Dear Southern Reins Family,

As we near the close of our most successful Summer Session yet, we have loved witnessing the incredible progress made by our participants, the heartfelt dedication of our volunteers, and the unwavering support of our community. The start of our Fall Session is just weeks away, beginning on August 11, and will offer 16 impactful weeks of equine-assisted services.

With autumn around the corner, we are delighted to invite you to an unforgettable evening of Southern charm and celebration at the beautiful Memphis Country Club on Thursday, November 6, for our 4th Annual Southern Supper. This signature event brings together friends and supporters to experience true Southern hospitality with a family-style meal, live entertainment, and meaningful community connection that highlights the heart of our mission. Sponsorship opportunities and individual tickets are now available, and we hope you will join us for a taste of the South with Memphis charm!

This month also brings a special addition to our Southern Reins family. Please help us welcome Kirsten Barnette as our new Program Coordinator! Kirsten brings a deep passion for our mission and a wealth of experience that will further strengthen the impact of our programs. We are thrilled to have her on board and look forward to the positivity and expertise she brings to the barn each day.

Thank you for walking this journey with us - and for helping make every stride forward possible.

We want to share an important update about one of our beloved therapy horses, Rebel. After battling complications from eye trauma and corneal ulcers for more than six months, Rebel recently underwent surgery, and we are happy to share that it was successful. He is now beginning his healing journey, but he still has a long road to full recovery ahead. A heartfelt thank you to Full Circle Equine Veterinary Services for taking such great care of our special boy. We are incredibly grateful for their expertise and compassion.

Thanks to the generosity of our Guardian Angel Fund and the compassionate individuals who support it, we have been able to provide critical care for Rebel and other members of our herd during times of need. This includes care during Atlas’s hospitalization and the equine coronavirus outbreak. Rebel’s surgery is another significant medical expense this year, and we are asking for your continued support.

A recurring gift of just $5 per month to the Guardian Angel Fund truly makes a difference when our horses need it most.

If you are already a Guardian Angel, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. If you are not yet, we hope you will consider joining us today.

Together, we can support Rebel every step of the way and show all of our horses the same unwavering love and care they give to our participants each day.

Kaitlyn first became part of the Southern Reins family as a participant in 2016. Now 29, she continues to thrive in our Adaptive Horseback Riding program, partnered with her beloved therapy horse, Rebel. Born with Cerebral Palsy, Kaitlyn faces daily challenges with muscle tone and motor coordination - but her journey with Southern Reins has been one of resilience and transformation. Through her incredible bond with Rebel, she has gained strength, confidence, and a greater sense of independence. Together, they have built a remarkable partnership rooted in patience, trust, and mutual respect.

“I’m so grateful to ride Rebel every week. Some say we have a powerful bond like no other, but I think we just found each other at the perfect time. I don’t know what I would do without him. Before Southern Reins, I never imagined I could get out of my chair, leave it on the ramp, and ride without sidewalkers. Rebel and I go outside and walk the trails. Riding him makes me feel like everyone else. These are things I could never do in my wheelchair. I can’t describe how grateful I am to leave my disability on the ramp. It is a wonderful feeling to be free, even if just for an hour a week.”

– Kaitlyn Everroad

Watch Kaitlyn's story by clicking the video above!

July is Disability Pride Month, a time to honor the strength, perseverance, and diversity of people living with disabilities in our community.

At Southern Reins, we celebrate the beauty of inclusion and the powerful connections formed between people and horses. Here, every individual is valued for who they are, and every stride forward is a victory shared.

This month and every month, we are proud to stand with our participants, families, volunteers, staff, supporters and horses in recognizing the incredible community that makes our mission possible. 

Please join us in welcoming Southern Reins' new Program Coordinator, Kirsten Barnette!

Kirsten was born and raised in Germantown, Tennessee. She began her lifelong journey with horses as a working student at age 11 and has been passionate about equine education ever since. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science with an Equine Specialization from Southern Illinois University and has taught riding lessons in North Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

With experience in a variety of disciplines including hunters, jumpers, western, and dressage, Kirsten brings a diverse background and a strong foundation in horsemanship to her role at Southern Reins. She also has experience volunteering with other PATH Intl. certified centers and is currently pursuing her PATH Intl. Instructor Certification.

Outside of the barn, Kirsten enjoys creating art, practicing karate and yoga, playing board games, and spending time with her dog, Buddy, and her three cats - Dot, Echo, and Dolly.

Welcoming New Volunteers to the Southern Reins Family.

We are always excited to welcome new members of our Southern Reins volunteer family. Volunteers are the heart of our program and each one brings kindness, energy, and passion that truly make a difference. We are overjoyed to have your support in helping us changing lives . . . one ride at a time!

For more information about joining us as a volunteer, contact Meredith Massa: meredith.massa@southernreins.org.

Hope Church Lends a Hand at Southern Reins for Go and Do Day.

We are deeply appreciative to the incredible team from Hope Church who chose to spend their Go and Do Day in service at Southern Reins. With generous hearts and willing hands, this dedicated group completed important projects across the farm, including spreading mulch on our sensory trail, fixing drainage issues in Rusty's pasture, cleaning barn stalls and repainting the ramp to our administrative building.

Thanks to their hard work and servant spirit, our farm is looking better than ever. We are truly thankful for community partners like Hope Church who help us create significant change in the lives of those we serve.

Southern Reins Brings Smiles to Germantown Farmers Market.

We were honored to attend the Germantown Farmers Market at Bobby Lanier Farm Park this month as the featured educational guest! Program Director Sara Zurenko, along with two of our amazing therapy horses, Colonel and Delilah, had a wonderful time connecting with the community, making new friends, and sharing the life-changing impact of our equine-assisted programs.

It was a day full of smiles, learning, and heartfelt moments that truly reflected the spirit of community. 

UT-TSU Extension Students Explore Equine Therapy Benefits.

We had the privilege of welcoming to the farm students from UT-TSU Shelby County Extension. They had the unique opportunity to meet our exceptional team of therapy horses and discover firsthand the benefits of our equine-assisted services. The UT and TSU Extension serves citizens of Shelby County with educational programs in the areas of Agriculture, Family and Consumer Sciences, Community Resource Development, and 4-H Youth Development. We loved having you and are so thankful for your visit!