Fall 2026 Programs at Cheyne Ranch 🐴🌿💛
Our Fall 2026 programs begin the week of Monday, August 17, and we would love to welcome your student!
Programs include:
Wednesday Afterschool Nature Club
Friday Nature Club
Fall Schedule at a Glance
Here is what a typical week at Cheyne Ranch will look like this fall! The schedule below includes our Nature Clubs, along with the available days and times for Riding Lessons or PALS.
Some spaces may fill quickly, so please share your first choice and any additional options that could work for your family. Sally Ann will help determine the best fit based on your student’s needs and current availability.
🐴 Riding Lessons or PALS
Offered at select times on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. (Thursdays may be added if needed)
Tuition: $480 per 8-week segment
🌿 Wednesday Afterschool Nature Club
Wednesdays, 3:00–6:00 PM
Tuition: $360 per 8-week segment
🌿 Friday Nature Club
Fridays, 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
Tuition: $480 per 8-week segment
Fall Semester Dates
The fall semester runs from August 17 through December 19.
There will be no regularly scheduled programs:
Week of Monday - Saturday, October 12–17
Week of Monday - Saturday, November 23–28
Semester Commitment
Our recurring programs are designed to continue throughout the full 16-week semester, giving students time to build consistency, relationships, confidence, and momentum.
Families will still be invoiced in eight-week segments, so the full semester does not need to be paid at once. Because spaces are limited, we ask families who accept a weekly spot to do so with the genuine intention of participating for the full 16 week fall semester.
Interested in Joining Us?
Returning Families
Contact Sally Ann (email or text)
The program or programs you are interested in
Your preferred day and time
Any additional days or times that could work
Once a space is confirmed, you will receive an enrollment confirmation email. Invoices will be sent later.
Text Sally: (407) 205-7744
Email Sally: sally@cheyneranch.com
New Families
If your student has never participated at Cheyne Ranch before, the first step is to schedule a Family Visit.
This gives us a chance to meet your student, learn more about their needs and interests, and talk about which program may be the best fit.
We are looking forward to another fall filled with animals, nature, friendships, learning, and growth! 🐴🌿💛
See What We’ve Been Up To
Read our summer recap here: click here
See our BIG Volunteer Day with Home Depot volunteers here: click here 🧡
Our big Summer Fundraiser was such a success!! click here
🐴 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.
🧡 What Forty-Two People Built Together 🧡
One-minute time-lapse video of our nine-hour day: https://photos.app.goo.gl/hLLgTBc5qXDGAfou5
Look at that sky! We were lucky for this August day with lots of overcast. A storm was rolling in just as the day was ending!
I am still trying to take in everything that happened at Cheyne Ranch today.
For months, the arena has existed in plans, measurements, fundraising goals, and conversations about what our students and horses need. Today, it began to look like the space we have been dreaming of.
Twelve Team Depot Volunteers Built the Arena Fence
Twelve Team Depot volunteers from our local Oviedo Home Depot spent the day building approximately 250 linear feet of four-board arena fencing. That meant digging around thirty deep post holes, setting and aligning the posts, and lifting and securing row after row of heavy 2-by-6 boards in the summer heat.
It was incredibly hard physical work, but the difficulty went far beyond the lifting and digging. They had to navigate underground pipes, work around an auger that was too short for some of the holes, rethink post placement when the marked layout did not match the reality of the ground, and angle fence boards where the shape of the arena required it. Again and again, they adjusted the plan, found a solution, and kept moving.
They measured, carried, lifted, leveled, recalculated, adjusted, and worked for hours. Watching the arena take shape, post by post and board by board, was extraordinary.
Why This Fence Matters
Until now, our adaptive riding lessons took place in the pasture behind the barn, a multipurpose horsey space where the other horses also rested, played, and moved freely. That worked when Cheyne Ranch was smaller. As the program grew, we needed a space built specifically for lessons.
After months of planning, fundraising, and investing in the ground and footing, the new arena was ready for its fence. It was the final piece, turning a prepared space into a working arena.
Many of our students are still building the balance, coordination, and confidence it takes to guide a horse independently. Clear, visible boundaries help support that learning. They help the horse understand where the work is happening, rather than drifting back toward the barn or toward whatever else has caught its attention, and they give instructors a more contained and predictable space in which to teach.
Because of The Home Depot Foundation and Team Depot, students, horses, instructors, and volunteers now have a dedicated place to work together with greater focus, clarity, and safety. Cheyne Ranch serves about 100 students each week, and this arena will now be where our adaptive riding students learn, grow, and build confidence. They completed in one day what will serve this community for years.
The Home Depot Foundation and Team Depot Made This Possible
Through a $4,500 grant from The Home Depot Foundation, Cheyne Ranch received the materials needed to build the arena fence. Team Depot, The Home Depot’s associate volunteer force, then brought twelve volunteers from the Oviedo store to complete the project.
Their support provided more than fencing materials and a day of labor. It completed the dedicated riding arena our students and horses needed, making possible a safer, more focused, and more predictable place for adaptive riding lessons.
Special Thanks to Michael and Natalie
I am especially grateful to Michael Smith, who led the Team Depot project and helped make the entire day possible. From the planning through the work itself, Michael carried an enormous amount of responsibility for bringing this project together. His leadership, coordination, and willingness to invest in Cheyne Ranch meant so much to us.
I am also deeply grateful to Natalie Zarnowski, a Pro Desk professional at our local Oviedo Home Depot. Natalie was the person who first connected me with Michael, and that introduction opened the door to everything that followed. She helped with so many details along the way and was consistently kind, personable, encouraging, and generous with her time. Natalie made the entire process feel personal from the very beginning, and I am so thankful for the care she showed me and Cheyne Ranch.
I wish I had caught the name of every Team Depot volunteer who came to help. Each one deserves to be recognized. I may not know every name, but I will remember their kindness, their determination, and the sight of them continuing to dig, lift, measure, and build through such a hot day.
Thirty Incredible People from Cheyne Ranch
We had asked our Cheyne Ranch volunteers to give the Team Depot crew the room they needed to work safely and efficiently. They did that while staying nearby, supporting the day, and continually noticing where else they could help.
They kept ice, cold water, cooling towels, and Gatorade slushies ready for the Team Depot volunteers. They brought tools, helped carry supplies, answered questions, offered tours, introduced our guests to the animals, and shared why this place and this project matter.
Throughout the rest of the property, they were also carrying the daily life of Cheyne Ranch. Our group ranged from young children to adults, and every person added something important to the day. It was long, busy, and very hot, but they stayed involved, helped wherever they could, and worked alongside one another with so much enthusiasm and care.
The People Who Helped Feed Everyone
A day this large also required a significant amount of food and drinks, and several generous people helped make that possible by sponsoring different parts of the day.
Coach Kelly Live sponsored breakfast.
Valerie and Skip Kohlmyer sponsored lunch.
Erica Hall, LMHC sponsored snacks and treats.
MaryBeth McAdam sponsored drinks and hydration supplies.
Their support helped cover the cost of feeding and hydrating more than forty people throughout a long, hot volunteer day. Because of their generosity, everyone had food, cold drinks, and a place to pause and recharge before returning to the work.
I am so grateful to each of them for helping make that possible. 💛
Caring for the Animals and the Barn
Even with a major construction project underway, the daily life of the barn continued.
Every stall still needed to be cleaned. Every animal still needed food, water, attention, and care. Water buckets and pasture troughs needed to be scrubbed, grain needed to be made, hay needed to be cleared, and because it was such a hot summer day, several of the horses needed to be rinsed, cooled, walked, or given a little extra attention.
Our volunteers handled all of it.
Paisley received a medicated bath. Pearl, Lujen, and Edward were rinsed. Eva made mash for Lujen, children added ice to the animals’ water, and Pearl and Honey had their manes braided to help them stay cooler. Other volunteers walked Edward and Princess and made sure the animals remained comfortable while all the activity continued around them.
Everyone was so busy cleaning the only photos available are from our cameras!!
At the same time, the barn received a level of cleaning I am still trying to take in. The walls were brushed from top to bottom, and stall fronts, pipes, shelves, trunks, fans, doors, cubbies, and the wash stall were cleaned. Things were pulled away from walls so packed-in dirt and grime could finally be reached. The barn was swept again and again, and nearly an entire spreader was filled with debris from the walls, corners, and places where the walls meet the floor.
This was detailed, physical work, and much of it was done without anyone needing to be asked. They looked around, saw what needed attention, and began. They pulled weeds, made small areas safer for the horses, organized supplies, cared for the animals, and kept finding one more thing they could do.
A barn is always full of work, and the immediate needs of the animals have to come first, so deeper cleaning often waits. To have so many people notice those neglected corners and give them their time and care felt overwhelming in the best possible way.
They were caring for the animals, the people, the building, and the daily life of Cheyne Ranch all at once.
Twenty Beautiful Ground Poles
The Cheyne Ranch volunteers also painted twenty ground poles for the new arena, and they are beautiful.
These poles will become part of everyday lessons. Students will ride over them, around them, and between them as they practice steering, balance, focus, and communication with their horses.
While Team Depot built the structure of the arena, our volunteers created some of the pieces that will bring it to life.
Look at all this incredible hard work!
Two People Who Help Carry Cheyne Ranch
Ms. Katie and Erin are two of the people who normally help carry so much of the daily work at Cheyne Ranch, and on this day they gave even more.
Ms. Katie came on Sunday to help me think through the details and prepare for such a large day. Then she arrived before sunrise on Monday and stayed for eleven hours. She is a true right hand to me, someone who helps me plan, notice what I may be missing, and keep moving when there is a lot to carry. She also brings her incredible veterinary technician skills to the care of our animals, which gives me so much confidence and peace of mind. I am so deeply grateful for her steady presence and everything she gave to the day.
Erin worked incredibly hard from beginning to end. She brings so much willingness and enthusiasm to everything she does, including the tough, physically demanding work. She kept noticing what needed attention, helped make sure every volunteer had a meaningful way to contribute, and treated people with so much kindness and patience throughout the day. She is good to everyone and especially wonderful with the kids, keeping them involved and part of the real work. Her energy, kindness, and wholehearted willingness to help are such a gift to Cheyne Ranch, and I am deeply grateful for her.
Forty-Two People, Working Toward One Purpose
By the end of the day, Team Depot had completed an extraordinary amount of difficult construction work.
Around them, the Cheyne Ranch volunteers had cared for the animals, welcomed our guests, painted twenty beautiful ground poles, kept everyone cool and hydrated, guided the younger volunteers, and transformed the barn.
There were forty-two of us here, including me, and every part of the day mattered. The Team Depot volunteers built the fence that will surround our new arena, while the Cheyne Ranch volunteers cared for everything that gives the arena its purpose.
What We Will Remember
I am so deeply grateful to Michael, Natalie, every Team Depot volunteer, The Home Depot Foundation, and every Cheyne Ranch volunteer who gave their time, energy, care, and heart to this day.
In the days ahead, students will ride inside this fence, horses will walk over these ground poles, and volunteers will move through this beautifully cleaned barn. The care that went into this day will still be here, woven into the way this space is used and loved.
We will remember the heat, the tools, the cold drinks, the paint, the dust, the tired faces, and the way so many people came together to make Cheyne Ranch better.
Thank you for building this with us. 💛
Our Cheyne Ranch Volunteers
It was such an incredible day, and I am deeply grateful to each of you.
Abby, Aine, Amelia R., Anna, Chandra, Christi J., Christie R., Christopher S., Cole, Emily M., Emily P., Emma, Erin, Eva, Evan, Grace, Jason, Joseph, Juliet, Katie, Katelynn, Kayla, London, Olivia, Oliver, Rosie, Sophia, Talyn, and Zinn.
🤠🐴🔥 2026 HOTY HAS ENDED! 🔥🐴🤠
HOTY is officially over, and I am still taking in what this community did for our horses.
Together, you cast 694 votes and raised $3,500 for Cheyne Ranch’s horses.
People chose teams, recruited friends and family, followed the leaderboard, made surprise comebacks, and kept voting right up until 6:00 tonight.
And now it is official:
🏆💛 TEAM EMOJI is our 2026 Horse of the Year! 💛🏆
Emoji finished with 149 votes, followed by Lujen with 128 and Arrow with 112.
I was also curious about which teams had the most different online voters, not just the most total votes. Each person was counted once per team, even if they voted for that horse several times.
Most unique online voters
Twilight: 10
Emoji: 9
Arrow: 9
Lujen: 8
Honey: 7
Misty: 7
Edward: 5
Klare: 4
Mini Squad: 4
Nelson: 4
I love this part of the results because it shows how many different people showed up for these horses. Some teams had larger gifts, while others moved forward through lots of $5, $10, and $25 votes.
I also want to recognize our top five HOTY contributors:
💛 Vicki McGrath, Team Emoji
❤️ Leigh Tepper, Team Arrow
💚 Heather Mitchell, Team Lujen
🐴 Rebecca Ning, Teams Lujen, Misty, and Nelson
🩵 Kelly Mawhinney, Team Twilight
Together, these five supporters contributed more than half of the funds raised, while dozens of other donors carried HOTY forward through gifts of every size.
Thank you to every person who voted, shared a post, encouraged someone else to join in, or simply followed along with the fun.
This was our first HOTY, and it brought so much affection and enthusiasm to the horses who make Cheyne Ranch what it is.
☀️ We Did It! Eight Incredible Weeks of Summer!
Hello Cheyne Ranch families!
Today was the LAST DAY of our eight-week summer session, and what an incredible summer it has been! 🎉🐴
Over the past eight weeks, Cheyne Ranch served more than 200 children, teens, and adults through Summer Camp, Friday Nature Club, riding lessons, PALS, Family Visits, and other opportunities to learn, connect, and belong.
Our students cared for animals, rode horses, tried new things, made friends, worked through challenges, played hard, got dirty, and created so many wonderful memories.
📸 Summer Memories!
We captured so many wonderful moments during our Summer Camps and Friday Nature Club! You can view photos from the full summer album here: Summer Camps & Nature Club Photo Album.
We also have a separate album filled with highlights from our amazing 4th of July Pony Parade. We hope you enjoy looking back on all the fun, friendships, animals, and adventures! 🐴☀️
Behind every experience was an amazing group of instructors, staff members, helpers, volunteers, families, donors, and friends who made this summer possible.
Thank you. We are so grateful. 💛
💛 Making Our Programs More Accessible
This summer, Cheyne Ranch provided $8,500 in scholarships, equal to nearly 15% of our total summer program fees.
That is especially meaningful because our programs are already priced below market rate. Generous donations of time, labor, supplies, professional services, animal care, equipment, and funding help us keep our regular fees accessible while also providing scholarships to families who need additional support.
Thank you to every donor, volunteer, sponsor, and supporter who makes this possible.
Photo credit: Breana Skiles
💛 A Very Special Thank You to Our Summer Helpers
From our Summer Helper Kickoff through the final day of our eight-week session, our helpers were incredible.
They showed up early, stayed late, walked beside riders, cared for animals, prepared activities, encouraged students, solved problems, and stepped in wherever they were needed.
Summer at Cheyne Ranch is full, active, joyful, and always an adventure. Our helpers met every busy day with teamwork, patience, kindness, and an amazing willingness to work.
Experienced helpers welcomed and guided newer team members. People noticed what needed to be done and helped without always being asked. They supported our instructors, cared for our students, and looked out for one another.
Cheyne Ranch could not have served more than 200 people this summer without them.
26 helpers in this Summer of 2026:
Abby A., Abby F., Amelia S, Anna, Cole, Drake, Emily M., Emily P., Erin, Eva, Evan, Grace, Harrison, Hudson, Joseph, Julia, Juliet, Kaitlyn, Katelynn, Katie, London, Miranda, Nathin, Nora, Owen, Riley, Rosie, Sophia, Sydney, Talyn ← 26 individuals who gave us your time, energy, care, and heart: thank you. We saw how hard you worked, and we are incredibly grateful for you. 🐴☀️💛
**If I forgot anyone - please tell me (and I’m so sorry!) And thank you to all the moms, dads, grand parents who helped so much.
Each of you helped make this summer safer, stronger, happier, and more meaningful. You helped create a place where people could learn, belong, build confidence, and do hard things.
🐴 Scheduled Break: July 26–August 13
Cheyne Ranch is on a scheduled break from July 26 through August 13. Regular lessons, PALS, camps, and clubs will not meet during this time.
There are two exceptions:
Makeup Opportunities: Riding Lesson and PALS makeups will be offered this Wednesday and Friday, July 29 and 31.
Please text Sally at 407-205-7744 if your student still needs a makeup.
Nature Club and Summer Camp do not include makeup days.
Volunteering and Animal Care: Volunteer and work opportunities will continue during the break because... this work doesn't actually stop. Ever. Ha! 🐴🐐🐓 And there is also our BIG Volunteer work day on August 3rd (see further below).
Photo credit: Breana Skiles
🍂 Our Fall Semester Begins August 14!
Our 16-week fall semester begins Friday, August 14, just three short weeks from now!
I am currently working on the giant Rubik’s cube that is the Cheyne Ranch lesson calendar. 😊
Current families, please watch for scheduling information as I match students, instructors, horses, groups, and available times.
We are excited to welcome everyone back after a short break for the horses and humans!
🤠🐴 Horse of the Year Is in Full Swing!
We officially have one week left of Horse of the Year!
For the past two weeks, the horses have been gathering votes, moving around the leaderboard, and inspiring some surprisingly strong team loyalty. There is still plenty of time for the race to change!
Every $5 donation equals one vote. Put all your votes behind one favorite, divide them among several horses.
Vote and see the live leaderboard:
Voting closes Monday, August 3 at 8:00 PM, following our big Volunteer Work Day with Team Depot. Our Team Depot friends will have a chance to meet the horses, choose their favorites, and join the fun too! 🐴
HOTY is meant to be fun, but the reason behind it matters. Program fees do not fully cover the cost of caring for our horses, maintaining the property, providing scholarships, and keeping our programs accessible.
Every vote helps care for the entire herd and supports the students who learn alongside them. One horse will win the title, but every team is helping Cheyne Ranch. 💛
🧡 Join Us for a Big Cheyne Ranch Volunteer Work Day!
On Monday, August 3, Team Depot volunteers from our Oviedo Home Depot store will join Cheyne Ranch families, volunteers, donors, staff, and other established community members for one of the largest workdays we have ever hosted.
Our new arena is getting a fence! 🎉
The materials are being generously provided through The Home Depot Foundation, and Team Depot volunteers are donating their time and labor to build it.
Together, we will also:
🐴 Build and repair fencing
🎨 Paint ground poles for the arena activities
🧹 Clean and organize the barn
🌿 Work on landscaping and property projects
🐐 Keep up with the daily animal care that still needs to happen, even on a very busy day
There will be jobs for different ages and ability levels, and volunteers do not need to stay for the entire day. Please bring work gloves if possible and wear closed-toe shoes.
📅 Monday, August 3
⏰ 7:00 AM–4:00 PM
📍 Cheyne Ranch
Because the day will involve construction, tools, animals, and many moving parts, participation is limited to people who are already connected to Cheyne Ranch.
All volunteer food and beverages are covered!
🥯 Breakfast: Coach Kelly LIVE, owned by our friend Kelly Mawhinney
🥪 Lunch: Valerie and Skip Kohlmyer, parents of our amazing volunteer Emma
💧 Bottled water and Gatorade: The McAdam family, parents of our amazing volunteer Emily
Within about 12 hours of asking, our community made sure every volunteer would be fed and hydrated. That is amazing. Thank you so much! 💛
Learn more and RSVP to join us:
I love a little alliteration. ☁️🐴✨
🐴 Horse Care Spotlight: The Kloud
Our horses work hard caring for our students, and we are always looking for thoughtful ways to care for them in return.
Our friend Nova Schaffnit with The Kloud has been generously providing PEMF sessions for members of the Cheyne Ranch herd.
PEMF stands for pulsed electromagnetic field. It is a non-invasive form of supportive horse care often used as part of a broader wellness and recovery routine, with the goal of supporting circulation, relaxation, comfort, and recovery.
Many of our horses appear to thoroughly enjoy the sessions and extra attention. We have loved watching their responses and have taken plenty of photos! 🥰
PEMF does not replace veterinary or farrier care. It is one more supportive tool we can use to help keep our horses comfortable and feeling their best.
Thank you, Nova and The Kloud, for sharing your time, equipment, knowledge, and kindness with our herd!
📚 A Special Thank You to Coach Kelly LIVE
We are especially grateful to our good friend Coach Kelly, who is providing breakfast for our entire Volunteer Day team!
My own children have benefited tremendously from Coach Kelly and her team, and many Cheyne Ranch families have too. Her coaches are knowledgeable, encouraging, creative, and genuinely invested in their students.
Coach Kelly LIVE offers individual support in almost every subject imaginable, along with wonderful enrichment classes too, including crochet!
With students heading back to school soon, this is a great time to explore everything Coach Kelly LIVE offers.
Thank you, Kelly, for feeding our volunteers and for the many ways you support children and families in the Cheyne Ranch community. We appreciate you so much! 💛
💛 Thank You for an Incredible Summer
Cheyne Ranch is more than programs on a calendar.
It is students learning they can do hard things.
It is helpers discovering that their work matters.
It is families finding a place where their children are welcomed and understood.
It is instructors bringing safety, creativity, patience, and expertise to every day.
It is horses helping people grow, and a community coming together to care for those horses in return.
I can’t wait to see everyone at our BIG Volunteer Day August 3rd and for our Fall semester! ☀️🐴💛
One last thing 🤠 We have a google album link with our fun videos:
Sally Ann Cheyne
Founder and 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.
HOTY Is Open! Help Us Care for the Herd This July
🤠🐴🔥 HOTY (Horse of the Year) is officially open! 🔥🐴🤠
Hi friends,
🤠🐴🔥 HOTY is officially open! 🔥🐴🤠
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been introducing the Cheyne Ranch horses one by one. Now that all the teams have been introduced, voting is open.
Each horse has a team, every $5 donation counts as one vote, and throughout July we get to cheer them on while raising money for the care of the herd.
July and August have their own rhythm at Cheyne Ranch.
By mid-summer, Florida is hot, stormy, muddy, and very committed to making both horses and humans slow down a little.
We plan for that. After a full year of programs, we build a real break into the schedule in late July and early August. It gives the horses time to rest, our team time to catch our breath, and all of us space for the property repairs, planning, and behind-the-scenes work that are almost impossible to do during full program weeks.
But horse care does not take a break.
This stretch of summer is one of the most demanding times of the year for the herd. The heat means electrolytes, supplements, fans, fly care, and constant attention. The rain means mud, shavings, stall care, pasture maintenance, and extra work keeping hooves healthy. The costs keep going even when the barn gets quiet.
So this year, we decided to make this season a little more fun.
HOTY is a playful summer fundraiser where each Cheyne Ranch horse has a team, and $5 counts as one vote, $25 is 5 votes, $50 is 10 votes.
You can vote for one favorite, support more than one horse, or proudly declare yourself Team All the Horses.
We also have a live leaderboard, which means you can check the HOTY page anytime to see who is leading, who is catching up, and which team may need their people to rally.
HOTY is meant to be lighthearted, but the purpose matters.
One thing many people do not realize is that tuition paid by families does not fully cover what it costs to run Cheyne Ranch.
We work hard to keep programs as affordable as we can, because inclusion and accessibility are part of our mission, not an extra thing we do when it is convenient.
Every donation helps care for the horses who make Cheyne Ranch what it is. They are the reason our students learn, grow, work hard, slow down, build confidence, and feel connected here.
So pick your team. Cast your votes. Check the leaderboard. Cheer loudly.
Let the HOTY fun begin. 🤠🐴🔥
🎉🐴 The 4th of July Pony Parade!✨
🗓️ What Will Pony Parade Day Look Like?
Pony Parade day is fun, full, and a little different from a regular Friday Nature Club day.
🚗 9:00–9:15 AM — Drop-off at the playground
🛝 9:15–9:45 AM — Playground time
🐴 9:45 AM — Circle time and Pony Parade plan
🚶 10:00 AM — Walk the parade route together
👥 10:15 AM — Students go to their horse groups (3–4 students per horse)
🎨 10:15–11:45 AM — Decorate horses with safe, paint sticks, beads, braids, ribbons, and lots of creativity. We'll also take breaks to go say hello to chickens, bunnies, snacks, and 🍦 POPSICLES!
🎀 11:45 AM — Line up the ponies for the parade
🎉 12:00 PM — Pony Parade for parents in the NEW arena!
🧺 12:15 PM — Picnic lunch with families in the shady playground area
💦 12:15–12:45 PM — Sprinklers and lawn games for the kids (helpers begin rinsing horses after the parade)
🎂 12:45 PM — Cake!
👋 1:00 PM — Goodbye and pick-up
Howdy Friday Nature Club families and helpers! Tomorrow is one of our very favorite Cheyne Ranch traditions.
This is our 5th year, and it has become one of our absolute favorite days of the year. It is colorful, silly, creative, and full of Cheyne Ranch joy.
🌿 Friday Nature Club
Nature Club runs its usual 9:00 AM–1:00 PM tomorrow, Friday, July 3rd.
During the morning, students will work in small groups to decorate the horses with safe, washable paint, beads, braids, ribbons, and plenty of creativity before the big Pony Parade at noon!
🐴 Parents Are Invited at Noon!
Come watch the Pony Parade at 12:00 PM in the arena. If you're able, please bring:
🪑 Chairs
🍎 A picnic lunch for you and your child
💧 Water
🧴 Sunscreen or hats
After the parade, families are welcome to eat lunch together in the shady playground area.
🎂 And there will be CAKE at 12:45!
💦 Sprinklers for the Kids
We will have sprinklers set up in the arena so kids can cool off and play after the parade. The arena has good drainage, but students still need something on their feet.
Please have your child wear or bring shoes that can get wet, such as:
👟 sneakers
🥾 boots
🩴 Crocs or flip-flops
NO Bare feet are not allowed.
🐴 Animal Care Still Comes First
Even on a fun day, the horses come first.
Students will help decorate gently, pay attention to what each horse is comfortable with, and take good care of the animals who make this special day possible.
💛 Helper / Volunteer Note
Thank you for making this day happen! After the parade, we'll rinse all 12 painted horses, so please stay ready to work until every horse is clean, comfortable, and cared for before we wrap up.
🧳 What to Pack for Students
👕 Clothes that can get dirty
👟 Closed-toed shoes, still required
💧 Labeled refillable water bottle
🍎 Packed lunch
📸 Photos
We'll take lots! If you snap any, please add them to our summer album:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/n6pd1JrSJr44Afda7
Here is an album from last year if you want to see what the day might look like:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/FtKyom7g2SgjFNfX6
💛 We Can't Wait
Thank you for being part of our incredible community! See you tomorrow!
Sally Ann & the Cheyne Ranch Team
🐴 CHEYNE RANCH, INC. 🌟 Teaching Animal Care & Connection
📬 1963 Genova Drive, Oviedo, FL 32765
📞 Call/Text: (407) 205-7744 🌐 CheyneRanch.com
💙 Cheyne Ranch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Consider donating: chra.us/give
💛 Helpers: Big Week Ahead at Cheyne Ranch!
🤠 Howdy helpers 🤝,
We have completed 10 of our 17 days of Summer Camp and Friday Nature Club! 💛 It's already been a fun, full, meaningful summer. Students have cared for animals, made new friends, tried new things, played hard, and made memories that matter.
I have received SO MUCH positive feedback from parents, much of it about how wonderful our helpers are. Thank you. 🙌
This work is all about relationships. Helping students stay safe, feel included, care for animals, learn new skills, and be part of meaningful work and friendship matters, and you are a huge part of that.
📅 This coming week is a BIG one:
Tuesday AM: Summer Camp
Wednesday AM: Summer Camp
Thursday AM: Summer Camp
Friday AM: Friday Nature Club + our BIG 4th of July Pony Parade! 🐴
Plus regular lessons Monday AM, Monday PM, Wednesday PM, Friday PM, and Saturday AM
🎉 Friday is one of our biggest and most fun events of the whole year, and it takes a lot of helping hands to do it well. We need everyone, especially Friday.
Please plan ahead so you can show up:
💧 Well hydrated
😴 Well rested
😊 In a good mood
🐴 Ready to work
💛 Ready to help students have a wonderful day
💧 Hydration starts before you get here. Please drink plenty of fluids the day before. Drink while you are here, drink while you are at home. I know it is hard to remember, but by the time you feel really thirsty outside, your body is already playing catch-up. Help yourself have a better day by starting hydrated.
☀️ Yes, it's hot. It's Florida in July, and this week’s forecast is… HOT! But we're prepared: shade as much as possible, plus cooling towels, Gatorade, ice, water, fans, sprinklers, and lots of ways to keep everyone safe and cool.
🙌 This week works best when everyone stays engaged, keeps their attention on the students and animals, and looks for ways to help without waiting to be asked. Talk with the students, encourage them, help them participate, and keep the day moving well.
That might look like:
Helping a student
Refilling water for the pigs, chickens, and horses
Picking up trash
Cleaning a stall
Supporting a younger helper
Asking where you're needed and staying engaged
📸 Summer Photo Album
Don’t forget, we have one shared photo album for all Summer Camp and Friday Nature Club photos. If you take pictures during the day, please upload them here so families can see and enjoy those memories too:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/n6pd1JrSJr44Afda7
This week is going to be fun, busy, hot, silly, sweet, and probably a little chaotic in the best Cheyne Ranch way. And when everyone shows up ready to help, it works.
💛 Thank you for caring about the students, the animals, and each other, you all are the best part of Cheyne Ranch.
With gratitude,
Sally Ann
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.
Safe Enough to Breathe Together
I was reading Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Israeli historian Yuval Noah Harari, thinking about who humans are beneath all the systems, stories, and social constructs we create. Then I spent the day at a horse show near Ocala, in a beautiful place built for competition, training, discipline, and the pursuit of excellence in equestrian sports.
A horse show, I realized, is one of those social constructs. And it sent me back to why I share horses the way I do.
I love that the show world exists. It asks people to be precise, patient, devoted, resilient, and brave, and it gives riders something to pour years of heart into. My daughter, Anna, is one of those riders, and watching her grow through her pursuit of this sport is one of my great joys.
Competition matters deeply to the people who love it, and it should.
That world also keeps horses visible. It invites people to admire their beauty, athleticism, intelligence, and power. For many people, it is the very first doorway into noticing horses at all. I am grateful for it.
And it reminds me, every time, that the part of horses I feel called to share is a quieter one.
It is about giving people access to the part of horses that helps us settle, connect, and remember that we do not have to perform to be worthy.
Historically, humans have asked a great deal from horses. We have used them for food, milk, transport, labor, war, sport, and status. But underneath all of that, there has always been something else simply there.
Presence.
Attunement.
The experience of being near a large, living, responsive animal who does not ask us to explain ourselves.
At Cheyne Ranch, this is the part of horses I most want to share — especially with children and adults with disabilities, special needs, and different ways of moving through the world. These are people whose lives are so often shaped by evaluations, goals, diagnoses, milestones, and expectations that can never fully capture the whole person or the worth of their presence.
A horse does not ask for a diagnosis.
A horse does not care about a report card, a résumé, a social skills checklist, or whether someone moves through the world in a typical way.
A horse responds to breath, energy, movement, rhythm, tension, softness, consistency, and trust.
Being with a calm, attuned animal can lower the demand load that drives so much human stress. It gives the nervous system something steady to respond to. And in that steadiness, so many of the people who come to us do not just find calm.
They find joy.
This is what we have built at Cheyne Ranch, and it is what we would love to share with you: a place where you are welcomed exactly as you are, where your presence is enough, and where you might be surprised by how good it feels simply to stand beside a horse and breathe.
Because sometimes the greatest gift a horse gives is not a ribbon, a skill, or an accomplishment.
Sometimes the gift is simply this:
You are here.
I am here.
We are safe enough to breathe together.
