paddock with Trixie, running with the wind, getting scratched behind my ears and on my neck, and teaching people how to ride.

My Past Riding Experience:

I’ve had a lot of success as a show horse. Because my parents are so beautiful, I was a halter horse in my first year of showing. I then became a really good Arabian Hunter Pleasure horse. I have received a lot of blue ribbons and still sometimes go to horse shows so that my riders and I can practice our skills. My newest job is becoming the star therapeutic-riding horse here at Wings and Hooves.

My Most Favorite Memory:

I’ve been a lucky boy and have lots of favorite memories, but I make new, happy memories every day! Some of the best include the nights my person, Karen, would spoil me rotten with long brushings and lots of horse cookies. Some of the new ones are the times I go to horse shows, when I meet new riders, and or when I play with my many friends in the pastures!

My Job at Wings and Hooves:

I’ve got a big responsibility at Wings and Hooves as the star therapeutic equine. My person, however, believes in me and thinks that I am a good horse for the job. I love helping new riders become great riders. I’m especially helpful at building riders’ confidence so that they can do anything they set their mind to -I believe that anyone can be successful! My riders rock!