As Way Opens:

The Story of Thorncroft

By Ellie Schneidman

I wrote a book to preserve the story of one of the country’s first physical and emotional therapeutic riding centers: Thorncroft Equestrian Center. The Quaker based therapeutic riding center evolved so organically that published formal material with the center’s history was sparse. (The “archives” were a drawer stashed with pages of old meeting minutes, letters, and contracts.)

I started in September 2013 and it was published in May 2014 to rave reviews and sold out immediately.

To date, As Way Opens: The Story of Thorncroft has raised over $20,000 for the equestrian non-profit.

MY PROCESS

  • Interviewed over 100 people on the entire spectrum of TEC’s community, both former and current: donors, riders, parents of riders program, volunteers, etc.

  • Used the archives to establish a clear timeline of Thorncroft’s evolution first as a barn then business.

  • Compared and contrasted themes and dates in interviews and the archives.

  • Finalized copy, collected photographs from TEC community members, and designed the layout.

There are two chapters below available for your reference (linked to their header).

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Early narrative

Though chapter 2 of the book, Early Narrative is where the story takes off. This section was the most challenging. It wasn’t just the pressure of getting the story “right” but of writing in a tone of voice authentic to Thorncroft. I wrote this book at 23, and for the very first time, I understood what it meant to kill your ego. Though the prose were mine, the story did not belong to me— there was no room (or time) to consider my sound. I wish I could say I made a consciousness strategic plan to identify the right tones, but I can’t. All I did was repeatedly listen to the interviews, organize stories by which facts were consistently told, and put the words where they made sense.

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Horse shows for riders with special needs

This is my favorite chapter. Not only did Thorncroft appreciate and act on the potential of differently abled bodies, they invested in their talent. And, not only did they host the country’s very first horse show for differently abled people, they became a part of The Devon Horse Show, one of the most prestigious horse shows in America. (Devon is also an Olympic qualifier.)

This section also has the story of Thorncroft’s drill team, The Mainstreamers, and the background of its role in the Special Olympics. There is such power in these 18 specific pages. Inspiring stories, yes, but another constant theme is the power of practice.