Diane Lesneski Auger ’80 grew up riding horses in Concord and says she’s always felt a special connection to the animals. As a Senior Project while at Middlesex, she rode at a local farm. The owner had a son with special needs, and other children with various physical and emotional challenges would also ride at the farm. During her time there, Diane witnessed a 12 year old boy who had never spoken before speak his first words while riding his horse.
From that experience, Diane went on to found Friends for Tomorrow, Inc., a horseback riding program developed to meet the unique needs of children with various special needs. Diane had worked for many years as a riding instructor at Arrowhead Farm in Concord, but the memories of her Senior Project made her feel as though she had more to give than simply teaching children to ride. She started the Friends for Tomorrow program in 1994 with three students and one pony. Through word of mouth and the help of many people, including Marty Hoffmann ’50, the father of Diane’s classmate Heidi ’80, who provided business and legal advice, the Ferber family’s (Mark and Beth P’04’06’08’10) years of support, and George and Roberta Berry, whose Lincoln farm hosts the program, Friends for Tomorrow has grown to serve 55-60 students a year. The program uses seven horses and offers lessons five days a week. There are over 50 volunteers who help in the program, as every riding lesson requires the help of a support team which typically includes a horse leader and two side walkers. “Our instructors and volunteers create an intriguing, interactive environment to entice each child to reach out, to trust, to challenge capabilities, and to feel joy,” said Diane.
The Friends for Tomorrow program is thrilled to have a few current Middlesex students helping them as part of the students’ community service projects. Seniors Rachel Newton-Padin and Eliza Clark will be volunteering with the program this spring, as will Assistant Director of Community Service Paul Torres. More than twenty-five MX students have contributed to the enrichment of FFT riders during the last fifteen years. “We’re always excited to work with Middlesex kids, who bring such energy and enthusiasm to the program, and I hope this partnership will continue to blossom!” Diane said.
