Chesapeake VICTORIES Newsletter – Spring 2010 by Elaine Dow

Chesapeake Victories launched our therapeutic riding program in the spring of 2009. What started with a dream turned into a reality. Along with our dream came a miracle sent from above…her name was Rebecca Pitre. Rebecca sent us an email stating she would like to volunteer to help with the horses and the children. She had picked up one of our brochures at the Chestertown Natural Foods Store where her daughter, Sarah Jane had worked. Shortly, Rebecca came out to see our horses, visit our facility and see what we were trying to offer to the community. She is certified by NARHA and has participated in several other therapeutic riding programs. I was thrilled to find out that we both wanted the same style of therapy, giving children privacy and enjoyment with the horses.

Our riders learn to tack up, groom, play games and learn about caring for and feeding the horses. They have the ring to themselves. We have found that combining a typical child on one horse and a special child on another can be the secret to a successful session. Brother and sister can now share an activity with their special sibling. Mom and Dad can also assist.

Rebecca came in early spring to see what the horses were capable of. Sweetie, our first mare and main therapy horse, passed inspection with flying colors. She responds to praise and lots and lots of attention. Dakota, our first horse and alpha male, had to be brought around more slowly, With the help of Jo Ann Fairchild , one of our volunteers, he began to feel a part of the program. Another volunteer, Stephanie Woods, would come and ride Dakota and eventually he took on full time duty. Our young mare Slicorice, will be worked into service this year.

Owen Jewell, my junior volunteer, had come the prior fall to help and learn about the horses. His Mother, Kerry King, would bring him up after school to do chores and learn how to handle them on the ground. Kerry always with a word of encouragement gave me the confidence that this just might work. She also helps to work out the horses in the ring for practice. Owen quickly learned safety and also earned over 50 hours community service. Together we did a “Save the Bay” project by growing annual rye grass after the corn is harvested. This helps to absorb the excess nitrogen since corn is a leaky crop. Owen is always willing to do new ventures on the farm.

Cyrene Loveland, another one of our volunteers has lots of experience with horses. She assists with the lessons of the co-riders and this makes the sessions extra special for the children. She lives just a few yards away on Kennersley Farm and is also involved with rescuing animals. Janice Duty, who found us the perfect farm, is helping us with media contacts. We received a wonderful article in the Update magazine, thanks to her contacts. This year I was so proud of the children. To see them interact and ride these beautiful animals, which were bred for speed and earnings, is absolutely wonderful. I don’t know who is having a better time, the kids or me, but I am looking forward to the new spring sessions. One of our riders, Jenna, loves to play medical assistant with Sweetie, I know she will be a wonderful vet some day. Jenna and Dakota got their picture in Horse Force magazine! When Katy comes to ride Sweetie, it is like a beautiful dance in the ring, Sweetie never misses a step! Vincent is one of Dakota’s favorite grooms. There is a magic between them, and Vincent advanced to a trot the last session. Parents and Grandparents came and enjoyed seeing their child become one with these beautiful animals. This year we are hoping to get assistance with a project, tamping the stalls. I am hoping Stephanie will supervise this undertaking. Last year she brought three home made saddle holders for us.

If you would like to hold a fundraiser, car wash, or bake sale for us, we would be grateful. We do not charge for the time with the horses, but donations are accepted. Wish us the best on our second season, and I am looking forward to meeting new friends and their parents. Right now the statistic is 55% of our children have either a chronic illness, learning disability, food allergies, birth defect (one in thirty three births.) This is frightening. That means that all these kids are taking medications every day. Parents are stressed out by doctor’s appointment, teachers meetings, and some in constant fear of an asthma attack or seizure. We must all continue to help families and the horses are glad to do there part. Happy Horses!!! Miss Elaine



First Annual Chesapeake VICTORIES Jockie Club

Jenna – Queen Anne’s County
Katy – Queen Anne’s County
Ty – Queen Anne’s County
Vincent – Queen Anne’s County
Bradley – Harford County
Destiny – Harford County
Nicholas - Virginia
Nathan - Virginia
Melanie – New York
Chelsey – New York
Victoria– Queen Anne’s County
Owen – Queen Anne’s County
Mackie – Prince George’s County
Zainab – Prince George’s County
Bilal – Prince George’s County
David - Guyana
Stephanie - Guyana
Troy – Queen Anne’s County
Anna – Queen Anne’s County
Mary – Anne Arundel County
Patrick – Anne Arundel County

Angel Volunteers

Kerry King
Owen Jewel – Junior Assistant
Cyrene Loveland
Stephanie Wood
Janice Duty
Jo Ann Fairchild
Rebecca Pitre - Trainer


Many thanks to all who contributed and/or attended our first annual fundraiser. It was  a huge financial success. We learned a lot in this first event.  We would like to hear from anyone who may have any suggestions about obtaining grants...Please send info to mikedow@chesapeakevictories.org

Chesapeake VICTORIES News Letter

Chesapeake VICTORIES (Vaccine Injured Children’s Treatment Organization specializing in Research, Information, Education and Support) has recently been granted 501(c)3 status, a non-profit corporation. Our goals are to assist families with bio-medical expenses for autism and provide therapeutic riding for some of the children. President Michael Dow, Vice President Cyndi Greene, Secretary Becky Simpson, and Treasurer Elaine Dow are the officers of this organization. Our initial main goals are to (1) identify families having financial difficulties and offer assistance with purchasing food for the children with autism who are on a restricted diet, (2) some of the children need medical tests and compounding medicine not covered by Medicaid or health insurance; one such test, the Urinary Porphyrin Profile and Organic Acid Test provides doctors with indications of medical issues and (3) is to offer the opportunity to experience therapeutic riding at no cost to the parents. Our web page, will share the latest medical information, published peer reviewed studies, news articles, and where to attend medical conferences to learn how to do bio-medical interventions. We also will share recipes, grocery stores where you get health food items and compounding pharmacies in your area. How are we going to do this? We need everyone’s help. We currently have over 6000 children just in the state of Maryland with autism. The families of approximately 20% to 30% of vaccine-injured children are in financial distress. A restricted diet can add $50 to $100 each week per child to a family's budget. Some of the families have more than one child with autism.

We are hoping to enlist the help of everyone, especially young adults. If any one group could sponsor a child, every dollar raised for that child would go to help, whether it goes towards gift certificates, health food stores, lab tests or supporting our therapeutic riding program. We will be contacting school groups such as Teen Rise, Interact Club or any church youth group that would like to help. We are hoping to get representatives from every little town all across Maryland to help sponsor a child. Even if the child is not from their town, they are all our children. Volunteering teens can get community service credits, which can be provided via in a letter to their school, and can eventually be used as a reference for a job application or college. We believe in our young Marylanders, and I know that everyone knows a child who is a relative or a neighbor whose family needs some help. Even offering to walk a pet or go to the store or cutting the grass could take the stress off of a family.

The officers of Chesapeake VICTORIES will be attending medical conferences, so we can share all the new information on medical interventions. Defeat Autism Now! offers the latest information in the treatments being developed for the children. We are hoping to one day sponsor a nurse or physician, who would be willing to learn this cutting edge research and treatments.

Finally, we want to develop a therapeutic riding program for the children. Mike and Elaine have purchased a farm in Church Hill, Maryland. We rescue and adopt thoroughbreds from the race tracks. We want to put the two treasures of Maryland together, the thoroughbred and these children. Maryland is famous for horse racing, but what happens to the 70% of the horses who are not cut out to race. Some of them find wonderful homes, but most of them do not. A horse can live until thirty years old and often there racing career is over before it gets started. We believe these animals, given a chance could be enlisted into another career, helping the kids with balance, confidence, co-ordination, and an enjoyable experience. We are hoping to get sponsors for the expenses of the horse, and in turn, the riding would be free. We are not trainers, we just help the horses to adapt to farm life and allow them to calm down, get them to trust. They need patience and a lot of care. Maryland is second only to Kentucky for breeding and developing this beautiful animal. Baltimore hosts the second jewel of the Triple Crown, the Preakness. We believe if horses can race, then helping the children should be a piece of cake. We have to hire a trainer, purchase tack, garner volunteers to assist the rider, acquire insurance, and we have many other expenses. The children will be riding on western saddles. We need to build a loading platform and ramp. We are starting a “quarter horse” program. You can sponsor one quarter of a horse’s room and board which is 87.50 dollars each month. A horse can be sponsored for one whole month ($350) or any contribution that you can. We have put the horses up on a lease basis, which works out to be the least expensive. We currently have two horses, Sweetie and Dakota, but another one, Slicorice, is also available. We know this new Philly can also be put into service. She just needs a little bit more time to mature. We only have outside riding. We are in a community with covenants, so this is the only way. Mike has also built a riding area. We call it “Church Hill Dow's” riding ring. Mike is completing putting up five acres of additional pasture fenced in for their home. We had to fix and paint the barn so everything looks wonderful when the riders arrive. We are starting our own “jockey club”, the Victories Jockey Club! Even if the child is afraid to ride, just bonding or grooming will be rewarding. We are hoping all the kids will eventually make it to “post time”. We want the horses to help get the children to the “winners circle” of recoveries. I know the thoroughbreds can become a “champion” in the hearts of the families.

We also in the future want to assist a child who would benefit from a therapy dog. This is Becky’s pet project. She has informed us or an organization called “Blessings Unleashed”. If we could raise the money to purchase just one dog a year, wouldn’t that be wonderful for a child. We are not asking for membership fees, but we are asking for any donations you can send for us to get started. We know everyone is financially stressed, but even five or ten dollars would help. Please see our donations page to makesecure tax-deductible donations. 

 We will also be looking for volunteers with the horses too!

To the children trapped in autism: We are so sorry you don’t feel well. You have been trapped in a mine of heavy metals, toxins and infection. Your Mom and Dad have been looking for you. They have never stopped looking for you. Your family and friends miss you and want you to get back home. For over fifty years they were given the wrong directions to find you. Now, we have new maps and treatments to help you. We know you are frightened and confused, but thousands of parents have joined in to help each other find their missing children. Together, we can find this wonderful treasure chest of children.

To the parents: We hope Chesapeake Victories can help you with the biomedical treatments for your child. Every boy and girl should have the gift of good health. Even if your child doesn’t attain a full recovery, wouldn’t be wonderful to hear the words where there once was none or free a child trapped in confusion and frustration. Just to show socialization and affection would be priceless. Think of Autism as many layers of paper, wrapped around a present, pull them away, one layer at a time, until you reveal the “gift of a child”. Please support us in assisting with the difficult situation the children are in.

The American Academy of Pediatrics Journal reported that 23% of children have a disability. This is frightening. We now have the largest amount of unhealthy children ever seen in our country. The military reports that one in 88 children of military families is suffering with autism. According to the board of education, one in 67 young children has autism. The statistic of one child in 150 having autism refers to the fifteen year olds. Teachers have told us that up to 45% of there elementary students are on medications. We are working to help change that, and children are the future of our country and they are struggling with learning disabilities, asthma, depression, food allergies, and in general poor health. A teacher once said “every child is like a flower, each blooms at a different time”, well, we want to help tend a healthy garden of children. Elaine wants to make a victory garden of flowers. Every time a flower blooms we will think of a child recovering. Please help us make this organization work and support not only the children, but a Maryland treasure.