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Dear Southern Reins Family,
April has been an incredible and busy month for Southern Reins! We could not have achieved so much without the unwavering support of our amazing volunteers, generous donors, participants, and staff who bring our programs to life. Thank you for being a vital part of our mission.
The countdown is on for our 10th Annual Jockeys & Juleps Derby Party! More than just a celebration of the greatest two minutes in sports, this special event honors the life-changing difference our horses make for people living with disabilities and hardships. We are looking forward to celebrating the Run for the Roses with all of our sponsors and guests, and with only two tables remaining, now is the time to secure your sponsorship.
Our 9-week Spring Session is in full bloom, and the farm is alive with energy, joy, and countless smiles. We are thrilled to welcome back so many familiar faces while also greeting a wonderful group of new participants. From Adaptive Riding to HorsePOWER Work-Based Learning, every program is creating lasting memories and empowering progress.
This month also brought us into the community for some wonderful events, including the Collierville Schools Transition Fair, Ag Day Celebration and Ice Cream Social, and the Arlington Community Schools Mental Health Resource Fair. Each event has given us the chance to connect with new families, share our mission, and celebrate the healing power of horses. We are truly grateful to everyone who makes these visits possible!
Explore more exciting highlights from April below as we continue to make a difference and change lives . . . one ride at a time!
| | Southern Reins in the Community! | | |
Collierville Schools Transition Fair
We had a wonderful time at the Collierville Schools Transition Fair! A big shoutout to our incredible volunteer, Donna, and our dedicated Volunteer Coordinator, Meredith, for representing Southern Reins and sharing the many impactful programs we offer. Hosted by the Department of Exceptional Children, this event provides a valuable opportunity for students with disabilities and their families to explore resources that support lifelong success. It was a pleasure connecting with so many families, educators, and community members throughout the day!
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Ag Day Celebration and Ice Cream Social
Southern Reins was proud to take part in the Annual Ag Day Celebration, luncheon, and ice cream social hosted at the Agricenter. This year’s theme, “Agriculture: Together We Grow,” celebrated the importance of agriculture as a leading industry and offered a fun and educational opportunity for students and participants to explore its impact on their everyday lives. A special thank you goes to our amazing volunteer and participant parent duo, Debbie and Chad, for joining us and helping make the day such a success. We are always grateful for the chance to connect with our community and share in events that inspire growth and learning!
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Arlington Community Schools Mental Health Resource Fair
We were honored to be part of the Arlington Community Schools Mental Health Resource Fair, where our dedicated volunteers, Donna and Casey, represented our mission with warmth and enthusiasm. The event was a wonderful opportunity to connect with families, educators, and community members, all coming together to support mental wellness and share valuable resources. It was a heartwarming day filled with meaningful conversations, new connections, and a shared commitment to making a positive impact!
| | Thumbs Up for a New Session at Southern Reins! | | |
Southern Reins' 9-week
Spring Session officially began on
Wednesday, March 26!
It has been such a joy to welcome our participants and volunteers back to the farm this Spring Session! Southern Reins is alive with the energy of familiar faces returning and new ones joining, and we are excited to experience all the wonderful moments this session will continue to bring. This spring, we are serving a wide range of participants across our Adaptive Riding, Occupational Therapy incorporating Hippotherapy, PATH Intl. Equine Services for Heroes, HorsePOWER Work-Based Learning, Pony Pals and Beyond the Saddle programs. Through these programs, we look forward to reaching even more individuals, spreading joy and making a meaningful difference. The future looks bright, and we cannot wait to see what is ahead!
| | Church of the Incarnation Helps Prepare for a Derby Day to Remember! | | |
We want to extend a huge thank you to the wonderful youth group from Church of the Incarnation for their incredible help in getting us ready for our 10th Annual Jockeys & Juleps Derby Party! This amazing group rolled up their sleeves and jumped right in, spreading mulch around the farm.
We are incredibly grateful for their support and look forward to seeing the lasting impact they will continue to have in our community!
| | HorsePOWER Students Bring Life to Our Sensory Trail, One Plant at a Time! | | |
A huge thank you to our HorsePOWER Work-Based Learning students for their dedicated efforts in filling our raised flower beds with plants and bringing our Sensory Trail to life!
Their support has made this special space even more beautiful, and we are so grateful for the time and care each of them put into making the trail an interactive, sensory-rich experience for all who visit.
We also want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to everyone who donated plants or gift certificates. Your contributions, along with the dedication of our HorsePOWER participants, have truly made a powerful transformation. Thank you for helping us create something so meaningful!
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Sharing a Warm Welcome to Southern Reins' Newest
Board Member!
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Please join us in welcoming Melissa Clinton to Southern Reins'
Board of Directors!
Melissa earned her Master of Business Administration in Finance and Real Estate from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with a Minor in Public Affairs from UCLA. She is a professional investor and community advocate. Her investment activity is centered on real estate private equity in the multifamily space, however, she has spent her career across the investment management, real estate development, and real estate asset management functions. Melissa has led performance reporting, compliance and investor relations for large real estate private equity firms. In her previous role as Director of Asset Management at Barings, Melissa oversaw a multifamily and commercial portfolio exceeding $800 million across the Western U.S., leading major capital projects, valuations, and strategic planning initiatives.
Outside of her professional life, Melissa is focused on improving the communities she is a part of. Melissa serves as a Trustee of Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee, and as a Board Advisor for The Soraya Center for the Performing Arts at Cal State Northridge. She supports various Memphis-area organizations including the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art and the Soulsville Foundation. Melissa is a proud Southern Reins parent, and she looks forward to serving the organization that has had such a profound impact on her family.
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Welcome New Southern Reins' Volunteers!
We are so pleased with the incredible response to our recent Volunteer Trainings. It is always a joy to see so many enthusiastic individuals who are ready to become part of the Southern Reins farm family. Each new volunteer brings unique energy and heart, and we are truly grateful to welcome so many wonderful new faces into our community.
If you would like to learn more about volunteering with our programs, please contact Meredith Massa at meredith.massa@southernreins.org.
We would love to share how you can get involved and make a meaningful impact.
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Hoppin' into Easter Fun at the Farm!
Finley and her therapy horse, Clint, were all smiles during their lesson last week - especially with Clint rocking his festive bunny ears! These two make such a great team, and seeing them enjoy the holiday fun together was the perfect dose of springtime joy.
We hope everyone had a fun and safe Easter filled with laughter, love, and maybe even a few bunny ears of your own!
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Thank You for an Incredible NAEP Wet Lab Weekend!
We are so grateful to everyone who joined us for the NAEP Regional Wet Lab this month! It was an incredible two days of learning, collaboration, and hands-on education focused on The Foundation of Equine Biomechanics: Tackling Negative Palmer Angles and Suspensory Injuries, led by the amazing Dr. Elizabeth Lordan, DVM, CJF, and Cody Gregory, CJF, ASF, FWCF.
We are so grateful to Vet-ray Technology by Sedecal USA and Universal Imaging for their generous sponsorship and to all the veterinarians, farriers, and equine professionals who brought their passion and expertise to this event. Your commitment to advancing equine care and education is what makes events like this so impactful.
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Our mission is to serve individuals with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities and hardship by providing equine-assisted service to empower, inspire, nurture and succeed. | |
SOUTHERN REINS CENTER FOR EQUINE THERAPY
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