Greetings!
We have so many exciting things happening at Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy with new community partners, supply drives, and our spring session just around the corner. We are also looking forward to the return of our signature fundraising event, the 7th Annual Jockeys & Juleps Derby Party returning LIVE and IN-PERSON on May 7 here at the farm. This event lives up to its reputation as the "Party of the Year," and we look forward to welcoming our guests back to the farm as we raise funds to support our programs.
Earlier this month we took some extra time to celebrate our incredible Winter Session volunteers. Everything that Southern Reins does is only possible thanks to the generous service of our volunteers. From sidewalking and horse leading each lesson to barn chores and fundraising event support, our volunteers are the heart of Southern Reins. Since 2015, Southern Reins volunteers have dedicated 36,322 hours of service. That is an impact of $1,035,903.44 for Southern Reins. To all of our incredible volunteers, we want to say THANKS A MILLION!
Here are just a few highlights of all of the great things happening this month at Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy as we are working to change lives . . . one ride at a time.
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Welcome Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1113 |
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As part of Southern Reins' PATH Intl. Equine Services for Heroes Program, we are pleased to announce a new partnership with Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1113. This month, we welcomed their first group led by Reverend Leonard Perkins. The group toured the farm led by Program Director and Head Instructor Sara Zurenko and had the opportunity to interact with and groom several of our beloved therapy horses.
The group has the opportunity to participate in our full eight-week PATH Intl. Equine Services for Heroes Program, and we look forward to seeing them back at the farm soon. The goal of the program is to improve the quality of life for military men and women, as well as first responders, who have been injured in service to our country. Equine-assisted activities offer physical and emotional healing, with a focus on building confidence, self-awareness, improved communication, trust, and decreased anxiety and stress.
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Southern Reins Spring Supply Drive |
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Help support Southern Reins stock our shelves with much-needed supplies this spring. Check out our wish list via the link below. You can shop on Amazon and have items shipped directly to Southern Reins or pick up supplies while you are doing your regular shopping and drop them off at the farm. Donate everything from fly spray and grooming buckets to rakes and leaf blowers.
All supply donations help us offset operating costs so Southern Reins can allocate those financial resources to serve more participants.
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Jockeys & Juleps Derby Party Returns May 7 |
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Saturday, May 7, 2022
3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
916 Billy Bryant Road, Collierville, Tennessee
The 7th Annual Jockeys & Juleps Derby Party brings together more than 1,000 Mid-South guests for BIG HATS, BOURBON, BLUEGRASS, and a live broadcast of the Kentucky Derby. As the largest fundraiser for Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy, Jockeys & Juleps makes life-changing opportunities possible through the healing power of horses for children and adults with disabilities throughout our community.
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Tickets are now available for the Party of the Year! Step out in your derby best and get ready to celebrate the Run for the Roses . . . Memphis Style. Individual tickets include admission to the event, passed hours d'oeuvres and food bars, open bars, and the option to purchase a commemorative copper mint julep cup. Seating for individual tickets is not guaranteed.
Purchase your tickets here.
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Support Southern Reins with a donation to our Jockeys & Juleps Auction! Gift cards, unique experiences, fine dining, exclusive tours, wine and spirits, and event tickets are always big sellers.
Do you have gift certificates or new items you haven't used, or know someone who may be interested in donating?
Donate items to our auction here.
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Sponsorship opportunities for this year's Jockeys & Juleps Derby Party are still available. Join us for Derby Day and show your commitment to supporting children and adults with disabilities in our community. All sponsorships include admission and seating for the event and inclusion in all event promotions.
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Register for the 2022 Spring Session Today |
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Registration for Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy's Spring 2022 Session is now open. Adaptive horseback riding lessons target physical, social, emotional, and recreational goals for each individual participant. The ten-week session will begin on March 28 and will end on June 11. Classes are 45-55 minutes long with two to four participants, or private lessons are 30 minutes long including mounting, exercise and skills development, and dismounting. All new participants must schedule an assessment with our Program Director and Head Instructor before the first lesson.
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Southern Reins is "Stepping Out for America's Horses" with the EQUUS Foundation |
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Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy is honored to be recognized as an EQUUS Foundation Guardian. With a focus on equine welfare, the EQUUS Foundation has launched their "Stepping Out for America's Horses" campaign to raise funds to safeguard the comfort and dignity of America's wild horses - the Mustang.
As a Guardian, we have been invited to promote one of our program horses that you can digitally 'sponsor' - and we are delighted to designate the beautiful BASIE as our Southern Reins representative. All campaign donations received in honor of Basie will be donated back to Southern Reins, and through the generosity of an anonymous EQUUS Foundation donor, up to $25,000 will be matched to keep our beautiful American Mustangs safe and healthy.
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Why wait until April to celebrate our incredible volunteers? We celebrated Volunteer Appreciation Week for our Winter Session volunteers with a few treats, thank you cards, and some special messages from participants and parents. Pictured here are volunteers: Linda, Becky, and Lauren who are just a few of the hundreds of volunteers who help make Southern Reins such a special place. |
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Our friends of the University of Memphis' TigerLIFE program are back at the farm this semester as part of the Southern Reins HorsePOWER Work Program. They have been hard at work helping keep our facility in tiptop shape while learning and developing practical skills for life. The TigerLIFE program is part of the University of Memphis Institute for Disability and Research. |
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Look who is back in lessons this month! We are so happy to have our sweet Shiloh back in lessons after a few weeks off with a minor shoulder injury. Thank you so much to our friend Cindy Haverty for administering regular laser treatments to help Shiloh feel better and get back in the arena so he can help participants like Henry aspire, achieve, and amaze.
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Southern Reins hosted the first in a new series of volunteer continuing education, "Horse Sense with Alex." Our Equine and Barn Manager, Alex Shaver, led a workshop for our volunteers covering topics from "Getting to Know our Herd" to "Safety in the Arena" to "How to Effectively Lead a Horse." New and seasoned volunteers alike learned so much from Alex, and we are looking forward to more training opportunities thanks to her expertise. |
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Our mission is to serve individuals with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities and hardship by providing equine-assisted service to empower, inspire, nurture and succeed. |
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SOUTHERN REINS CENTER FOR EQUINE THERAPY
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