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132 S U M M E R 2 014 U N TAC K E D F ifty years ago, Marjorie Kittredge found herself faced with a conun- drum. Her family had purchased Windrush Farm in North Andover, Mass., 14 years prior, in 1950, but as her children grew up and moved away, the farm's four-legged residents began to far outnumber the two-legged to enjoy them. To Kittredge, the solution was clear: Create a place for children with behavioral problems to come learn about horses, nature and farming. In doing so—partnering with Mrs. Gif- ford's School for Emotionally Disturbed Children—she formed one of the first therapeutic riding centers in the United States. is year marks Windrush Farm's golden anniversary. For the first decade, Kittredge focused her efforts on youth with learning dis- abilities and behavior disorders, but in the 1970s, she began branching out to helping those with physical disabilities. It was right around then that Mandy Hogan joined the program. As a college student, she was working on a degree in early childhood education with a focus in special education, and she spent three summers taking lessons from Kittredge. "When I graduated in 1975, 'Marj' said, 'Come see what we do here,' and I got hooked," Hogan said. "e program included everything I loved: the students, the horses, and I could be outside." She's been there ever since. Hogan succeeded Kittredge as executive direc- tor following her retirement in 1996, and she's seen the program grow by leaps and bounds into a top-notch facility that helps individuals of all ages with >> WHAT IT IS: Windrush Farm is a therapeutic riding facil- ity in Massachusetts that helps clients with behavioral problems, physical or mental disabilities, at-risk youth, and veterans. A CLOSER LOOK AT: Windrush Farm A strong tradition keeps this therapeutic program forging ahead in its 50th anniversary year. B y M E G A N B R I N C K S P h o to s c o u r te s y o f W I N D R U S H FA R M CHARITY SPOTLIGHT Windrush Farm, which the late Majorie Kittredge founded to help children with mental and physical disabilities, is celebrating its 50th anniver- sary in 2014. Today, the orga- nization welcomes participants of all ages and champions land conservation, as well.