About Common Ground
// Welcome to Common Ground at Paradise Stables.
We are a 501c(3) Non-Profit Organization.
At Common Ground, we offer a tranquil and peaceful environment where you can leave all your "stuff" behind and be one with a horse.
Our experiences with horses provide opportunities for people to learn life skills, heal from trauma, reduce stress, become self-confident, and achieve an overall sense of accomplishment and well being through the experience of trusting their equine teacher.
We proudly serve our beloved military, first responders, corporate professionals, and numerous groups, including Adults and Youth at-risk. We are centrally located one-hour N of Washington, D.C and 45 minutes W of Baltimore, MD.
Our Mission
Common Ground envisions a world where the healing connection between horses and humans is available to everyone, and all participants can learn how to problem solve and move forward in their own lives. We harness the powerful connection between horses and humans to teach, learn, grow, and heal.
// Founder & Executive Director
Elizabeth Tate
Elizabeth Tate is the Founder and Executive Director of Common Ground, Inc. She holds a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology/Pastoral Counseling and is a Certified Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator. While she has successfully owned and operated several businesses throughout her career, her heart has always belonged to horses and the healing that happens around them at Paradise Stables, LLC, the equine boarding facility she built in 2006.
Common Ground grew out of Elizabeth's own experiences with trauma and healing. Combining her professional training with the powerful lessons she learned through horses, she created a program designed to help others find safety, connection, and hope.
What started as a simple desire to help a few people has become something much larger than she ever imagined, touching the lives of veterans, first responders, grieving families, survivors, and countless others throughout the community.
Elizabeth shares, "I never would have imagined the impact Common Ground would have on our community. I created this program from my own healing journey, hoping it might help others as it helped me. Over the years, I have been reminded just how intentional and special the space my team and I create truly is. Every piece of our program is intentional and holds space for healing. Watching horses help people find safety, hope, and healing continues to be one of the greatest privileges of my life."
// BOD Treasure
Jeanette Mathias
Jeanette is a dedicated board member who brings both passion and expertise to her role as Treasurer. With a deep commitment to giving back to the community, Jeanette’s journey with Common Ground therapy has profoundly influenced her outlook on overcoming challenges. She shares, "The old saying, ‘In order to get over your fear, you must get back on the horse,’ was never something I considered after a traumatic childhood horse incident until I met Elizabeth. She believed she could help me with Common Ground therapy, and she was right. After just a few visits, I felt in control and had a better understanding of what it meant to overcome my fear."
Jeanette's personal experience drives her dedication as the Board of Directors Treasurer, ensuring Common Ground's financial health and allowing others to benefit from this transformative therapy as she has.
// BOD President
Debbie Prue
Debbie Prue serves as the President of Common Ground's Board of Directors and brings both professional expertise and personal experience to her role. As the founder and owner of Double D Financial Services, LLC, Debbie has spent decades helping organizations navigate financial decisions with wisdom and integrity.
Debbie first came to Common Ground as a participant following the heartbreaking loss of her son to an overdose. Through her work with the horses and the program, she found hope, healing, and a path forward through her grief.
She shares, "I know firsthand that this program works because it changed my life. The horses helped me heal in ways I never expected, and I want others to have the same opportunity to experience that healing."
Today, Debbie's personal journey inspires her dedication to Common Ground's mission and to helping others find hope and healing through horses.
// Board Member
Melanie Hagan
After a serendipitous meeting with founder Elizabeth, Melanie joined the Common Ground board at just the right time. Having known Elizabeth for more than a decade and seen the transformative impact of her work, Melanie felt called to support the mission of healing individuals who have experienced trauma.
As a financial advisor, Melanie finds great fulfillment in guiding clients, particularly women, through significant life transitions and cycles of grief. Her professional experience has given her a deep appreciation for the emotional resilience required to navigate change, and it aligns closely with the work being done at Common Ground.
“Witnessing the profound impact of this work during a recent women’s program at the farm, it left a lasting impression. It moved me in ways I didn’t expect and continues to inspire my commitment to this mission.”
Melanie is honored to support a team dedicated to fostering healing, hope, and transformation through equine-assisted therapy.
// BOD Secretary
Adam Abramowitz
Adam is a dedicated board member who is deeply committed to Common Ground's mission. Horses have always been a special part of his life, providing a calming and joyful connection to his grandfather.
"Horses were a special part of my childhood and remain a calming and joyful connection to my grandfather. These horses and this program came into my life through Angelica and Jim Driskell. The connection my children now have with these horses and the learning experiences that have resulted are priceless."
Inspired by Elizabeth to get involved, Adam is now passionate about supporting this amazing program and its impact on others as a member of the Board of Directors.
// Volunteer Coordinator Team
Debbie Prue,
Mollie Stone &
Kelley Flanders
Our volunteers are a vital part of Common Ground, and the Volunteer Coordinator Team is here to help them feel welcomed, prepared, supported, and connected. From welcoming new faces and coordinating training opportunities to sharing information and building a strong sense of community, the team works to create a meaningful and rewarding volunteer experience. Together, we help ensure our volunteers have the confidence, knowledge, and support they need to make a lasting impact.
// Equine Care Coordinator/Trainer
Betsy DeGonia
Betsy brings a lifetime of horse experience to Common Ground. She was one of our first volunteers! In addition to supporting our participants, the care and wellbeing of our equine partners is her priority.
“Horses have always been an important part of my life. I want to share the healing and joy they bring to me, and I can do that through our work at Common Ground.”
.jpeg)
// Board Member
Nancy Adams
Nancy came to Paradise Stables to participate in a Trail Horse Test Clinic in October 2020. She was taken by the warm and welcoming energy of the facility, as well as by Elizabeth, her staff, and boarders. Common Ground at Paradise Stables just kept drawing her back from Winchester, VA, to visit.
As a career Occupational Safety and Health professional, she knows the mental health-related challenges so many people experience today. She supported the first responders after the 9/11 attacks, working for OSHA, and has since championed the wide-ranging modalities to help those who suffer from all forms of trauma. So, she felt honored when Elizabeth asked if she would be interested in serving on the Board of Common Ground.
Meet Our Horse Partners
Here at Common Ground, is where the remarkable connection between humans and horses leads to personal growth and transformation. Our horses are more than just animals; they are the guiding forces on your path to self-improvement. Get to know our exceptional team of equine teachers by clicking on their pictures below. Each horse has a unique story to share, and many of them are still seeking sponsorship to continue their vital work. Look for the "SPONSOR" button beneath their stories to support these incredible creatures on their mission.
