🌿 Spring 2 Wrap-Up + Summer Ahead at Cheyne Ranch
Spring 2 has officially wrapped up — and what an amazing 2026 we have had! We are so grateful for all of the students, families, volunteers, and animals who made this season so special.
🐴 Spring 2 Was SO Much Fun
This was one of our busiest and most exciting 8-week calendar blocks yet. We watched students build confidence, independence, friendships, and new skills.
📈 Cheyne Ranch Continues to Grow
This spring marked a record-setting session block for Cheyne Ranch. We continue to welcome new students and families while also seeing so many returning riders continue to grow with us year after year.
We are incredibly thankful for the trust our community places in us and proud of the safe, inclusive environment we are building together.
🐎 Our New Horses Are Thriving
One of the biggest highlights of 2026 has been watching our 3 newest horses become productive members of the herd so quickly!
Each horse brings something different to our program, and it has been wonderful seeing them connect with students, settle into routines, and become part of daily life at the ranch.
Misty - 19 year old thoroughbred
Edward - 15 year old Missouri Fox Trotter
Klare - 11 year old Dutch Warmblood
Our herd truly is the heart of Cheyne Ranch.
☀️ Summer Programs Are Almost Here
We are excited to jump into 8 weeks of summer programming beginning soon! Monday June 1 is the first day of Monday Lessons! Here is the full calendar: https://chra.us/c
There are still a few openings remaining in our Friday Nature Clubs for families looking for outdoor, animal-centered experiences this summer.
As always, current families are welcome to reach out directly to Sally with questions about availability.
🔥 Coming This July: HOTY (Horse of the Year!)
This July, we’ll also be launching something brand new at Cheyne Ranch…
HOTY: Horse of the Year! 🐴🎉
Families, students, volunteers, and supporters will have the chance to cheer on their favorite horses through a month-long community fundraiser filled with team spirit, horse personalities, photos, friendly competition, and more.
More details (and horse teams!) coming soon 😄
🏗️ Arena Project Update
It is incredible to finally have a big, dedicated space for working with the horses and students. What started as a fairly simple plan has grown into something much bigger as we've kept thinking about the long-term needs of the ranch and our growing programs.
We've put about $5,000 into the ground so far. Our friend Todd brought out 10 loads of clay, shell, and sand and compacted it into a sturdy base. This year we'll keep building up the footing with more sand and shell, and there's plenty still ahead: perimeter sprinklers to keep the surface watered, and eventually lighting so we can use the arena in the early mornings and evenings.
We're also grateful to Home Depot, who is providing $5,000 in materials for the fencing and gates. The build day is tentatively planned for July 7, and once it's confirmed we'll share the details.
Arenas are a lot like gardens. The big effort is the original installation, but after that it's forever feeding (more clay, sand, and fiber), watering (sprinklers!), and weeding (dragging and smoothing out the uneven spots after rain). It's a living surface, and we're just getting started.
We're excited about where this is heading and can't wait to keep building a space that serves our students, horses, and volunteers for years to come.
Here is a photo album of the arena work in progress
Follow along with our progress here: https://cheyneranch.com/arena
💙 Thank You
Thank you for being part of Cheyne Ranch.
Your support, encouragement, and trust allow this community to continue growing in meaningful ways. We feel incredibly lucky to do this work and to share it with so many wonderful families.
We hope everyone has a fantastic start to summer, and we can’t wait to see many of you back at the ranch soon!
With gratitude,
Sally Ann Cheyne
Understanding “Fit” in Adaptive Riding Programs
What We’ve Learned at Cheyne Ranch: Different Students Need Different Things
At Cheyne Ranch, we have learned that students often fall into a few different pathways.
🟢 Some students thrive for years in a relationship-centered horsemanship environment.
🟡 Some students need us for a season while they build confidence, regulation, and independence before moving on to new opportunities.
None of those pathways are wrong.
Different students need different environments, different goals, and different kinds of horsemanship experiences. And sometimes those goals change over time as students grow, gain confidence, and discover what kind of horse experience they are looking for.
This has always been part of the philosophy behind Cheyne Ranch. We believe good horsemanship includes recognizing when a student and a program are truly aligned and when they are not.
🟢 Long-Term Students
These students may be neurodiverse, have significant cognitive or developmental support needs, or benefit from a highly supportive adaptive environment.
They may also simply feel most at home in a relationship-centered horsemanship environment and have no desire for a traditional competitive barn culture.
They love the horses, love caring for them, and feel deeply connected to the relationship-centered culture of Cheyne Ranch.
These students value:
connection over competition
consistency over intensity
and horsemanship over constant advancement
They are generally comfortable with:
clear boundaries
safety-based decisions
and riding different horses based on the needs of the horses and the program
For them, success is not about going faster or reaching the next level as quickly as possible.
For these students, Cheyne Ranch is not a stepping stone.
It is home.
And that is exactly why Cheyne Ranch exists.
🟡 Bridge Students
These students need us for a season.
They may be new to horses or still building confidence, independence, and foundational horsemanship skills.
Cheyne Ranch gives them a safe place to grow.
Over time, they become:
more confident,
more independent,
more emotionally regulated,
and more capable.
As students grow and their goals evolve, they may become ready for opportunities beyond what we offer.
That is a sign they built a strong foundation here.
When a student is ready for opportunities beyond what we offer, we welcome those conversations. We are happy to help families navigate that transition and help guide them toward programs or barns that may be a better fit for their goals.
Please communicate openly with us as your student’s goals evolve. We are here, ready, and not surprised when a student becomes ready for their next step.
Helping students grow into new opportunities is something we are proud of.
🔶 As Students Grow, Goals Sometimes Change
As students grow, their goals, interests, and relationship with horses sometimes change too.
Some students begin wanting more mounted time, faster advancement, competition, or a more traditional riding environment. Others begin feeling frustrated by slower progression, the adaptive structure, or safety-based boundaries. Often both are true at the same time.
These changes do not mean the student, family, or program failed. They are often a sign that a student’s goals are evolving beyond what Cheyne Ranch is designed to provide.
At Cheyne Ranch, success looks different for every student — and not every successful outcome means staying forever.
Sometimes success means a student finds a lifelong home here.
And sometimes success means a student grows into goals, environments, and opportunities beyond what we are designed to provide.
Our goal is always to stay supportive, communicate clearly, and help students and families navigate those transitions with honesty, encouragement, and care.
Different Paths Are Still Good Paths
🟢 For some students, Cheyne Ranch becomes home.
🟡 Others grow into new environments and new goals.
🌱 And some students eventually discover new passions and interests beyond the horse world, which is a natural part of growing and changing.
At Cheyne Ranch, we believe every student deserves a community where they feel supported, connected, and able to truly thrive.
🐴 CHEYNE RANCH, INC. 🌟
Teaching Animal Care & Connection
📬 1963 Genova Drive, Oviedo, FL 32765
📞 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.
Summer 2026 Session Information + Renewal
☀️ Summer Session Renewal
Our 2026 Summer PALS and Adaptive Riding lessons run Monday, June 1 - Saturday, July 25th.
We would love to continue working with your student this summer and are excited to begin planning for another great session together.
✅ How to Renew
To renew, simply text or email Sally at:
(407) 205-7744
sally@cheyneranch.com
Please include:
Yes, you would like to continue
Your preferred lesson time (either your current slot or one of the lesson times listed below)
Once confirmed, you will receive a confirmation email. Invoices will be sent shortly after.
📅 Summer Lesson Schedule
Below is the current summer lesson schedule. Families are welcome to keep their current spot or request a different lesson time from the options below.
MONDAYS:
AM: 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM
PM: 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 6:00 PM
WEDNESDAYS (for current PALS students - 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of June and July):
AM: 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM
PM: 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM
FRIDAYS:
AM: 8:45 AM, 11:00 AM
PM: 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 6:00 PM
SATURDAYS:
AM: 8:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 11:30 AM
💲 Summer Pricing Update
Beginning this summer, lesson pricing will increase to:
$60 per lesson
$480 for the 8-week session
Hay costs have increased significantly over the past year, with our weekly hay bill rising from approximately $600 per week to nearly $800 per week, even before other operational costs are considered.
While we did welcome several new horses to the ranch this year, this pricing adjustment is primarily due to the increased cost of hay itself.
We remain committed to keeping lessons affordable while maintaining a safe, professional, fully insured program with well cared for horses and qualified instruction.
This is our first price increase in quite some time, and we truly appreciate your continued support of Cheyne Ranch.
☀️ Summer Camps
Our 2026 summer camp schedule is also available here: cheyneranch.com/26sum
If your current student would like to attend camp, we most likely still have space available — just text Sally directly at (407) 205-7744.
We intentionally keep a limited number of camp spots available through online self-sign-up so we can reserve room for our current Cheyne Ranch families first.
🐴 Thank you for being part of Cheyne Ranch. We are looking forward to another great summer of growth, learning, and connection with your family.
🐴 CHEYNE RANCH, INC. 🌟
Teaching Animal Care & Connection
📬 1963 Genova Drive, Oviedo, FL 32765
📞 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.
🌿 Onsite RV Living at Cheyne Ranch — Reduced-Rent Housing in Oviedo, FL
A private, partially furnished RV on a working ranch, available to the right person.
Cheyne Ranch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit adaptive equestrian and animal care program in Oviedo, FL. We serve students each week through adaptive riding, our PALS program (People and Animals Learning Success), and Nature Club. Our 5-acre property is home to horses, miniature horses, and dogs, cats, goats, pigs, chickens, and rabbits.
We have a private, partially furnished RV located on the back of our property, and we’re looking for the right single occupant to call it home.
🚐 The Setup
The RV is a well-maintained 2018 KZ Durango fifth wheel, parked near the barn with sunrise views over the pasture. It offers a balance of privacy and proximity—quiet and tucked away, but just a short walk from where the daily work happens.
🏡 Housing Details:
Utilities included: water, electric, sewer, Wi-Fi
Laundry access in the garage (shared with barn)
Standard rent: $1,400/month
Reduced rent: $800/month in exchange for assigned weekly barn shifts
Link to photo album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/zkGUvr9ByCRL67g87
🐴 The Work
The reduced rent is tied to consistent, reliable participation in daily animal care.
Approximately 5 scheduled shifts per week (~2 hours either AM or PM)
Feeding, turnout, stall and paddock cleaning, and general barn upkeep
Training and oversight provided
Shifts are scheduled in advance and must be covered consistently
Work is physical, outdoors, and takes place in all weather conditions
This is a meaningful role that directly supports the care of our animals and the flow of our programs. Reliability matters—not just to us, but to the animals who depend on these routines.
🌳 The Environment
Cheyne Ranch is an active, working program.
We host programs throughout the week with children and families on site
There may be outdoor activity and noise between approximately 8:30 AM and 7:00 PM, depending on the day
Not every day is active, but comfort with a family-centered, active environment is important
If you’re looking for complete seclusion, this likely isn’t the right fit. If you appreciate purposeful work and are comfortable around kids, animals, and daily activity, you’ll likely feel at home here.
✅ Requirements
Single occupant only (no couples, no guests living onsite, no pets)
Prior barn, livestock, or outdoor labor experience required
Able to maintain a consistent weekly schedule, including early mornings or evenings
Comfortable working independently after training
Non-smoker
Background check and references required prior to move-in
🗓️ Trial Period
The first 60 days serve as a mutual evaluation period. This allows both sides to ensure the arrangement is a good fit before continuing longer-term. If it’s not the right match, we part on good terms.
🚫 Not a Fit If…
You’re looking for a party-friendly or highly social living environment
You need a flexible or last-minute schedule
You want to bring a partner, roommate, frequent overnight guests, or pets
You’re hoping for an informal arrangement without clear structure
You’re seeking total quiet and isolation
You’re new to animal care and hoping to learn entirely on the job
🌟 A Good Fit If…
You have hands-on animal care experience and value steady, purposeful work
You’re grounded, dependable, and comfortable working independently
You appreciate quiet living with a meaningful daily rhythm
You understand that animal care is time-sensitive and non-negotiable
You’re looking for a stable, affordable living situation in a beautiful setting
📬 How to Apply
Send us a message with a brief introduction about yourself and your relevant animal care or outdoor work experience.
If it looks like a potential fit, we’ll follow up to schedule a visit and discuss next steps, including references and a background check.
📍 Cheyne Ranch | Oviedo, FL
🌐 cheyneranch.com
📩 rv@cheyneranch.com
📞 (407) 205-7744
Kids Night Out, Summer Plans & A Big Weekend at Cheyne Ranch
Hello Cheyne Ranch families!
We’ve got a full and fun weekend ahead, plus a few updates to share:
🎉 Kids Night Out — Friday, 5:30–8:30 PM
Drop the kids off for an evening at the ranch while you enjoy a night out!
To register, text me at (407) 205-7744 or sign up here:
📎 https://chra.us/kno
🌟 Longwood Autism Walk — Saturday, 11 AM–2 PM (Reiter Park)
We’re excited to be part of this incredible event for our 4th year! It’s a free, family-friendly day focused on awareness, inclusion, and connection—with activities for kids and dozens of local organizations supporting families.
We would truly love to see Cheyne Ranch families there—look for our booth and come say hello! Showing up for events like this is a powerful way to support the broader community we’re part of.
🏟 Arena Update
We’ve posted the latest on our arena plans—take a look when you have a moment:
📎 cheyneranch.com/arena
This project is a big step forward for our program and the families we serve. If you’d like to be part of bringing it to life, we’re always grateful for your support.
🐴 Meet Our Newest Horses
We’re excited to introduce two of the newest members of our herd—Klare and Edward! Each has their own story, and we’re so glad they’re part of Cheyne Ranch—and part of what your kids get to experience here.
📎 https://cheyneranch.com/blog/meetklare
📎 https://cheyneranch.com/blog/edward
☀️ Summer at Cheyne Ranch
We’re looking ahead to a fun summer at the ranch!
We have 3 weeks of summer camp planned, plus 8 Fridays of our Summer Friday Nature Club—both great ways for kids to stay connected, active, and outdoors.
Riding lessons and our PALS program will also continue through the summer on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Spots fill quickly, so reach out to get your student registered for summer programs!
🐴 Family Visits at Cheyne Ranch
We love hosting what we call Family Visits—a great way to bring friends, family, or neighbors to experience time with the animals together.
These are structured one-hour visits that include time with and a horse ride for kids ages 2–21.
Family Visits are $60 and can be booked online:
📎 https://cheyneranch.com/f
👢 Free Boot Shelf
Don’t forget about our free boot shelf! Families are always welcome to “shop” for riding boots your child can use for lessons—or keep if they’re a good fit.
We also gladly accept gently used boot donations. If your child has outgrown a pair, consider passing them along to support another rider!
⛑️ Riding Helmets Available
We recently received a donation of Tipperary helmets—one of my favorites, especially for riders with more oval-shaped heads (humans generally have either oval or round shaped heads.)
We have a limited number available (sizes XS and S) for $75 each. Many riders prefer to have their own helmet, and this is a great option if you’ve been considering one.
You’re also always welcome to leave your child’s helmet in a labeled bag in our tack room—no one else will use it.
View helmet details here:
📎 https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Tipperary_Sportage_8500_Riding_Helmet/descpage-TSH.html?color=BK
🤝 Community Resource: Safe Space Sitters
We recently connected with Jenna, founder of Safe Space Sitters, and wanted to share her as a resource for families who may be looking for additional support. Her service focuses on providing sitters who are experienced with children of varying needs in a safe, supportive environment.
If this is something your family has been looking for, you can reach her directly here:
📎 (352) 801-9747
📅 Block Calendar
Ever lose track of which week we’re in or when a session ends? Our block calendar makes it easy to stay on track.
Spring 2 and Summer are both posted so you can plan ahead:
📎 cheyneranch.com/c
As always, thank you for being part of this incredible community.
Sally Ann Cheyne
CHEYNE RANCH, INC.
Teaching Animal Care & Connection
1963 Genova Drive, Oviedo, FL 32765
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.
Our Next Step: A Dedicated Riding Arena
As of May 22 - we have raised over $4,000! Thank you! Let’s keep the momentum coming!
Here is a photo album of the arena work in progress
🏗️ Arena Project Update - May 22, 2026
It is incredible to finally have a big, dedicated space for working with the horses and students. What started as a fairly simple plan has gradually grown into something much bigger as we've continued thinking about the long-term needs of the ranch and our growing programs.
We've now put about $5,000 into the ground itself. Our friend Todd brought out 10 loads of clay, shell, and sand and compacted it into a sturdy base. Over time, we plan to continue improving the footing by adding additional sand and shell as the arena develops and settles.
We're also working with Home Depot to build a fence around the arena, with a volunteer workday tentatively planned for July 7. Home Depot is generously donating approximately $5,000 in fencing and gate materials for the project. Once the workday is confirmed, we'll share more details.
Like gardens, arenas are never really “finished.” The big effort is the original installation, but after that comes the ongoing work of watering (sprinklers!), feeding the footing with additional materials, dragging, leveling, and maintaining the surface after weather and daily use. As the arena continues evolving, we also hope to eventually add features like perimeter sprinklers and lighting.
We're excited about where this is heading and can't wait to keep building a space that supports our students, horses, volunteers, and programs for years to come.
Update — Tuesday, April 21:
We have some exciting progress to share.
We have now raised over $2,000 toward this project, and our local Oviedo Home Depot has stepped in to sponsor the arena fencing materials and a volunteer build day with their associates.
As we've continued planning and working with experts, we now have a much clearer picture of what this project involves. Here's how it breaks down:
Site Preparation (April)
Before anything else can happen, the ground has to be properly prepared. This includes building a stable base to support safe, consistent riding.
We’re working with our long-time local partner, Todd Gelm of Todd & Sons to complete this step.
Cost: ~$10,000 total
Current need: $5,000 to begin
Arena Build (July 7)
Approximately 300 linear feet of four-rail fencing.
Materials and labor are being sponsored by The Home Depot Foundation, and their associates will be coming out for a volunteer build day to help construct the arena.
Cost: ~$5,000 value, donated by Home Depot.
Ranch Preparation & Community Support
Once the arena is built, we'll add the finishing touches — painted poles, jump standards, a mounting block, and other features our students will use every day. This is the fun part, and a great opportunity for volunteers and families to get involved.
Cost: Minimal, mostly volunteer labor and donated materials.
Our current goal is to raise $5,000 to begin site preparation. This is the foundation everything else is built on, and we're ready to start as soon as funding is in place.
At Cheyne Ranch, everything we do starts with safety.
As our program grows, we are seeing more students, more lessons, and more opportunities for connection and confidence. It is exactly what we have been working toward.
With that growth, it is time to take the next step.
We are ready to build a dedicated riding arena designed specifically for our students.
Why This Matters
Our current riding space has worked for us, but it was never designed for the structure and consistency our program now needs.
A dedicated arena will allow us to:
Create a consistent and predictable environment for our riders
Support students who benefit from routine and clear boundaries
Provide a space built specifically for learning and safety
This is about continuing to offer the kind of experience our students rely on every day.
This shows where the new arena will be located on the property.
What We’re Building
We are starting with preparing the space and building the structure of the arena.
With Home Depot sponsoring the fencing materials, we are able to move forward in a meaningful way.
Our current goal is to raise $5,000 to begin site preparation.
How You Can Help
If you have seen the impact of this work, or believe in creating spaces where individuals can grow with confidence, we would love for you to be part of this next step.
If possible, please include “Arena Project” in your donation note so we can track progress.
Thank you for being part of this community. It truly makes this work possible.
-Sally Ann Cheyne
Founder & President
CHEYNE RANCH, INC.
Teaching Animal Care & Connection
1963 Genova Drive, Oviedo, FL 32765
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.
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.
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 that pairs rescue horses with trainers to prepare them for competition and adoption.
He first worked with Mercedes Kelly Sampsell, who introduced him to riding work while continuing to build his groundwork foundation. Through the program, Edward gained experience with obstacle work, pattern riding, new environments, and the increased activity that comes with public events and competition settings.
In April 2023, Mercedes stepped away due to a knee injury, and Delaney Ware took over for the final 30 days leading up to the competition. Edward adjusted well to the transition and continued progressing steadily.
He competed in the Heart of the Horse finals in May 2023 in horsemanship, trail, and freestyle classes. For a horse who had once arrived with limited handling experience and significant rehabilitation needs, simply participating in the finals represented tremendous progress. Edward completed all three classes and handled the busy environment calmly and willingly.
Throughout the process, he consistently showed an ability to adapt to new handlers, expectations, and experiences — a trait that has continued to define him throughout his journey.
The Winding Road
After the finals, Edward was adopted by a young rider in Mississippi. Later, he returned to Mississippi Horse Rescue, where he continued receiving support and additional training through the Plan 4 Progress program. Throughout that time, he continued to be described as easy, willing, and kind to work with.
He was eventually adopted again by a family in Mississippi who were already familiar with Cheyne Ranch through another horse they had previously donated to the program. They believed Edward would be a good fit for the ranch and chose to send him here.
That decision ultimately became the next chapter in Edward’s long journey — one that brought him to Cheyne Ranch, where he continues to grow, settle in, and become part of the herd.
Edward at Cheyne Ranch
Edward arrived at Cheyne Ranch earlier this year and has continued to make incredible progress as he settles into ranch life.
At 13.3 hands, he is one of the smaller horses in the herd, but he carries himself with the sturdy build and calm presence that make him easy to notice once you meet him. Since arriving, he has gained weight beautifully, his coat has become shiny and healthy, and he has adjusted well to the routines and structure of the ranch.
One of Edward’s greatest strengths is his temperament. On the ground, he is thoughtful, patient, and extremely well mannered. He has integrated well into daily life at the ranch and continues building confidence with new experiences, people, and routines.
While he still needs continued riding education and conditioning under saddle, we have been very encouraged by his progress. After evaluating him more recently, our veterinarian felt he had improved enough physically that he should continue moving forward with riding work — something we are excited to continue developing with him over time.
Edward’s path has included extended rehabilitation, multiple trainers, a competitive training program, and several placements. Across each stage, he has remained remarkably consistent in temperament, willingness, and adaptability.
He is here because many people — especially Mississippi Horse Rescue, his trainers, and the families who cared for him along the way — invested time, patience, and belief in him. That consistency shows in the horse he is today.
We are very happy to say that Edward has become part of the Cheyne Ranch herd, and we are excited to continue watching him grow in the years ahead.