Greetings!
Exciting things are happening here at Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy as we prepare for the start of our Fall Session on Monday. This will be our largest session to date with nearly 70 riders participating in lessons each week and more than 150 volunteers shifts needed. While our program has continued to grow as we serve more people, we are also committed to ensuring the quality of the services we provide. Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, Southern Reins is able to provide high quality equine-assisted services to support individuals with disabilities and hardship throughout our community.
Here are just a few of the highlights and happenings this month at Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy. Thank you for being part of our story as our participants achieve, aspire, and amaze.
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Volunteers Needed for Fall Session |
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With our largest fall session to date starting next Monday, Southern Reins needs volunteers more than ever before! We will need 150 volunteers each week to support our adaptive riding participants. We have lessons morning, afternoon, and evenings Monday through Saturday. Southern Reins volunteers are critical to ensuring success in the saddle for everyone we serve.
Volunteers are needed to be horse leaders and sidewalkers to support riders each week in our adaptive riding program. No horse experience is required, however volunteers must be at least 14 years old and able to walk consistently on uneven ground for up to one hour.
Contact Meredith Massa, Volunteer and Program Coordinator at meredith.massa@southernreins.org or 901-290-1011 for more information.
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Staff Update: Katharine Allen |
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Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy is thrilled to announce that Katharine Allen will be joining our staff full-time as a PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. Having worked at Southern Reins as an instructor and member of our barn staff, Katharine gives her whole heart to our participants, horses, and volunteers at the farm.
Katharine was born and raised in Memphis. She attended Fort Lewis College in Colorado where she received an Exercise Science Specialist degree in 2011. Since graduating college, she has spent her time teaching children to swim, as well as teaching lifeguarding classes to young adults. In 2017, she started her own swim lesson business, KatSwim, and has enjoyed helping children build self-confidence while learning an important life skill.
Katharine is excited to serve people of all ages at Southern Reins. She rode horses as a child and is excited to continue doing something she loves. She started volunteering at Southern Reins in the winter of 2017 and received her Instructor CTRI certification in January of 2022.
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Southern Reins Recognized as Community Changer |
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Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy is honored to have been chosen as a WREG News Channel 3 Community Changer. Thank you to Corie Ventura for coming to visit the farm last week to talk with Clark and the Tompkins family about the positive impact Southern Reins is having on their lives. Watch the Video here.
Volunteer Brenda Heindl nominated Southern Reins for this award, and we are so grateful for the recognition. In addition to the news story highlighting our work, News Channel 3 also presented Southern Reins with a $1,000 donation to support our program.
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You're Invited to the Inaugural Southern Supper |
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You are cordially invited to join us for the Inaugural Southern Supper benefiting Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy. Gather with your closest friends as we celebrate Southern Hospitality and raise funds to support children and adults with disabilities and hardship. Enjoy cocktail hour with Bluegrass entertainment on the lawn before dining under the stars with Southern-Style Fare served family-style.
This fabulous event will be held at a private home in Midtown and is sure to be a special evening celebrating Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy. There are a limited number of tables and tickets available, so reserve yours today!
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Southern Reins Receives Generous Grants |
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Monogram Foods Loves Kids Foundation Funds New Equicizer
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Thank you to the Monogram Foods Loves Kids Foundation for your generous grant to fund the purchase of an Equicizer. This specialized piece of equipment is a non-motorized mechanical horse that is used in therapeutic riding programs across the county for participants who may not be able to ride a live animal. This is a great tool to ensure that participant is still receiving the benefit of equine therapy. |
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EQUUS Foundation Grant Funds Equine Care |
We honored to have the continued support and generosity of the EQUUS Foundation. Their grant will fund equine care to ensure that our herd of beloved therapy horses is well-cared for so they continue their important work for our participants. The EQUUS Foundation is the only national animal welfare in the United States 100% dedicated to protecting America's horses from peril and strengthening the bond between horses and people. |
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Give Hay for a Day to Support our Herd |
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Did you know each of our therapy horses consumes an average of 70 bales of hay a year? That totals 777 bales to feed our entire herd. Your Hay for a Day donation will give our equine partners the daily forage they need to stay healthy and happy. With increased fuel and labor costs, our hay prices have increased 47% compared to last year - from $7.50 a bale to $11 a bale. Donate $25 for Hay for a Day, $50 for Hay for 2 Days, $175 for Hay for a Week, $350 for Hay for 2 Weeks, or be a HAY HERO with a gift of $750 for Hay for a Month! You can also set up a recurring monthly donation to spread the financial impact of your giving across the entire year.
Your gift, no matter how large or small, will help us reach our goal to raise $8,547 this year . . . and it will be so greatly appreciated by all of our wonderful horses and ponies.
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Thank you, Daniel Bishop
Southern Reins is so grateful to our wonderful farrier, Daniel Bishop, for the amazing job he does to keep our horses' feet in tip-top shape! As the saying goes, "no hoof, no horse." We don't have to worry about that with Daniel Bishop Horseshoeing and the exceptional care he provides.
Daniel is also the owner of the newest farm favorite therapy horse, Clint. Thank you, Daniel!
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Southern Reins at St. Mary's School Volunteer Fair
Volunteer and Program Coordinator, Meredith Massa participated in St. Mary's School Volunteer Fair this month to promote volunteer opportunities at the farm. She is pictured here with Southern Reins volunteer Sophie Herbstrith and St. Mary's students.
We look forward to seeing more St. Mary's girls out here at the farm!
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Executive Director Jill Haag featured on Podcast
Southern Reins Executive Director, Jill Haag, was recently featured on the Collierville Chamber of Commerce's podcast Corporate Cornucopia. She shared more about our organization's programs and the impact they have on the lives of our participants. The episode is available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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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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