Sally Ann Cheyne 3/29/26 Sally Ann Cheyne 3/29/26

Meet Klare

On the way home from picking her up in South Florida, we stopped at Wawa—one of the joys of my life.

A woman who I later learned is named Jacque, noticed Klare in the trailer. It was her 50th birthday, and she asked if she could come say hello. She stood there for a few minutes just taking Klare in, smiling, asking questions, clearly happy to have stumbled into that moment. Before she left, she pressed a small donation into my hand and insisted I take it.

It was kind, but what stayed with me was how much joy Klare brought her in just a few minutes, standing there in a parking lot.

Klare arrived home that night, Sunday, March 8th, and I have not stopped smiling since.

Her name is Klare, short for Klarenchidé DN, a nod to her Dutch breeding. She is a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare with a small star on her face, a big heart, and a story that we feel incredibly lucky to now be part of.

Klare was born in the Netherlands in April 2015, bred from world-class jumping bloodlines—her background is a little bit rock star, a little bit royalty. She spent the last few years in Southwest Ranches, Florida with an adult amateur dressage rider, Tai Lewis, under the care of our friend Lorena Kaelber. On Sunday, Anna and I made the drive down to bring her home that night.

In December 2024, Klare pulled a shoe and injured her front right foot. After six months of careful recovery, it became clear that returning to her previous work was not going to be possible. Tai was faced with the kind of decision that only the most devoted horse owners ever have to make—letting go of a horse you love because you want what is best for her.

She chose Klare’s future over her own attachment, and we feel incredibly lucky to be the ones she trusted with that decision.

That path is what brought Klare here.

She is loving, curious, and gentle in the way she approaches things. But what stands out most to me is how calm and present she is, and how quickly she has settled in with our herd and our students.

She is still figuring out the rest of the farm.

The goats got a cautious side-eye at first, and then she seemed to decide they were acceptable.

Kiwi, our pig, has been more of an ongoing situation. After spending her first week unsure about her, Klare has now decided she would really prefer Kiwi keep her distance—despite Kiwi continuing to show up like, “let’s be friends… but also I’m in charge.”

The chickens, on the other hand, have been easy. She seems to have decided they are not worth the effort.

But more than anything, she loves people. That is my favorite part.

Here she is as a filly
Watch Klare as a filly

We are so grateful to Tai for trusting us with her.

Klare is not retired. She is just beginning something new, and I cannot wait to see who she becomes here.

Welcome home, Klare. We are so glad you’re here.

CHEYNE RANCH, INC.

Teaching Animal Care & Connection

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.

Sally Ann Cheyne 3/26/26 Sally Ann Cheyne 3/26/26

All about Edward

The Long Road to Cheyne Ranch: Edward’s Story

In January 2021, ten horses were removed from a property in Clinton, Mississippi due to neglect. The surviving horses were taken in by Mississippi Horse Rescue, where they began rehabilitation and rehoming. They became known as the Clinton 10.

One of those horses was a small sorrel stallion with a wide blaze. He arrived underweight, still intact, and with an irregular movement in his hind legs, attributed at the time to stringhalt related to nutritional deficiency. His age was originally estimated between six and ten years old. More recently, both a veterinarian and equine dentist have confirmed he is approximately 15 years old. He had little experience with consistent handling.

He was named Edward.

Recovery

Edward remained in the care of Mississippi Horse Rescue, under the direction of Patricia, where he spent the next year and a half rebuilding his health. Refeeding a starved horse requires a slow, careful approach, and his progress came through steady routines, veterinary support, and time.

He was gelded later than is typical, likely between seven and ten years old. As a result, his build reflects a more mature stallion frame, with denser bone and a compact, sturdy structure. He stands at 13.3 hands and is currently maintained barefoot.

By mid-2022, Edward had improved physically, though he was still cautious with handling. He was sensitive to new people, reluctant to be haltered, and inconsistent with hoof care.

In July 2022, trainer Lynda Koch began working with him in coordination with Mississippi Horse Rescue. She focused on foundational skills such as haltering, hoof handling, and routine interaction. Over time, he became more predictable and easier to handle.

DNA

In early 2023, Edward’s DNA results showed a mix of Missouri Fox Trotter, Tennessee Walking Horse, and Rocky Mountain Horse, all gaited breeds known for smooth movement and steady temperaments.

Edward does not consistently gait and remains smaller than typical for those breeds. He continues to carry a slight hitch in his hind legs, which has remained stable and does not appear to affect his general comfort. His breeding is more evident in his disposition. He is generally calm, willing, and tolerant of different handlers.

Heart of the Horse

In late 2022, Edward was selected for the Heart of the Horse Trainers Challenge, a program pairing rescue horses with trainers to prepare them for competition and adoption.

He was first worked by Mercedes Kelly Sampsell, who began riding work and continued his groundwork. As part of the program, Edward was introduced to obstacle work, pattern riding, and busier environments.

In April 2023, Mercedes stepped away due to a knee injury, and Delaney Ware took over for the final 30 days before the competition. Edward adjusted and continued progressing.

He competed in the Heart of the Horse finals in May 2023 in horsemanship, trail, and freestyle classes. He completed all three and handled the environment well.

Throughout this process, he showed a consistent ability to adjust to new handlers and expectations.

The Winding Road

After the finals, Edward was adopted by a young rider in Mississippi. He later returned to Mississippi Horse Rescue and entered another training program, Plan 4 Progress, where he continued to be described as easy and willing.

He was later adopted again by a family in Mississippi who were already familiar with Cheyne Ranch through a previous horse they had donated. They felt Edward would be a good fit for the program and chose to send him here.

Edward at Cheyne Ranch

Edward recently arrived at Cheyne Ranch and is settling into a new environment. At 13.3 hands, he is one of the smaller horses in the herd, with a sturdy build and a quiet presence. His hind leg movement remains slightly irregular but consistent.

He is adjusting to new routines, people, and surroundings. Based on his history, he has shown the ability to adapt over time with steady handling.

Edward’s path has included extended rehabilitation, multiple trainers, a competitive training program, and several placements. Across each stage, he has remained consistent in temperament and willingness to engage.

He is here because many people, especially Mississippi Horse Rescue, took the time to invest in him. That consistency shows in the horse he is today.

Sally Ann Cheyne 3/16/26 Sally Ann Cheyne 3/16/26

13! Horses

It is March 2026, and Cheyne Ranch currently has 13 horses! That is a lot. :) But we are managing. I made a chart (because of course I did…)

Horses are listed in height order (tallest to shortest)…

Sally Ann Cheyne 1/26/26 Sally Ann Cheyne 1/26/26

In Memory of Teddi

Remembering Teddi

I am so sad to share that Teddi, our sweet 19-year-old pony, passed away unexpectedly over the weekend.

His health had been slowly declining over the past few weeks, and over the weekend it took a turn for the worse. Our veterinarian believes it was most likely heart failure. Sadly, when horses suffer significant cardiovascular decline, there is very little that can be done. Teddi passed away quickly and was surrounded by love until the very end.

Gratitude

I want to extend such a big hug and deep appreciation to everyone who showed up — in person or on the phone — and gave us so much support. Our veterinarian, Dr. Seiler; Todd Gelm; our neighbor Brian; and our calm, incredibly compassionate team members Katie and Erin. To the 2 moms (nurses) there just trying to be with their kids at a lesson - but talking me through medical stuff, thank you Cassie and Katje. I also want to send special love to our volunteers Abby, Katelynn, Kaitlyn, Christopher, and Cole, who went on to work a birthday party immediately afterward, carrying on with care and professionalism despite everything they had just been through. To the volunteers who stepped in with such kindness — Eva and London — and of course the four Cheyne kids: thank you all for the love, patience, and endless help you gave on a very hard day.

How Teddi Found His Way to Cheyne Ranch

Teddi came to us four years ago from a dear friend's horse rescue, Horses That Help in Ocala. She listed him on her website on a Sunday in November 2021, and as soon as I saw the listing, I knew he had to come live here. He arrived at Cheyne Ranch just 48 hours later, and we spent the next six months showing him all the things we do here.

The Relationships That Made Him Special

Originally, Alyssa, our first (and amazing) trainer, rode him. Oh my, how Teddi loved Alyssa. Then our very first student, Skyler, rode him weekly. I watched Teddi love Skyler, and it was just so beautiful to watch. As Teddi began to understand his job here, he was loved on by more and more students. He quickly became a favorite of so many. There were a small handful of students who chose Teddi every single week. Watching that trust build over time was incredibly special.

Photos

Tonight, I went through the last four years of photos. There are thousands. It feels like every student who has ever been to Cheyne Ranch has a photo with Teddi. I selected about 400 images and gathered them into this album: 2026 In Memory of Teddi

While going through those photos, I came across several of a deeply loved student who passed away two years ago. I had forgotten just how much he loved Teddi too. Seeing them together again felt like a beautiful reminder of two incredible lives that crossed paths here. If horses go to heaven, I hope Teddi and this young boy are together again.

Honoring Teddi’s Memory

Several people have asked if they can donate to a memorial fund for Teddi. I will share the link here: Stripe Donation

Sadness, Gratitude and What Comes Next

We don’t expect to ever replace Teddi — he was absolutely one of a kind. However, as faith or fate would have it, Cheyne Ranch has been offered a kind and gentle 10-year-old gelding pony named Edward, whose size and temperament may allow him to support some of the same students who trusted Teddi. While plans are still taking shape, we hope to bring him down to Florida sometime in February. We didn’t plan on this timing, and I find myself both grateful and grieving at the same time.