📝 It’s 2:00 AM on a Friday night.
And I’m at my computer, running numbers and staring at spreadsheets.
Trying to figure out how to make this summer work—
how to keep the programs operating, the animals fed and healthy, the staff paid.

I’ve done this before. I’ll probably do it again.
But it never gets easier.

tl;dr: We need donations to continue operating this summer. And we need SHADE.

At Cheyne Ranch, we’re best known for our adaptive riding lessons, inclusive nature clubs, and summer camps. We charge below market value because we believe access to animal connection and growth should never depend on a family’s income.

And we don’t stop there. About 15% of our students receive full or partial scholarships—families who pay even less, or nothing at all—because inclusion isn’t just a philosophy here. It’s a practice.

There’s another part of what we do that most people don’t see:
We welcome adults with special needs year-round—for free.

These individuals come to feed and love on our animals, fill water buckets, sweep our barn, walk our horses, and quietly build confidence in ways that are hard to measure—but easy to feel.

And this summer, we’re welcoming even more of them.
More groups. More sessions. More lives touched through hands-on animal care and compassionate inclusion.

There are few programs out there for adults with special needs.
We’ve become one of the rare places where they’re not just welcomed—but needed. Valued. Believed in.

We’ve never charged them. And I don’t want to start now.

💸 The Cost of Doing It Right

Right now, it costs about $12,000 each month to keep Cheyne Ranch running.

That includes:

🐴 Animal care: feed, vet visits, medical supplies, shelter maintenance
💼 Staff wages: for the team who shows up with skill and heart
🔐 Admin & overhead: safety certifications, CPR/First Aid training, insurance, bookkeeping, tax prep, software systems, and more

Out of the six members of our family, only two teenagers are paid—and even they donate our family’s required 7 hours each week.
The rest of us—including me—do not take a salary. We give everything we can.

But we can’t cover it all. Not even close.

☀️ The Heat Isn’t New—But It Can’t Be Ignored Anymore

Florida heat has always been part of life here on our five-acre property.
We’ve managed with temporary setups, scheduled around the sun, and just pushed through when we had to.

But now, things are shifting.
While summer is still our slowest season overall, we’re seeing more adults with special needs coming—as word spreads about the inclusive, hands-on experiences we offer.

And what used to be uncomfortable is becoming unsafe.

This summer, we’re finally addressing something we’ve put off for too long:
We’re working to install three shade structures—each one meeting a real, growing need.

🐴 For the horses: A large structure to keep their hay dry, their bodies cooler, and their stress lower as they stand and eat in the summer sun
🌞 For the kids: A smaller shade over the summer camp play area—where our youngest students rest, snack, laugh, and just be kids between activities
🐎 For our riders: A cover for our round pen, so we can continue adaptive riding lessons without risking anyone’s health or cutting programs short

Together, these projects total $9,000:
$5,000 for the large horse shelter
$2,000 each for the camper and rider shade areas

These aren’t luxuries.
They’re about safety, comfort, and continued inclusion.

If we’ve learned anything in this work, it’s that small adaptations make big impacts—especially for students with sensory sensitivities, physical differences, and neurodiverse needs.

Shade isn’t just about comfort—it’s about belonging.
It’s how we say: “We see you, and we’ll meet your needs.”

🌱 What We’re Building Toward

Someday, we hope to build an endowment—a simple, sustainable fund that helps cover our monthly costs so I’m not writing appeals like this at 2:00 AM.

But today is not that day.

Today, we need a bridge.
Just enough to get through the summer—while keeping our standards high, our programs open, and our most vulnerable participants safe and included.

🛠 How You Can Help

Whether it’s $25 or $2,500—your gift will make a real, immediate difference.

💸 Donate at cheyneranch.com/give (Zelle = fee-free!)
🎨 Sponsor summer camp supplies – Due to a billing snafu with the Family Empowerment Scholarship, we couldn’t apply our intended $15 supply fee. With 300 camper spots across 20 days, we need help covering crafts, snacks, and activities
🧾 Buy a gift card to Lowe’s, Home Depot, or Tractor Supply
📦 Shop our Amazon Wish List for small but vital items
🐴 Add credit to our feed account at the Oviedo Tack Shack
🐾 Sponsor a visit from a special needs adult day program – $200 helps cover staff salaries for a full session, ensuring these visits remain free, safe, and meaningful
🧤 Join a project day – Help with tidying, gardening, or organizing supplies. No horse experience needed—just a willing heart! (Email me to join the list.)

Can’t donate right now? That’s okay—here’s how you can still help:

🗣️ Tell a friend about Cheyne Ranch
⭐ Leave a review on Google or Facebook
💬 Engage with our social posts—likes, shares, and comments really help

Thank you for believing in this place.
For standing with us through the heat.
And for helping us build a place where inclusion isn’t optional—it’s who we are.

With love and hay dust
(where is the rain, drought-y Florida?)
Sally Ann Cheyne
Founder & President
Cheyne Ranch