For the purpose of continuing to grow and strengthen SIRE as an organization, and to insure sustainability for years to come, SIRE has developed a BRAND NEW strategic plan. In August the SIRE Board/Staff Strategic Planning Retreat was held.  The result from that weekend is a very robust strategic plan to be implemented over the next four years. The plan was cultivated from input received from our stakeholders:  riders and their families, volunteers, donors and past and present board and staff members.

We ask that you rejoice with us as we celebrate the  plan and all of the strides that are to come!  If you, or someone you know, would like to help these strategies come to fruition, please don't hesitate to contact me!!   Thank you for being part of the SIRE family!  

Lili Kellogg, Executive Director.

Vision

Within the next five years (2017), grow SIRE into a $2.5 million per year nonprofit organization serving at-risk populations, children and adults with disabilities, and military families with multifaceted equine-facilitated therapeutic programs, educational outreach, and professional development programs at four sites in the Greater Houston Metropolitan area. As in the past, SIRE will provide the highest quality therapeutic horsemanship activities to all those who can benefit.                    

Mission

The mission of SIRE is to improve the quality of life for people with special needs through therapeutic horsemanship activities and therapies, and educational outreach.

SIRE's  nine strategies are:

Strategy 1: Become financially stable with reserves for 3-6 months banked.

Strategy 2: Increase the effectiveness of the Board through recruiting and training. Seek members with background/connections in: legal, marketing, finance, insurance, construction and social media.

Strategy 3: Reach more people in need by expanding program services.

Strategy 4: Enhance programs to their highest quality by improving/expanding facilities at Spring and Hockley

Strategy 5: Improve quality and professionalism of SIRE.

Strategy 6: Make known to all SIRE stakeholders the effectiveness of SIRE's programs by developing and implementing outcomes measurement tools. Use outcomes results to facilitate selling our services to funding agencies, the medical community, and potential clients.

Strategy 7: Expand Instructor Training Education to increase educational outreach, industry impact, and revenue.

Strategy 8: Secure SIRE's financial future by establishing an endowment fund of $1,000,000.

Strategy 9: Explore meeting the needs of clients in underserved areas by adding an additional site.

The Kim and Don Richards Family Foundation is a nonprofit organization with the purpose of creating opportunities for persons with intellectual disabilities.  This organization was founded by the parents of Spring rider Katherine Richards.  On Saturday, September 22nd SIRE and the Kim and Don Richards Foundation came together at the Houston Mounted Patrol for an afternoon demonstration and tour of their facilities. Sergeant Leslie Wills and her horse Nacho showed what it takes to get a Mounted Patrol horse ready to move within the public in any given situation. 

Daniel Dutra is one of the many success stories at SIRE.  At age six Daniel was diagnosed with autism. At the suggestion of his occupational therapist Daniel began riding with SIRE. His morning sessions were tough and he was only able to manage about half the session. After switching to an afternoon class, Daniel showed rapid improvement. He is now able to ride for the whole session with two sidewalkers by his side. His favorite horse was Runa but as he progressed he changed to more appropriate mounts. His most recent horse is Tollhouse. It has been five years since Daniel started therapeutic riding sessions with SIRE and he is now an energetic eleven year old who enjoys riding his bike, learning to read and is happy to be around other children. 

Daniel Dutra and Tollhouse 

Thanks to a generous donation from the Medallion Foundation, the Hockley site has a new truck to replace the one that was lost in the flood this past summer.  We can't thank Medallion enough for making this possible.

 JB and his new ride