Grace Graham with new horse, Blossom, Mrs. Clause and children at our recent Picture with Santa Holiday Event at Centaur Stride on Dec.12.

This letter was written by Centaur Stride board members Tara Reyda and Claire Tomassini:

Centaur Stride has operated as a not-for-profit at the Jones Road location since 1993. We are so grateful for all those who support our mission in helping others. Horses have such healing power, but it is an expensive and labor-intensive act of love and caring that takes the whole community to keep it going! 

2025 Centaur Stride Year in Review 

It has been a busy year at Centaur Stride filled with growth and change; we have added new programs, new staff, new horses, and new riders; we have acquired new grants, updated our website, and started a weekly newspaper column in The Post-Journal, Dunkirk OBSERVER, and Westfield Republican. Some of the highlights of our year include:

THE PEOPLE:

Our dedicated and hardworking staff: Holly Reslink (chief operating officer), Jean Lozier (barn manager), Savannah Chicora (instructor), Tyler Muka (instructor), Alison Mitchener (instructor), Grace Graham (instructor assistant), Maleri Kelsey (instructor assistant), and Khloie Ayers (barn and instructor assistant), all who contribute such commitment to the running of our programs and caring for the horses and the grounds.

Our treasured volunteers: Without their ongoing help, we could not continue to function. 

Alison took on the role of structuring our volunteer program and training our new volunteers. Also, thanks to the employees from Cummins for volunteering to help us with spring cleanup. We are so grateful to the Westfield and Sherman Fire Department for coming to our rescue when we almost lost our barn in the heavy snowfall of last December. Special thanks to Ben and Tom Lozier and Tom Appelbe for our maintenance needs. We welcome anyone who would like an unforgettable experience working with and learning about horses to contact us to volunteer! 

Our riders: We have provided 1145 lessons since January, added 69 NEW riders this year. We love sharing the healing power of our horses and are continually amazed watching our riders progress and enjoy their time at the barn.

To our many supporters who donated time, money, requested items, raffle baskets, services, and so very much more.  Their continued generosity humbles us and allows us to continue to provide services to our riders and give our horses the care they need. A huge additional thank you to the Lakewood Kiwanis/LPL, Ingram Micro Community Relations Fund, and Basil Trees for Charity for their financial matches, and all those who donated to Sponsor a Horse or to our general operating expenses.

THE HORSES:

There is nothing more rewarding than witnessing the bond between horse and rider and the benefits (physically, emotionally, mentally). These 13 amazing horses teach us so much. We have retired two of our horses (Dyeak and Kasie) and have welcomed five new horses (Blossom, Magic, Qwin, Sadie, and Frodo). We also acquired Strider, our equicizer, purchased with funds from the Garman Foundation.

THE PROGRAMS

In addition to our usual lessons for people with or without disabilities, we had five field trips from local school districts. We also ran entirely new programs this year: Volunteer Transitions, School Co-Ser, Ripley Horse Club, Independent Health Wellness Affiliate, and Caregiver Respite in coordination with Chautauqua Tapestry.

THE FUNDRAISERS:

Annual walk-a-thon: Our biggest fundraiser of the year is held in March at the Chautauqua Mall with sponsorship from the Lakewood Kiwanis. Rider Matt Tomassini again raised the most to help pay for hay and feed for our horses.  

Annual Fun Run: Our second annual trail run and walk through the beautiful trails of Centaur Stride in September included both a 1K and 5K option this year.

Holiday Cheers Raffle in December. This raffle raises critical funds to help get us through the winter!

Endowments: We are forever grateful to the Peterson and the McCullor Families for setting up Endowments with the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation (CRCF) to benefit Centaur Stride. You can make contributions by contacting the CRCF.  

Ongoing fundraisers:  Cans and bottle drive:  Just drop off all refundable cans and bottles to Centaur Stride or directly to Gren Redemption, 1884 Mason Drive, Jamestown (mention Centaur Stride for credit to our account!) Manure Sale: just $5.00 per 40-pound bag of seasoned chemical-free, composted manure. Give Big CHQ fundraiser for non-profits sponsored by CRCF; Facebook Birthday Fundraisers; Basil Chevrolet Charity Tree – stop by and see our tree at Fredonia’s Basil Chevrolet; they will donate matching funds! 

THE GRANTS

We have been blessed with grants this year: Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation for hiring and training of new instructor; M&T Bank for caregiver clinics; Cummins for maintenance; Garman for our equicizer; Westfield Fund to sponsor our Volunteer Transitions; Jesse C Wilson Foundation, for our horse fund. In addition, The Children’s Guild Foundation for the purchase of our new Sure Hands Lift (TCGF), and Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation for replacement of our Cover-all arena tarp and funding parts of our “Building Up Centaur Stride” ongoing project.

December is a reminder that “In giving, we receive. We shall pass this way on Earth but once. If there is any kindness we can show, or good act we can do, let us do it now, for we will never pass this way again.”

It brings so much joy in what we can do for others at Centaur Stride, but only with your continued help. Your support is so important to our mission!  Please send any donations to Centaur Stride, PO Box 174, Westfield, NY 14787. 

Claudia Monroe is president and founder of Centaur Stride.