Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Muldoon.
Hi Katie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Promise Landing Farm was founded in 2019 by Rob and Kathy Taishoff. Rob’s daughter, Jackie, has Down Syndrome and had been enjoying riding at a therapeutic equestrian center when the opportunity to turn the Promise Landing Farm property into an inclusive equestrian center presented itself. Rob, who has extensive and diverse experience in both disability and veteran-focused non-profits, has guided PLF’s vision to serve children and adults with disabilities, as well as veterans, first-responders and active-duty military members.
Promise Landing Farm operates a bit differently than many traditional therapeutic riding centers, and has set out to Redefine Inclusive by empowering all abilities, all ages and all aspirations from adaptive to advanced. Through uniquely skilled and accomplished team of instructors, our program provides high-quality, individualized coaching and empowers riders of all abilities to build skills, achieve their goals, and realize their full potential.
Redefining Inclusive means that typical riders and adaptive riders share the ring, adaptive riders are supported in very typical opportunities like horse shows and cross-country schooling, and the glass ceiling often limiting therapeutic programs is blown wide open, to creatively and safely support riders in setting– and reaching– ambitious goals.
Our Patriot’s Promise program was incepted in December of 2024, and since has grown to serving 100+ Patriots per year. Patriots join us through veteran resource centers like local American Legion chapters, family support programs at local military bases, peer-support groups like the Buffalo Soldiers, and mental health resource programs for first responder agencies (Fire, EMS, law enforcement and dispatch). This is one of our most diverse programs, serving disabled and able-bodied vets, offering unmounted horsemanship clinics and weekly riding lessons.
Many of our Patriots also join our volunteer program, acting as sidewalkers and horseleaders for our adaptive riders, and barn volunteers helping with horse care. Many of our typical riders also support the adaptive or Patriot’s clinics through volunteer opportunities. Promise Landing Farm has built an incredible community of equestrians lending a hand to one another, and sharing their love of horses and the sport.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Finances are a bigger challenge for our program than most adaptive sports programs, based on the overhead required specifically by horses. Veterinary care, feed and hay, and farrier care are our most significant expenses, and those aren’t considerations for other sports — where property management or expensive equipment may be their biggest burdens (and we have those, too!) Finding year-round support to cover operating expenses is something we focus on constantly, because even with an impressively growing program, the cost of five-star care for the horses who make this work possible is exorbitant.
What does success mean to you?
For Promise Landing Farm, success is being able to offer every rider a chance to embrace their love of horses and riding, feel seen, feel supported, and feel empowered to set and achieve any goal they can dream.
Programmatically, we believe success is reaching for a forever-moving goal post, so that there is always improvement, growth, and more opportunity for those who seek healing, motivation, skill- building or community at PLF.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://promiselandingfarm.org
