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Dear Southern Reins Family,
As 2024 comes to a close, we are profoundly grateful and appreciative for the incredible journey we have shared together this year. The generosity of our donors and supporters, dedication of our volunteers, and achievements of our participants have truly captured the unwavering strength and support of our remarkable community.
This year has been one to celebrate. We were honored to serve more than 300 individuals living with disabilities and hardships, foster meaningful partnerships with Concord Academy and White Station Middle and High Schools, and see continued growth in our HorsePOWER Work-Based Learning program. The indescribable joy and accomplishments of our participants, made possible through the selfless efforts of our volunteers, reflect the very heart and soul of Southern Reins.
As we look forward to 2025, your support would mean the world to us. Your year-end gift to our Annual Fund will help sustain and grow our programs, provide exceptional care for our incredible therapy horses, and create life-changing experiences for individuals with special needs across our community. Together, we can continue to make Southern Reins a beacon of hope and empowerment, where ability is celebrated and lives are transformed through the healing power of horses.
Thank you for sharing your heart and being part of our Southern Reins family. Your unwavering dedication and belief in our mission inspire everything we do. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with health, happiness, and joy!
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Thank You for Another Wonderful Year | |
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As we reflect on another milestone year at Southern Reins, our hearts are overflowing with gratitude for all the remarkable individuals and partners who make our mission possible. To our generous donors, steadfast champions, and compassionate supporters: your contributions make a lasting difference in the lives we serve. To our extraordinary volunteers: your unwavering dedication and kindness keep our program thriving. To our exceptional team of therapy horses: your gentle spirits inspire with every step and stride forward. And to our incredible participants and their families: you are the foundation of everything we do. Thank you all for being an essential part of our Southern Reins family and for helping us create so many life-changing moments in 2024.
We invite you to watch our new Southern Reins video, which premiered at the 3rd Annual Southern Supper! The video showcases our mission and the profound bonds between our participants and their therapy horses. It is a privilege to see these powerful connections unfold every day at the farm and these special moments would not be possible without supporters like you.
A special thanks to Stef Allan, his son Reid, who is also a Southern Reins participant, and all our wonderful participants, families, and volunteers for their contributions to this project—thank you, Lucy, Kate, Stevie, Steve, Joshua, Brenda, and Linda!
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Together, we are Changing Lives . . . Now and for Generations to Come | |
We believe in the power of horses to transform lives. Our therapy horses do more than carry their riders; they uplift hearts, spark hope, and create meaningful connections. Every individual we serve has a unique potential waiting to be realized, and with your support, we can provide opportunity for participants to experience breakthrough moments where their abilities shine as they discover a newfound sense of confidence, strength, and independence. | | |
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This holiday season, you can make a difference that will echo far beyond the holidays, into a lifetime of memories and accomplishments.
Your gift will provide essential financial assistance for our participants, ensure the very best of care for our cherished therapy horses, and help expand our programs and facilities to reach even more individuals in need.
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Be a light of hope this holiday season. Your end-of-year gift will provide hope and opportunity for those who need it most. | |
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With the conclusion of our 16-week Fall Session last week, we were grateful to share the connection of horse and human for 197 participants who took part in Adaptive Horseback Riding, Occupational Therapy incorporating Hippotherapy, PATH Intl. Equine Services for Heroes, HorsePOWER Work-Based Learning and Beyond the Saddle Unmounted Activities.
After a holiday season break for our hard-working equine partners, our 9-week Winter Session will begin on January 6. We are so excited to have returning and new participants and volunteers back at the farm in a few short weeks!
Be sure to check out all the great photos from our recently concluded Fall Session now live on Facebook!
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CLINT is proudly named Southern Reins' Horse of the Year!
Chosen by our incredible supporters, volunteers, and participants, Clint - whose registered name is "Call Me Mr. Eastwood"- has stolen the spotlight and the hearts of many with his charisma, dedication, and larger-than-life personality. A true star in the arena, Clint’s love for his work and his unforgettable spirit always leaves a lasting impression on everyone he meets. We are honored to have this leading man as a standout member of our equine therapy team.
On loan from Lu and Wayne Burkett, Clint joined our herd in June of 2022, and he is proudly sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Germantown.
Congratulations, Clint! We could not be more proud of you!
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Southern Reins Welcomes New Members of our
Board of Directors
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Kent Kring, Executive Vice-President & Chief Operations Officer at Monogram Foods
Kent has spent nearly 40 years in the food manufacturing industry in a range of roles and with companies big, and small. During his career he has learned to embrace the opportunity to connect with people at all levels, from the production floor to the boardroom, to accomplish great things together. Kent first learned of Southern Reins through his role at Monogram where he is an avid supporter of Monogram Loves Kids. Inspired by the mission of Southern Reins and the positive impact that the dedicated humans and special horses have on the lives of the participants, he is excited about supporting those efforts in an even more impactful way.
Kent and his wife, Tammy, have called Cordova home since 2018, and they generously dedicate their time and resources to support a variety of family-focused charitable organizations.
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Kristin Newman, Director of Strategic Initiatives at International Paper Company
Kristin holds an MBA from Duke University and a Bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University. She has over 20 years of strategic planning, business development, and marketing expertise. She has led efforts across various divisions, focusing on market analysis, process optimization, and business strategy. Kristin has previously served on the Board of Directors for the Dixon Gallery & Gardens and the Memphis Urban Arts Commission, as well as the Fuqua School of Business Alumni Board.
Kristin has a life-long passion for horses and firmly believes in their healing power. She and her son, Jackson, live in Oxford, MS where she established Yimmi Stables on her family's farm. In her free time, Kristin enjoys gardening, cooking and trail riding.
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Sharing a Warm Welcome to our New
Equine Care Assistants
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Kaylee Hargett, Equine Care Assistant
Kaylee was born and raised in Memphis, TN, where her passion for helping people and animals grew from a young age. She began volunteering at Southern Reins in January 2024, and quickly fell in love with the horses and the supportive community at the barn.
Kaylee will begin pursuing her Instructor in Training hours in 2025 to gain her PATH Intl. CTRI certification. When she is not at the farm, she enjoys spending time with her lease horse Siri, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
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Lilly Misciskia, Equine Care Assistant
Lilly grew up in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and moved to the Memphis area in 2018. She is currently pursuing a degree in Veterinary Technology at the University of Tennessee Martin’s Somerville campus. Lilly has been riding horses since the age of six and has a diverse equestrian background.
She began her journey riding reining horses, transitioned to western pleasure and all-around disciplines, and now focuses on hunter/jumpers. When she is not in class or at Southern Reins, Lilly enjoys spending time with her personal horses; Happy, Bill and Mo.
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Thank You
Jazz, Benny and Jute
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This month, we celebrate the retirement of three incredible therapy horses who have brought so much healing, joy, and love to Southern Reins - Jazz, Benny, and Jute. These special horses have given their all to help individuals living with disabilities and hardship, and their impact on our mission will be felt for years to come.
Jazz, with his steady and gentle presence, has returned to the loving care of his owner, Dorothy Lane. Benny, whose dazzling personality and kind heart have left a lasting impact on all who met him, will soon head home to his owner, Julia Petree. And Jute, the rock-solid and reliable horse who has touched the lives of countless individuals, will enjoy a well-deserved retirement with Southern Reins’ dedicated volunteer, Brenda Heindl.
While we will surely miss these amazing horses, we are overjoyed they are heading on to their next chapters, surrounded by love and care. Thank you, Jazz, Benny, and Jute, for the years of service, dedication, and joy you have given to so many. Your legacies will live on in the hearts of everyone you have served.
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Collierville Twentieth Century Club Sponsors Hay for a Month!
We were thrilled to welcome Pam Castleman from the Collierville Twentieth Century Club, who presented a check to Southern Reins’ Executive Director, Jill Haag, sponsoring Hay for a Month to support our incredible therapy horses. We are grateful for their continued support as an equine care donor, as gifts like theirs are crucial in helping us fulfill our mission and enhance the lives of individuals living with disabilities and hardship.
Thank you from all of us at Southern Reins for being a wonderful champion of our program and our horses.
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CHS Transition Academy Students Interact With Our Herd
Students from Collierville High School's Transition Academy are all smiles after a semester of hard work completing various jobs around our farm. In appreciation for their incredible dedication, they were rewarded with hands-on interactions with our herd of therapy horses. The smiles and memories shared is a testament to the joy they bring to Southern Reins.
We so appreciate you and cannot wait to see you all next year!
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Veterans Build Confidence in the Saddle!
Last week, we had the privilege of welcoming our friends from Memphis VA Medical Center to ride our therapy horses as part of our PATH Intl. Equine Services for Heroes program. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve our veterans and honor their service to our country.
A heartfelt thank you to these incredible heroes for spending Monday's with us during our Fall Session at the farm. We look forward to many more moments of healing and connection!
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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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