Printer Friendly Version - Jeff Ridgway: Getting More Than He Gives through High Hopes

Jeff Ridgway has been volunteering at High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center since 1979 and is a co-chair of the upcoming High Hopes Holiday Market, which will be held on Nov. 15 and benefit the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries.

Jeff Ridgway is one of hundreds who have volunteered at High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc., since it was founded in 1974 when it operated out of various rented locations. Now in a permanent location in Old Lyme, the center continues to thrive thanks to its volunteers and the fundraisers they host throughout the year.

For the past five years, High Hopes has held a Holiday Market (this year’s event is Sunday, Nov. 15 from noon to 4 p.m.) that offers 55 local crafters and vendors in the 16,000 square-foot arena, a variety of food trucks, hay rides, a raffle, and more. Raffle prizes include a 2015 Subaru Crosstrek, an Apple watch, an New York City overnight getaway with Broadway tickets, and Justin Sorrel cowboy boots.

“People can see the horses in the fields, do a little holiday shopping, [and] win some really nice prizes in the raffle,” says Jeff.

While admission to the event is free, High Hopes is requesting donations for the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries, which is based in Old Saybrook and serves many shoreline towns.

“Last year we physically counted 2,000 people coming through the door,” says Jeff, who is co-chairing the event with Katherine Gibson. “So many people came with food as an entry ticket, which was great.”

In addition to helping shoreline residents by giving back to the soup kitchen, another main goal of the Holiday Market and High Hopes’ other fundraisers is to spread awareness about the facility.

“Too many times, I ran into local people and the topic of High Hopes would come up and they’d say, ‘Where’s that?’ and it always shocked me because we’re so dependent on volunteers,” says Jeff, who noted High Hopes will have an informational booth at the Holiday Market. “Hopefully we’ll raise awareness and more people will start volunteering.”

Every year, Essex Savings Bank commits 10 percent of its after-tax income to local organizations. Bank customers vote on three organizations to receive 30 percent of these funds. This process also inspired Jeff to continue to raise awareness for High Hopes.

Jeff has seen the impact that High Hopes has had on both those attending programs and on volunteers over the many years he has been a volunteer. When Jeff and his wife, Holly, were married in 1979, she was a riding instructor and a volunteer at High Hopes. Jeff, who was born in Zimbabwe and grew up in the United Kingdom, soon joined his wife.

“Being in the periphery as the husband, I was roped in to help,” says Jeff. “I grew up with and around horses, so I knew a little about them.”

Jeff brought many other skills as a volunteer. While Jeff was trained as a boat-builder in the UK and then ran Essex Boat Works for 10 years, he left that position in 1988 to form Caulfield & Ridgway, a home-building and renovation contractor business, with Chris Caulfield. Around the same time, High Hopes bought its current property and Jeff assisted with the building of the facility.

“As I’d recently gotten involved in building trade, I volunteered to help in any way I could,” says Jeff.

Jeff has been on the board of High Hopes since 1993 and has been involved with a variety of fundraisers and events over the years. He and his wife chaired the antique show for several years.

“It was very successful, but it required us to close the facility for 10 days and as High Hopes grew, that was very much invading on people’s therapy time,” says Jeff.

Jeff notes that more than 1,500 individuals aged 3 to 80 are served by High Hopes every year. According to its website, highhopestr.org, High Hopes’ mission is “to improve the lives of people with disabilities through the benefits of therapeutic horseback riding, equine-assisted activities, therapies, training, and education while being a proactive leader, mentor, and advocate for our profession.”

In order to serve so many clients, there are 675 volunteers and counting who serve approximately 30,500 hours each year. While Jeff is thankful for so many volunteers, he notes that High Hopes can always use more volunteers.

“We could not function without those volunteers—they are very dedicated and continue to make this place work,” says Jeff. “We have a wide range of areas where we need help from in the office to fundraisers to taking care of the animals to the sidewalkers and leaders of the horses.”

High Hopes is open six days a week for eight to nine hours a day with Jeff noting that even an hour or two of volunteering a week can be a big help. As a volunteer for more than three decades, Jeff has found the experience rewarding in many ways.

“Many children have done things for the first time there. We have had kids who have spoken their first words or taken their first step,” says Jeff, who notes that a video on the group’s website shows the impact that High Hopes has on families. “It is remarkable. The most interesting thing is that when you do volunteer, you end up going away with more than you ever gave. It’s an amazing place with a lot of smiles and happiness.”