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After almost 33 years of work at Randolph Children's Home, Sam Passamonte, supervisor of the organization's equestrian program, retired on Dec. 31.

''I get to work with kids and horses every day,'' Passamonte said. ''You can't ask for a heck of a lot more than that.

''The reason I don't feel as old as I am chronologically is from being around the kids all the time,'' Passamonte continued. ''I'm going to miss the kids terribly.''

THE EARLY YEARS

Passamonte and his wife Linda, of Napoli, joined Randolph Children's Home in 1975 as house parents. They actually lived in an apartment on the campus and took care of the children 24 hours a day - there was no night staff.

''We did that for five and a half years,'' Passamonte said. ''One of our children was born while we lived there.'' They have three grown children: Christopher Passamonte, Suzanne Gutknecht and Shannon Passamonte.

After working as a house parent, Passamonte continued to work on a girls' unit, and his wife became a youth counselor with Global Village Therapeutic Foster Care.

During this time, Passamonte owned horses and in his spare time worked at a riding stable in Allegany State Park.

In the days before rigid insurance regulations, he'd sometimes let the youth at Randolph Children's Home ride his horses. He often suggested that the home should start an equestrian program.

He got his wish in 1993 when Randolph Academy, the school affiliated with Randolph Children's Home, began a program and constructed the modern barn and office complex that is being used today. The program is now run by New Directions.

''I love my job,'' Passamonte said. ''It's just something I always wanted to do.''

As a child, he wanted to be a cowboy. He loved watching Spin and Marty, a television series set at a boys' summer ranch.

''I thought that would be the coolest thing,'' he said. Although he was never able to work with horses as a child, he has enabled probably more than 500 youth through the years to have that experience.

THE THERAPY

The youth served by New Directions have emotional or behavioral problems. Passamonte noted that because they want so desperately to be with the horses, they often exhibit better behavior when they're in the barn.

''There's a calming atmosphere,'' Passamonte said. ''We get to see a side of the kids a lot of the other staff don't get to see. The kids are interested and willing to work with you. They get to take their mind off what's happening at home or bothering them on the unit.''

Sometimes youth who are having a bad day in the living units are given extra time in the barn to alleviate tension and de-escalate a situation.

The youth are given a choice of whether they want to work with the horses, and most show that they are eager to be in the barn.

''I wish I had a nickel for every time a kid said, 'I hate it here and I'm never coming back,' then three days later, we see them,'' Passamonte said. ''I think there was ever only one kid who said he wasn't coming back to the barn and never did come back.''

He pointed to several framed photos on his desk of youth in the program.

''Kids will say, 'Take a picture of me and my horse,''' he explained. ''They're proud of what they're doing and being a part of this.''

Passamonte is clearly proud of the program, too. It is probably one of the longest running programs of its kind, he noted. Many equestrian programs are just summer camps, while Randolph's program runs 12 months a year. It has triple certification, while many programs have only one certification.

When people question whether therapy can be done without the horses, Passamonte explains that horses are a great motivation for children.

Without the horses, ''it would take you a lot longer to get inside the kids' heads,'' he said. ''We have adults here in the barn who know something (how to work with horses) that the kids don't know, but want to know.''

THE MAN BEHIND IT ALL

While Passamonte was being interviewed for this story, Jesse, a teen who had been at Randolph Children's Home, stopped back to say hello. Jesse politely shook hands and brought Passamonte up to date on his life.

''He was always there if I needed somebody to talk to,'' Jesse said of Passamonte. ''He was always a good help.''

''The children who have been here are better because they met him,'' said Stephanie Canon, assistant supervisor in the equestrian program. ''He's so good with them.''

Passamonte said what he has found most satisfying about his work is that the equestrian program ''is still here, still going, and making a difference on a daily basis in kids' lives.''

He also praised his staff, the quality of the horses and the well-maintained facilities.

During retirement, Passamonte may take some time for poetry. You can see some of his cowboy poetry listed under S.J. Passamonte at cowboypoetry.com.

He also hopes to find time for music. Passamonte has played in several bands - folk, rock 'n' roll and blue grass - and has written songs off and on for years. He plays guitar, mandolin and banjo and, as if that wasn't enough, is learning bass and violin.

For more information on the equestrian program at New Directions, go to www.ndyfs.org.