Cleanup Day One

Day one: Rain. But did that stop us? Nope! Idaho weather did what it does best and cleared up to a 65 degree afternoon and we worked until sunset. Members and their families packed up lunches for the kids and spent the day working on spring cleaning and setting up the ranch for visitors.

Thank you to Atlas Pallet Company for the VERY generous lumber donation! We are so blessed to have such an awesome community so willing to help.

We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to McAlvain Construction for donating heavy equipment for the weekend. We are able to get some much needed groundwork done finally!

 Tammy worked on pruning trees and getting the grounds "beautified" for our guests

The children of Sun River played with the animals and helped gathering rocks. Skyler was very helpful in caring for the little ones while we worked the day away.

Thank you to Chris Koller for all the tractor time this weekend! We are so blessed to be surrounded by so many amazing people.

Pens are moved already and we have so many exciting projects planned for the weekend. On to cleanup day two . . .

Blessings!

March 30th

   March madness is here! First, we would like to thank our amazing and loving God for allowing us to be a part of this awesome ministry. Thank you to our photographer, Mr. Dave Cook, for donating his time and talent to benefit our program! Dave really captured the spirit of Sun River Equine.

    Thank you to Mr. Stuart Walsh for our new Sun River logo and for all of his time dedicated to creating our website. We should have everything up and running by the 30th of March. The web address will be www.sunriverequineranch.org.

   We would also like to announce that our horse ranch is going to be having it's first fundraiser :) We will have a yard sale at the ranch March 30-31st, 8am-4. 1173 N Black Cat Rd. Kuna, ID 83634.

 

How you can help:

   For those of you who haven't started your spring cleaning yet, now is a great time! We would love to take some of your Good Will/Youth Ranch items from you and sell them at our yard sale so we can raise funds for our program. Drop off days are March 25th, 28th, and 29th 1:00pm-6pm. We would also be happy to meet any of you to pick up items if that would be more convenient.

 

   If those of you who don't have any items to donate but want to come see the ranch, we would be happy to show you around the 30th and 31st - the day of the yard sale. We will be selling some delicious baked goods as well.

 

   This has been THE most amazing journey thus far and SO much has happened in the last few months. We are just in the beginning stages but have our 501(c)3 sanction non-profit status and things are rockin'. We have already been extremely blessed by SO many people stepping out and helping us with the start up.

 

We appreciate all of you taking time to read this. We are so excited what the future holds for this ranch!

 

Please share this with anyone you know who would want to be a part of our (SREYR) first fundraiser or anyone who loves a good yard sale :)

 

Blessings,

The Sun River Equine Family

 

  

It's Official!

 IT'S OFFICIAL! Sun River Equine Youth Ranch Inc. is now able to operate as a nonprofit organization. Thank you God for the strength and vision that led us to this point and thank you to all our members and volunteers who have worked so tirelessly for our program. 

  
Now the real work begins . . . 
We are preparing for our website's launch very shortly, thanks to Stuart Walsh and his donation of time and hard work. 

In the coming months, our focus will be on program development and safety procedures.

 Gail and Larry Stearns have VERY generously donated this large play set to our program. This donation is critical to the program as it provides a fun and safe place for our young children. THANK YOU!



"All things are possible to him who believes."-Mark 9:23

Meet our volunteers: 
Amanda Harper came to Sun River in the summer of 2011 with her two horses Len and Kat. It is no coincidence that she found us, as she has been a crucial part in development of this program. Amanda's love and knowledge of horses makes her an important addition to our Sun River Family. She helps us with the chores here at the ranch and makes every day brighter with her positive attitude and encouraging personality.

February 10, 2012

Sun River Equine Youth Ranch is a recognized corporation! We received notice yesterday, February 9th, 2012, that we were accepted by the state of Idaho. 


We are currently putting the finishing touches on IRS 1023 and hope to have that in the mail very soon. Once that form is on its way, we can legally operate as a nonprofit organization.













All Bylaws have been adopted, charter signed and directors in place for the grand opening, planned for June of this year. Our fundraising committee has some very special surprises planned for that day! We will announce a date as soon and possible.

We would like to thank Stuart and Kristi Walsh for generously donating their time and talent in working on our website! What can we say . . . we have some pretty awesome friends ( :

We fully believe that every step of this journey has been His plan and we are dedicated to making this new program a ministry to all children and families.

The community here at Sun River is amazing. We are SO BLESSED to have the best staff of volunteers!

We would like to thank Chris Koller for beautifully grooming our arena. This will make for some fun and safe riding days in the weeks and months ahead!

Perspective

This Saturday, while spending time at Care-ousel Therapeutic Riding Center, I began thinking of an idea that came to me years ago while working in the classroom. Perhaps, these children who have disabilities . . . these kids who are "challenged," just maybe, they are "normal" or "typical" and the mass population is "challenged" or "disabled." 

I have yet to hear one complaint, one criticism or one single negative comment about another. Hugs are how these kids say hello. There are no jokes about how one looks in the saddle. When someone falls, the other is there to stand them up. 

I think the term "challenged," is not accurate. In fact, "challenged," "disabled" and "retarded," ought to describe the general population and these children should be our mentors.

Here we go!

Sun River Equine Youth Ranch would like to thank everyone for all the support and encouragement during this process! As you all know, we have been working very hard toward our goals.

We had our first Board of Directors meeting this past weekend and the excitement is overwhelming! We have eight dedicated and amazing members! Paperwork is in progress and we are moving forward!

God has already given us so many opportunities to reach out to the community and some amazing animals.

This May, we will be attending a conference in Oregon where we will learn more about Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch, their ministry, and how we can be a part of it.

This opportunity . . . this ministry is a gift.

Coming together . . .

    I would like to share with everyone the experience I had yesterday while mentoring at a local Therapeutic Riding Center. Sam is an amazing girl who always has a smile on her face. She is unable to walk but can bear her own weight with support. Every Saturday morning, Sam anxiously awaits her horseback riding session at 10:00am. She sings to herself patiently, while she watches volunteers grooming her horse. Then, when it is time, her mother goes to her side and helps her up on a step and onto her gelding (Tom).
   Since, she is not verbal, her brother asked me to walk beside her while she rode. I eagerly accepted (as my toes were FROZEN and I needed to get the blood flowing somehow). I looked up as we walked and what I saw was pure joy that I cannot even really explain fairly with words. Sam rode with her arms out and eyes closed, as this horse was not only a companion to her but this horse was her legs.
   I feel so blessed to be given the opportunity to be a part of this and to learn from those who may not have a voice but have so much to show the rest of us about life and what it's all about.
   We have our EIN number now so Sun River Equine Youth Ranch is an entity. By the end of the month we will have our application in for our non profit status. Thank you God for this gift, to my husband for his support of my craziness, and to all the fabulous people who are putting all of themselves into this to make it happen!