Yay! I’m back
tl;dr: I'm back! and grateful. and way behind on emails and texts.
🦄 Clearly, my 21 years as Philip's passenger princess has left me utterly unprepared for the realities of a 2,800-mile road trip where I am the sole driver.
🚗 Blissfully unaware of all of this, last Tuesday, I set out with Grace and Sophia on a road trip to Kansas City to see my parents. The drive itself from Florida to Kansas City was beautiful – spring is so green and so full of color in Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri & Kansas, and we even saw roadside waterfalls driving through Tennessee.
🛣️ That drive home though - we are finally back 8 days later and I don't think I'm getting behind the wheel again for at least a year or ten. It is always wonderful to spend time with my family in Kansas City and it was so, so nice to see old friends - Lezlee and David Price, I can't believe we have known each other for over 30 years. We stopped in southeast Missouri for dinner with a young woman who is 25 but I swear she was 13 years old 5 minutes ago.
💻 Back at Cheyne Ranch, and after experiencing endless hours of highway hypnosis during that 2,800-mile drive (a far cry from my usual passenger princess perch), my connection to the digital world is… halted. If you're waiting on an email or text from me, please feel free to resend your message so it pops back to the top of the list. I will get through all the messages... soon.
🐴 Most importantly, a big, big thank you to my amazing husband, Philip, as well as Anna & Evan, who held down the fort in Florida and kept all the animals happy and healthy. Also, a huge appreciation to Katie, Erin, Christi, Desiree, and all our fantastic volunteers for their tireless work in my absence, especially for making our most important outreach event of the year, the Longwood Autism Walk for Inclusion and Acceptance, such a huge success. Cheyne Ranch was so well represented last Saturday, and I am beyond proud of all of you.
😍 The work here truly never stops, and knowing everything was in such capable hands made navigating this unexpected time so much easier. I appreciate this entire community more than words can say, and this past week+, I've been in awe of your dedication.
🤠 Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go have a serious conversation with my inbox – and note to self: the only journey I'm planning on taking anytime soon is the one through my overflowing emails, and for any future road trips, the only acceptable driver wears Philip's shoes.
Travel to Kansas City
Hi everyone,
As some of you know, my childhood had an incredibly kind, gentle, intelligent and loving individual in it – my step-mom, Shari. I met her when I was 5 years old, and she became my mother. When Philip and I purchased this property back in 2016, a big part of the dream was having my dad and Shari live as snowbirds here with us each winter. But life has its own plans, and by 2021, the progression of her Parkinson's disease made traveling impractical, so they have stayed in Kansas City.
Yesterday, I got the call I knew was coming eventually. Shari's health is really declining, and nobody knows for sure how much time she has left.
I'm going to head to Kansas City for the next week to be with her and my dad. There is no good timing for these big life events, but they are such an important reminder to pause and really process all that it means to be living.
SCHEDULE
Let me list out the expected schedule below. Please don't hesitate to text me with any questions.
Wednesday
AM Nature Club - YES, Anna, Ryland, Morgan all working
PM Nature Club - YES, Katie and Evan are working
PM Lessons - Anna & Evan: YES, Anna & Evan are working (with Nora S.)
PM Lessons - Sally: NO, although the kids are welcome at Nature Club anytime - they can see the baby chicks, bunnies, have a gatorade slushie, walk a mini horse, etc
Friday
AM Nature Club - YES, Anna, Evan, Katie, Erin, Alexa, Andrea, Mia & Sophia all working
AM / PM lessons - NO, Anna will be at a horse show in the evening and Sally is out of town
Saturday
AM lessons - NO, Cheyne Ranch is supposed to be at the Longwood Autism Walk - I think Philip, Evan, Katie, Erin and Desiree can still make this happen.
Monday
AM lessons - ? Let me figure this out - Erin and Evan will still be working
PM lessons - ? Let me figure this out - Katie will still be working.
VOLUNTEER
If anyone wants to volunteer this week, we can always use help with cleaning stalls, cleaning water buckets, help with lessons and nature club. There is a birthday party Sunday at 10:00 AM that I do not plan to cancel. Here are the volunteer times when other adults will be there:
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 12:30 PM - Animal care, lessons & AM Nature Club
3:00 PM - 6:30 PM - Animal care, lessons & PM Nature Club
Friday
8:45 AM - 1:00 PM - Animal care & AM Nature Club
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Animal care
Saturday
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM - We will be at the Longwood Autism Walk at Reiter Park - please come see us!
Sunday
9:30 AM - 1:15 PM - Birthday party - please let me know if you can volunteer!
Thanks so much for understanding, and for all your support.
Sally Ann Cheyne
Founder & President
Cheyne Ranch, Inc.
nonprofit 501(c)(3)
Located in Oviedo, FL
Call / Text: (407) 205-7744
email: Sally@CheyneRanch.com
Website: www.CheyneRanch.com
Facebook: facebook.com/CheyneRanch
Instagram: instagram.com/CheyneRanch
Cheyne Ranch is a nonprofit that provides a safe, inclusive and accessible way for people of all abilities to learn about animal care & connections.
We serve our local community through providing scholarships to our lesson programs, caring for the many farm animals that have been donated to us, and advocating for inclusive, accessible experiences for all individuals.
Please donate and help us with our mission: chra.us/donate
Liability insurance - it isn’t what you might think it is
To all workers, volunteers and supporters at Cheyne Ranch,
Pre-requisite: I wrote a related blog post: chra.us/fall
When you have a moment, will you please read it?
Also, I want you to understand the risk, reality and insurance here.
We pay about $10,000 each year for liability insurance.
Insurance:
Equine liability insurance in Florida does not pay for a person's medical costs if they are injured. In fact there is a Florida law called Equine Activities Liability Act that states equine professionals are not liable for injuries or death. Here is a summary:
Limitation of Liability (773.02 & 773.03):
Generally, equine activity sponsors and professionals are not liable for injuries or deaths resulting from the "inherent risks of equine activities."
Exceptions exist for cases of negligence, faulty equipment, failure to warn of dangerous conditions, and intentional harm.
Posting and Notification (773.04):
Requires equine activity sponsors and professionals to post warning signs and/or provide written warning notices to participants, informing them of the liability limitations.
Injuries:
We do have injuries here - of course we do - we offer over 5,000 horse rides a year. Let's figure out the math on (a high estimate of) 5 injuries for every 5,000 rides. All the injuries are minor so far. A jammed finger, a wrist fracture, and who knows how many bumps and bruises. There have been 3 kids who visited the urgent care for x-rays that I am aware of over the past 5 years. Of these injuries, 2 of the families have inquired if Cheyne Ranch insurance will pay for their out-of-pocket medical expenses.
My answer to them is: No, I'm sorry we cannot. Equine liability insurance in Florida does not work that way.
The answer from my insurance agent: Absolutely not. Stop talking to them. Stop all communication, don't pay out anything. Start documenting the incident. Find the camera footage. No communication with them. I don't care if it is your neighbor, or your friend. Radio silence. They are mistaken if they think insurance will pay out for any medical costs - their only option is to sue. Don't talk to people who are going to sue you. You are covered if people sue you, thankfully you have insurance.
So what is our insurance for?
It is because we are in Florida, and anyone can sue, for any reason, at any time. And lawsuits are stressful, messy, life changing, time consuming and expensive. If someone does choose to sue us, the balance of probability (based on the EALA and prior case law) suggests they will lose. However, the insurance will pay for the attorneys and other potential losses on behalf of Cheyne Ranch during the lawsuit.
The Take Away:
Safety matters. Safety is the only thing that matters. Horses, and animals in general can be dangerous and unpredictable. A major injury would be life changing to everyone involved. A lawsuit is life changing to everyone involved.
We here at Cheyne Ranch do so much more than any other barn to focus on safety. I'm obsessed. I research, read, visit, listen, learn. And I keep learning. And keep trying to do better.
So please focus on safety, know and follow our safety practices. Slow down, ask questions. Say no to students who want to do something unsafe. Thoughtfully examine the horse you are going to have a student ride. Make sure their helmet fits properly. Tell me if we have broken saddles or tack. Let me know if there is a fence pokey thing that is going to hurt someone. We sometimes have wild animals dig holes in our yard - help me find those, or better yet, grab a shovel and fill them in. Help us keep things safe.
Last but not least:
On a happy note, I am so appreciative of the way you all love these animals and students. After safety, love is the next thing. And its the best thing. ❤️
The Reality of Instinct: When Horses React Suddenly
A flicker of fear, an instinctive surge, a lightning-fast shift. The rider is off before they even knew to hold on.
That is the reality of horses responding instinctively...
and just as nature designed.
Our Gentle Herd
Our herd of 10 horses at Cheyne Ranch are incredibly kind and intuitive, capable of forming special connections with our students. They are affectionate and people-loving, they offer comfort and calm, demonstrating remarkable emotional intelligence. Yet, despite their gentle nature, they remain animals driven by powerful instincts. Like all horses, a sudden rustle in the leaves, an unnerving shadow, or an unidentified noise can trigger their natural flight response. They move quickly away from the perceived threat, shifting their hind end in a flash of movement.
Safety First
Safety is our first and highest priority, we research and implement proven safety measures, we have a PATH certification, we select calm well natured horses and we continuously train them for their jobs here. Our horses feel good - they all see a horse vet, chiropractor, equine dentist and farrier all on regular schedules.
We educate our students on the horse's impressive capacity for emotions, awareness, and thought. Partnering with the horse and respecting their sentience directly relates to improved safety, through awareness, respect and understanding. Yet, we are also realistic: horses are animals, and they can be unpredictable, and occasionally riders lose their balance.
Falls Happen
Yes, falls can happen, but they are rare and typically minor, like a scraped knee from learning to ride a bike, or a bruised elbow from falling on the ice in hockey. We see falls as a natural part of learning, building resilience and confidence. We teach safe falling and when appropriate, getting back in the saddle and carry-on.
Transformative Partnership
But here's the magic: the transformative power of partnering with a horse. The student’s improved communication, their surge of confidence, their heightened awareness—these are the rewards that make the journey so worthwhile. Even the experience of carrying on after a minor fall strengthens a rider’s resolve. At Cheyne Ranch, we believe that the unique connection forged with these gentle giants is an experience that truly changes lives.
March Updates
Hello current and former Cheyne Ranch students! Welcome to March!!
SUMMER CAMP Registration Announcement! +
Spring Semester Update: Week 8 Wrap-Up +
More Stuff :)
These first 8 weeks of the Spring 2025 flew by!
Spring Break Camp!!
First things first!! We are having a Spring Break Camp!! It is going to be so fun! If you would like to register your student, please see this link: chra.us/spring
Summer Camp Registration is HERE!!!!!!!!!! Our 6th year!!!!!!!!
Registration for current and former students: chra.us/early
Registration for new families opens up on Friday, March 14th. This is our 6th year and typically everything we do here at Cheyne Ranch sells out! So please register soon!
Coupon Code if you are going to reserve funds through SUFS (so you can register without paying): DIRECTPAY
It will be so FUN!!
More News:
🎓🎓 We are putting something together for an end-of-year showcase event in May for our current students! Please stay tuned for more details
✈️✈️ Philip and I are planning a getaway for our 21st wedding anniversary and my 48th birthday, April 10th-14th. Having such amazing animals and of course my 4 lovely teenagers - it makes it incredibly hard to leave town. The past several years I end up bailing on my travel plans to stay home, but I think this time we will really be going. The dates of April 10 - 13 were already built into the schedule so there won’t be any unexpected makeups for Cheyne Ranch lessons or classes.
🦄🦄 We have welcomed some incredible new workers to Cheyne Ranch in 2025! I am so so thrilled! Please welcome:
Katie Meyer - homeschool mama to 4 kids, age 7 - young adult. Passionate lifelong horse student, formerly a vet tech in Apopka. Katie is helping us with teaching, animal care and optimizing our learning plans.
Alexa Stasko - UCF graduate, works full time at Oviedo vet ER. She is taking graduate classes while awaiting entry to Univ of Florida Vet School!
Desiree Ferrer - homeschool mama to 2 kids, age 7 & 9, business owner with her husband, plus helping our business stay organized and in communication!
Erin Schwartz - homeschool mama to 2 kids, age 2 & 7, animal lover, former animal rescue volunteer at a ranch in Colorado, helping me with all things related to kids, animals, and events.
🐤🐤 We ordered BABY CHICKS!! that will be arriving around April 1st! I hope! I didn’t really understand the chicken / egg shortage when I ordered them, so now I am nervous they won’t arrive! I’ll keep you posted. They are supposed to be buff orpingtons - I love this breed. We have 2 currently, and one is 11 years old!!
🤠🤠 FREE BOOTS!! Lots of sizes in the tack room, from my kids and others. Grab what you need! Please donate your outgrown boots, too - I am happy to pass them along!
Important Reminders for current students as we close the first 8 weeks:
Payment for the First 8 Weeks:
Invoices for the first 8 weeks were sent out at the end of January.
If you need the invoice link resent, please let us know.
Step Up For Students (SUFS): Cheyne Ranch is now a Direct Pay Provider!
Thank you to everyone who has reserved funds through SUFS.
We are tracking these reservations on a spreadsheet and will notify you when payments are received.
Schedule Changes and Cancellations:
If you will not be continuing lessons, please inform us as soon as possible.
We understand schedules change, and early notification allows us to accommodate our waiting list.
Lesson Schedule Adjustments:
If you need to make changes to your lesson schedule, please contact us.
Starting in April, outdoor lessons between 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM will be limited due to the heat. We adjust our schedule by staring earlier in the day and also possibly having a 6:00 PM lesson start time option.
Makeup Class Information:
Wednesday, January 22nd (Weather Cancellation) Makeup:
All makeups for the cancelled Wednesday, January 22nd classes will be held on Wednesday, March 13th.
Anna's Saturday, February 15th Makeup:
Makeups for Anna’s Saturday morning February 15th, will be held on Saturday, April 12th (Anna was at regionals for IEA).
Alternatively, please contact us for other makeup scheduling options.
General Student Missed Class Makeups:
If you missed a class during the Spring 1 session for any reason, please contact us to schedule a makeup.
Options for makeups include Sunday mornings, Mondays at 4:00 PM, and other Monday / Wednesday / Friday AM and PM options are available during spring break.
Please remember that we offer one makeup per 8-week session.
Updated CALENDAR for Spring 2025!! I can’t get enough of a good spreadsheet, can you?
3rd Annual Walk for Autism - City of Longwood
On Saturday, April 26th, Cheyne Ranch will be attending the Longwood 3rd annual walk for autism (for the 3rd time!!) This is a great time to come out to our local community and see all the incredible ways we can support inclusion and acceptance!
We plan to bring our miniature ponies and some baby chicks!
Thank you for being the best part of Cheyne Ranch!!
Sally Ann Cheyne
Founder & President
Cheyne Ranch, Inc.
nonprofit 501(c)(3)
Located in Oviedo, FL
Call / Text: (407) 205-7744
email: Sally@CheyneRanch.com
Website: www.CheyneRanch.com
Facebook: facebook.com/CheyneRanch
Instagram: instagram.com/CheyneRanch
Cheyne Ranch is a nonprofit that provides a safe, inclusive and accessible way for people of all abilities to learn about animal care & connections.
We serve our local community through providing scholarships to our lesson programs, caring for the many farm animals that have been donated to us, and advocating for inclusive, accessible experiences for all individuals.
Please donate and help us with our mission: chra.us/donate
Peter Pan presented by the Orlando Ballet!
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!
And here is a last minute opportunity! The Orlando Ballet professional company is offering a field trip performance of their latest production - Peter Pan!! It is a 60 minute production at the beautiful Steinmetz Hall which is located at the Dr. Phillips Center. Have you been to the Dr. Phillips Center? it is beautiful, and the Steinmetz Hall is exceptionally beautiful!
Tickets are $20 and we don't have much time to purchase (I am very late posting this opportunity). Please purchase as soon as possible using the links below. Anyone is welcome (encourage those new to Cheyne Ranch to make a small donation). I believe we have until Tuesday, February 18th to purchase tickets.
Please represent Cheyne Ranch well - we are lucky to get invited to these awesome field trip events. I actually cannot attend this event - but I’m so excited to hear about it from you all!
More information and registration here:
Thank you!
December mid-month NEWS!!
Yay for Kiwi! She has her spay surgery scheduled!
🐖 🤝 Thank you for your generous donations for Kiwi's Spay Surgery!
We were able to schedule Kiwi's spay surgery at the University of Florida Large Animal Hospital for Monday, December 23rd. We will drive her 2 hours north to Gainsville, FL early Monday morning and pick her up on Wednesday or Thursday of that same week. The expected cost is about $1,800. Your donations mean so much - Kiwi is SO SWEET and we are so glad she will be a safe part of Cheyne Ranch.
Holiday Drop-off!
🎄💝 Do your kids need some farm time? 💝🎄
🐐 Its kind of like a Kids' Night Out! 🐐
🌞 But it is during the day - on a TUESDAY!! 🌞
🐶 And hosted by Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Tyler Lacertosa 🐶
WHEN: Tues, Dec 24
TIME: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
WHERE: Cheyne Ranch
AGES: 5 - 11 (ask about other ages)
WHAT: Fun at the Farm!
Nature Based Crafts
Animal & barn care
Guided Hike
Outdoor games
Register Online: chra.us/events
Winter Break Camp
Yay! We are having a Winter Break camp! These are always so fun! If you are familiar with our programs - each day of camp is similar to a Friday Nature Club (which is a sold out program with a waiting list)
🐐 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
🐐 Dec 31, Jan 1 & Jan 2
🐐 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
🐐 Ages 5 - 11 (age 12 & 13 is 50% off - we have several of them attend - it is volunteer fun!)
🐐 Playground, community time, animal care, nature walk, mounted skill, lunch together, open / free play
🐐 $150 for 3 days ($50 each day x 3 days = $150)
🐐 Eligible for reimbursement for the UA / PEP scholarships
Please visit our website for online registration. Please text with any questions! (407) 205-7744
Fall Semester coming to a close
Our fall semester is coming to a close - we are in the middle of week 16 right now!
**I never know whether to call this week 8 of the Fall 2 session or week 16 of the fall semester. If you have any ideas, let me know).
A few notes for our current students
Please reach out if you need a makeup lesson: text Sally: (407) 205-7744
Do you want to talk about a change to your child’s lesson schedule? Yes! let’s please talk more: text Sally: (407) 205-7744
We start back on Friday, Jan 10th. See this calendar for more info: chra.us/c
More Therapy options coming soon
The following therapists are all remarkable individuals, all successful in their own private practices and all personally known by us. They are all aligned with our mission and love being around the animals. They love it so much they see clients here! Whether it is speech or counseling or occupational therapy, it all is better outside the 4 walls and immersed in nature. Each therapists handles their own client schedules. Contact info for each therapist is in the links below:
We are always trying to figure out how to offer programs and services to our community. If there is a service or program you would like to see us offer, please let us know.
More Soon
There is always so much more to tell you, but only one more thing for now…
Are you thinking about some end of year giving? Do you receive an employer match for your donations?
We host our programs to community groups like BoysTown, MaPLE22, Mephibo’s House, Central Florida Down Syndrome Foundation, Seminole County Public Schools and many more.
We are listed on all the sites for employer match donations:
and you can donate through our website too.
Cheyne Ranch is a 501(c)(3) and your donations may be tax deductible. Everything we do here at Cheyne Ranch is subsidized by donations. The more money we raise the more people we can help.
Sally’s Lesson Barn Recommendations
The Central Florida equestrian community is both a large and a small community. When I look around as a parent and as a professional, here are a few things I look for in a lesson barn:
Business and Insurance: Anyone can offer riding lessons without a license or state approval. This can be both a blessing and a curse, as it allows for diverse opportunities but also increases the risk of unqualified instructors.
Legal Structure: Ensure the trainer operates a legitimate business, registered with the Florida SunBiz.
Insurance Coverage: Verify they have commercial liability insurance to protect both the rider and the trainer in case of accidents.
Horse Care: A trainer's commitment to horse welfare often reflects their overall dedication to the sport and their clients.
Equine Welfare: Observe how the trainer treats their horses. These complex animals require proper care, including appropriate feeding, veterinary care, hoof care, parasite control, and training.
Safety and Training Certifications: Choosing a certified trainer often indicates a higher level of expertise and a focus on providing a safe and effective learning environment.
Professional Credentials: Look for trainers with certifications from reputable organizations like PATH Intl, ARIA, or CHA.
Raising Industry Standards: While these certifications aren't mandatory, they signify a trainer's commitment to ongoing education and safety protocols.
Here are a few lesson barns I recommend below:
