Needs
--- FACILITIES UPGRADES ---
A. New Arena Accessories [$20,000]
We have recently unveiled our new outdoor riding arena, allowing us to double our lesson capacity. We have just completed pouring concrete to make it wheelchair accessible, but lighting and fans, visitor seating, landscaping, and additional stabling are also urgently needed.
B. Ingress/Egress Safety Retrofit [$15,000]
Secure and accessible automatic entry gates and barrier-free push-button doors would ease access for our disabled riders and visitors and improve safety for equines and humans.
--- UNMOUNTED PROGRAMS EXPANSION ---
A. 18up Club [$5,000]
Our wildly popular pilot program of 2018 could return, tuition free, with support from you earmarked for this purpose. This is an additional way for adults and those over our weight limit to receive the benefits of equine-assisted activities. It uses our entire facility, including riding simulation, sensory trail and gardens, classroom and stables, to provide a fun and enriching social skills program for a population with very limited social options.
Our program relies heavily on volunteer support. Without the 21,000 hours of volunteer service provided by our dedicated volunteers last year, our program would not have operated at all. In addition to directly supporting lessons and activities, volunteers are needed ongoing for stable management, horse care, administrative work, and special events and fundraisers. Anyone 14 and older is welcome to attend our volunteer orientation and training sessions, held monthly. We also include volunteers with special needs, under the supervision of adult day programs and caregivers.
We always welcome applications from prospective board members. Experience volunteering directly in program is highly desirable. Board meetings are open to the public and are held in the evening on the second Thursday of each month at our facility. Call to confirm.
Horses, ponies, tack and other riding equipment are always sought. It takes a very special equine to do this kind of work. Breed, age, and height are all negotiable but an even temperament, tolerance of unusual environments and consent to trailering weekly from our ranch to our arena are required. Perfect health is not required, but basic soundness and rideability is important.