We’re winding down our winter session and looking forward to the arrival of spring. It’s been such a pleasure having all the smiling faces showing up at the ranch day in and day out. With snow out in the pastures and on the sensory trail, we’ve been spending most of the wintertime in the indoor arena. We are so lucky to have such a wonderfully enclosed riding space with great footing and ventilation. Because of the generosity of our donors and community, the indoor arena allows us to continue to serve the same number of participants year-round, at zero cost. 

The Arena: 

It’s so fun to see the arena divided into equidistant segments for daily lessons. Within each segment, there are cones, rings, and poles set up for drills depending on the demand of each group or individual. Below are a few examples of how the arena is set up based on who’s riding and what their goals are. 

The Demand: 

We continue to see an increased demand for our services as we continue to trudge through COVID times and the latest surge of Omicron – it’s a mental struggle for many and we’re honored to be able to serve those in need. We’re also seeing a shift in our demands with an increase in riders with MS. You’ll recall reading and listening to Jeffrey’s story and his achievements while at Swiftsure. It’s been a couple months since we heard from him and we’re happy to report that Jeffrey continues to gain strength, freedom, and connection from each lesson. Many of you already know Chris Deck. She is another MS participant that shows up weekly to build on the gains she achieves from her time on horses. Finally, we’re seeing school groups regularly and enjoy the energy they bring. For school groups, we’re seeing these kiddos show up with an exuberant amount of scattered energy, and by the time their lessons are complete, they are more focused and have channeled energy, which is a major goal of each lesson. We hear from several happy teachers that tell us their lessons also increase their students’ productivity at school. 

Upcoming: If you haven’t saved these dates, make sure to get them on the calendar

With spring on the horizon, we have so many events to be on the lookout for. 

• Swiftsure Derby | May 7 – We are elevating the Derby this year and we’re excited to give you a preview! Like previous years, we’re taking the herd to the annual Swiftsure Derby Fundraiser, where they will race for strength, freedom and connection. Who will come out in the lead this year? Or will [insert winner] prevail for a second year? We’ll be having live (stick) horse races at the ranch on May 7 along with a pantomime race with our GEMs club members. We’ll also be closing out the afternoon with a BIG Kentucky Derby watch party for the annual Running of the Roses on our HUGE screen. So, get those hats ready and we’ll have the mint juleps mixed up and waiting! More info to come shortly. In the meantime, save the date, dust off your fanciest hat, and be ready to come down for a fun day of horse affairs and a live watch party. 
• Rodeo Days All Abilities Summer Camps – These summer camps were a BIG hit last year and we’re thrilled to be bringing them back again this summer. 
  • June 27-30, 2022 | Monday-Thursday
  • July 25-28, 2022 | Monday-Thursday
  • August 22-25, 2022 | Monday-Thursday
• Cowboy Ball | July 14 – The most popular fundraising event in the Wood River Valley and our biggest event. We all look forward to this night in support of our mission. [link to mission] Mark your calendars now for the 31st Annual Cowboy Ball. Be sure you’re on our email list so you can grab your tickets the day they go on sale. This year our goal for this event is to raise $425K. With your generosity, our dedicated family of donors, we are confident that we can reach our goal! This year’s theme is Vintage Western Movies so find your best Western duds, and gather your friends for the best night of the year.
  CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON EVENTS!

Quick Reminder: 

As we continue to navigate COVID and COVID exposures around the ranch, this is your little reminder to help us stay well at the ranch. If you or your participant have been exposed, feel sick, or have been sent home from school—PLEASE stay home. And, while masks aren’t mandatory, we do encourage them if you’ve been in school, or around groups of people. As always, thanks for understanding and helping us continue to serve all of our participants. 

To learn more about the ranch, our services, or upcoming events and programs, Visit swiftsureranch.org, send us an email at info@swiftsureranch.org, or give us a call at 208-578-8111.