Community Service at Cheyne Ranch — Youth PAY Program 🤝
Hello! 👋
I'm Sally Ann Cheyne, and I run Cheyne Ranch — a nonprofit adaptive riding and equine therapy program in Oviedo serving about 100 students a week. We've been here since 2017, offering programs for students of all abilities — many with special needs. Our programs are full with a waitlist, our families are incredibly dedicated, and the culture here is something we've built carefully over many years. The people who are part of Cheyne Ranch — students, families, staff, and volunteers — believe in our mission and show up for each other. It's the thing we're most proud of. 💛
Recently, families have been reaching out about their kids completing community service hours here through the Seminole County PAY (Prosecution Alternatives for Youth) program. After meeting with our first youth through this program — and seeing what a great fit it can be — we've decided to open the door to a small number of these community service opportunities.
Before we schedule an introduction meeting, please read through this page.
First, please know…
☝️ Typically, volunteers at Cheyne Ranch start as students first — either paying or on scholarship — because the training and supervision required takes experienced staff. The fact that we're opening this door for youth in the PAY program without that step means we really believe in what this experience can do — and we want to make sure it's the right fit for everyone involved. 🤝
💪 Why We're Doing This
Because we believe — deeply — in the power of hard, meaningful, dirty, outside-in-all-weather work. Showing up early on a Saturday morning to clean stalls and scrub water buckets can change something inside a kid. That's purpose.
🧹 What the Work Looks Like
Most of this work isn't glamorous. We're talking about cleaning stalls (lots of cleaning stalls), scrubbing and refilling water buckets, sweeping barn aisles, fence cleaning and property maintenance, hauling hay and feed, picking up manure — and whatever else needs doing that day.
Over time, and with training, there may be opportunities to get more involved with animal care — we love when that happens! But it starts with the basics. This is a working ranch, and the work that keeps it running is where every single one of us started (really - ask any of us). 🐴
🚫 What This Isn't
While we have amazing animals here, this service opportunity isn't about riding horses or playing with goats — it's about the hard work behind the scenes that keeps our animals healthy, safe, and cared for every single day. We've had families reach out hoping to fit hours into a tight timeline or a packed extracurricular schedule — and we totally get it. But if the schedule doesn't allow for consistent, committed participation, this probably isn't the right service opportunity.
👥 Capacity
We accept a maximum of two youths from the PAY program at a time to protect the quality of our programs and the experience of our existing students. We know your timeline matters — if we don't have availability when you need it, we'll let you know right away so you can find another service opportunity that works.
📋 The Process
The first step is an introduction meeting — I meet with the youth AND at least one parent so we can all get to know each other. We want to make sure this feels right for your family and for ours.
📅 The Schedule
Saturdays, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM (primary)
Wednesdays, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM (possibility)
Fridays, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM (possibility)
Sundays, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM (possibility - 1 - 2x each month)
This community service opportunity is structured as an approximately six-week commitment. We are not able to accommodate short-term or last-minute hour requirements. The training and supervision involved require consistency and follow-through. Our animals rely on daily care, and our team depends on reliability.
🎒 What to Bring
Please review our full What to Wear & What to Bring page, but the essentials:
Closed-toe shoes (boots are great, sneakers are fine — no sandals, no crocs, no flip flops please)
Clothes that can get dirty (and they will 😅)
A refillable water bottle 💧
Snacks! We work hard outside in Florida. It is your responsibility to stay hydrated and fed.
👋 A Word to Parents
We love when families get involved — ask your kid how it's going, check out our website, follow us on social media. This is a working ranch that serves vulnerable populations, and your encouragement from home makes a real difference in how your kid shows up here.
This is a mutual arrangement. If it's not working — for any reason — we reserve the right to end the placement. Our students, animals, and team come first. We'll always communicate openly and respectfully, but that boundary is firm. 🛡️
🌱 What Your Kid Gets Out of This
If your kid shows up willing to work, willing to learn, and willing to be uncomfortable — here's what can happen:
They'll learn what it feels like to be needed. Our animals depend on us for their care every single day — and there's something powerful about being the person who shows up for them. It builds responsibility, confidence, and a sense of purpose that's hard to find anywhere else.
They'll be part of a team of kind, hardworking people who model what showing up with integrity looks like every single day.
And who knows? For the right kid, this could be the beginning of something bigger. We've seen it happen. ✨
Ready? 🐴
If you've read all of this and you're thinking, “Yes — this is exactly what my kid needs,” then let’s talk.
Want to see what we're all about? Check out our Best of Cheyne Ranch photo album. 📸
📧 info@cheyneranch.com · 📞 (407) 205-7744
Sally Ann Cheyne
Founder & President
CHEYNE RANCH, INC.
Teaching Animal Care & Connection
Located in Oviedo, FL
Call/Text: (407) 205-7744 | Email | Website | Facebook | Instagram
Cheyne Ranch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Consider donating: chra.us/give
Our mission: We teach animal care and connection in a safe, inclusive, and accessible community where people of all abilities grow in confidence, develop life skills, and form meaningful relationships.
