Kim Weir, former major gifts fundraiser at the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, has joined Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga as Director of Strategic Growth. Weir will work closely with Dr. Erin Sisk, Co-Founder of Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga, and the THS Board of Directors and staff to develop and implement a strategic growth plan for the Saratoga Springs-based impact sector organization.
Founded in 2018, the mission of THS is to provide a safe and caring home for retired Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses and train them to positively impact the lives of individuals in the local community through equine assisted psychotherapy and other interactive equine programs. Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga partners with ECS Psychological Services to deliver accredited equine assisted therapy. Accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) and Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), THS provides sanctuary to more than 25 retired Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses. Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga is a certified practitioner of the Man O’ War Project methodology for Veteran-focused equine assisted psychotherapy.
Weir has joined the THS leadership team with a focus on developing the THS fundraising strategy as well as expanding the engagement of the organization’s herd of retired racehorses through therapy and program utilization. Along with her irrepressible energy and passion for horses of all breeds, Weir brings a wealth of professional expertise from her growth-oriented career across a variety of industries to strengthen and scale the services of THS.
“We are excited to welcome Kim to the THS team. I am certain that our team will immediately benefit from Kim’s diverse business background, successful fundraising skills and her deep relationships across the Thoroughbred industry” said Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga Co-Founder Dr. Erin Sisk. “Kim’s understanding of the racing landscape and personal commitment to sharing the gift of horses with all who need them, will provide our young and growing organization with an invaluable new asset to help us realize our bold vision for the countless lives we can heal and help with the therapeutic benefits of our horses.”
Weir looks forward to the new role.
“I am honored and incredibly excited to join the team at THS and to share the gift of horses and their healing power,” said Weir. “The work of Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga speaks directly to the two values I hold most dear – helping horses and healing humans. I am ready and eager to share the magic of horses with the broadest possible audience through local partnerships and by building national awareness for our work.”
Most recently, Weir worked at the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation as Director of Donor Engagement, contributing to the organization’s visibility raising and new donor development efforts through a series of special projects and events hosted across the United States for the TRF Second Chances Program. Prior to that, she was the Deputy Executive Director of the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association in Washington, DC.
Weir was raised in San Diego CA where pony-club, foxhunting, three-day eventing and the hunter-jumper competition filled her childhood with ponies and horses. Weir graduated with distinction from the University of Virginia with a B.A. in Spanish and International Relations and received her M.B.A from the Mason School of Business at the College of William and Mary. She and her husband, Bob, moved to Saratoga Springs NY from the Washington DC area in 2018.
About Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga (THS): Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga is a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing retired racehorses and transforming them into therapy animals for various mental health programs. By harnessing the unique qualities of these horses, THS aims to provide effective, equine-assisted therapy options that contribute to the healing and well-being of individuals in the Saratoga Springs community. For more information about Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga and their equine therapy programs, please visit https://thsaratoga.org/.
