About Us
Maureen Coultas, our Executive Director and P.A.T.H. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, began riding at Seaton Hackney stables as a child, and rode on and off over the years until adulthood, when other priorities took over in her life. She married, had four daughters and, never having forgotten her love of horses and riding, she took up her passion again when her girls were all in school full-time.
In 2000, she fulfilled a lifelong dream and bought her first horse Chief, a white Appaloosa. She could never have imagined the journey that was in front of her. She got Chief purely for love-of-horses-and-fun. Her experience of owning a horse has been so much more though.
Maureen had an abusive childhood and as a result, has P.T.S.D. (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). She has used many different modalities to help her heal from her past, and never considered horses could be one of them! Chief kept her in-the-moment, which was the first and has continued to be the only person / place / thing / experience able to do so with her PTSD. She wanted - through her horses - to offer to others the healing that she received, so she attended Centenary College and took the necessary courses to become a PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. Maureen has been teaching both individuals with special needs and those who are able-bodied since 2010. She opened Hope's Promise, a PATH International Center, in Chester, New Jersey in 2012. Since then, both individuals and groups have been experiencing the healing of horses through Therapeutic Riding and Equine Assisted Activities.
In 2000, she fulfilled a lifelong dream and bought her first horse Chief, a white Appaloosa. She could never have imagined the journey that was in front of her. She got Chief purely for love-of-horses-and-fun. Her experience of owning a horse has been so much more though.
Maureen had an abusive childhood and as a result, has P.T.S.D. (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). She has used many different modalities to help her heal from her past, and never considered horses could be one of them! Chief kept her in-the-moment, which was the first and has continued to be the only person / place / thing / experience able to do so with her PTSD. She wanted - through her horses - to offer to others the healing that she received, so she attended Centenary College and took the necessary courses to become a PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. Maureen has been teaching both individuals with special needs and those who are able-bodied since 2010. She opened Hope's Promise, a PATH International Center, in Chester, New Jersey in 2012. Since then, both individuals and groups have been experiencing the healing of horses through Therapeutic Riding and Equine Assisted Activities.
Our Horses
Chief - Our 24-year-old Appaloosa. Chief loves people of all ages, but he's especially fond of children. He truly has a sixth sense when it comes to people with special needs. He's very gentle and patient, and nothing rattles him. He loves music, clementines, pears and bananas.
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Justice - Our 12-year-old Friesian Sporthorse. Justice has been with us since he was 7 months old. What an adventure he has been! Justice thinks he is a small dog. He loves to have his face in your hair and is always very curious about what people are doing.
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Duke - Our 9-year-old Thoroughbred. Our newest horse, Duke was donated to us in December by Joan & Daniela Mokray. In his previous careers he was a racehorse, a children's camp "pony" and a beginning dressage horse. He is very kind and prefers spending time with people rather than horses!
Rafael - Our 1-year-old miniature horse. Rafael is a little peanut of a horse with a big attitude. He came to our farm at just 5 months of age and started shadowing Michelangelo on visits. He is quite a character and everywhere he goes, people love him!
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Michelangelo - Our 3-year-old miniature horse. Michelangelo is smaller than Eeyore. He started visiting facilities at the age of 5 months and behaved as if he had been doing so since he was born. He has a very gentle way and nothing seems to bother him. He goes up and down stairs, in elevators, in people's bedrooms, and doesn't mind getting dressed up for special occasions.
Noble - one of our baby miniature horses who will turn 1 in May. Noble is a very gentle, sweet and loving horse who loves to be pet and scratched. He is the perfect horse for therapy visits!
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Alexander the Great - one of our baby miniature horse who will turn 1 in May. Alexander is our smallest horse who measures 25 inches at the shoulder. He will grow ... probably to a whopping 29 inches! He too is a real sweetie who arrived in November 2016 and began visiting colleges and university with Noble in December. Everyone who meets Alexander loves him because of his pleasant personality.
Our Farm
Hope's Promise Farm is situated on 6 acres in beautiful Chester, New Jersey. The setting is peaceful, quiet and private and only enhances the therapeutic value of our programs.
