Dear Jill,

 

As the year draws to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on the remarkable journey we've shared. Our November newsletter is brimming with stories that exemplify the spirit and dedication that make Southern Reins such a special place.


In this edition of our newsletter, we take you inside the elegant Memphis Hunt & Polo Club for our 2nd Annual Southern Supper that brought our community together in support of our programs, and share the exciting introduction of two new members of our herd, Diego and Havana, who are already making a profound impact.


We celebrate the collaborative spirit of TigerLIFE and the CHS Transition Academy Achieve Program, whose dedication to vocational skills shines through their meticulous preparation of horseshoes for our Southern Supper event. You'll find joy in our early Christmas festivities, thanks to our TigerLIFE and Achieve Program friends who are decking the halls with boughs of holly.


Don't miss the opportunity to spread holiday cheer with our special Holiday-Honorary Notecards, and join us as we look back at a delightful painting class that brought together volunteers and participant parents for a day of creativity and community.


Each article is a testament to the power of compassion, the strength of community, and the unwavering belief that together, we can foster independence and joy in the lives of those we serve. We are immensely grateful for your continued support and invite you to delve into these inspiring stories.

2nd Annual Southern Supper

An Evening of Making a Difference

The illustrious Memphis Hunt & Polo Club was the perfect setting for a memorable evening of Southern charm and philanthropy on November 9, 2023. Proudly presented by ContractingPRO and hosted by Southern Reins Vice Chairman of the Board, Kim Jordan, and her husband, Bryan Jordan, this special gathering brought together 187 guests to celebrate the spirit of Southern hospitality in support of Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy’s programs that benefit people with special needs in our community.


The evening kicked off with a delightful cocktail hour featuring live music by Bonfire Orchestra, setting the perfect ambiance for an unforgettable night. As the night deepened, guests were treated to a sumptuous family-styled Southern dinner, expertly paired with select wines, and enjoyed the warm camaraderie of individuals passionate about making a difference.


This year's Southern Supper raised an impressive $62,000 to sustain and grow Southern Reins services, providing transformative physical, mental, and emotional benefits to children and adults with disabilities and hardships across the Mid-South.


Thank you for your incredible generosity, and for joining us for a Taste of the South . . . with Memphis charm. 

VIEW THE EVENT PHOTOS

Welcome Diego and Havana!

Meet Diego! Diego is a sweet 21-year old American Quarter Horse with a small stature and beautiful silver dun coat. His calm and quiet demeanor along with his size makes him the perfect fit for our smaller participants who need higher support in the saddle. Diego comes to us as a career lesson pony with a lot of experience teaching all ages to ride, and he has easily fit right in with our herd. We are so grateful to have this kind and handsome boy!


Diego is on loan from Jessica Dalton with Foxpointe Farm and sponsored by Linda and Jon Casello. He joined our herd in September of 2023.

Meet Havana! Havana is a handsome 11-year-old Wesser Ems gelding standing 16.1 hands high. He comes to us as a highly-trained dressage horse and has an incredible personality that cannot be beat! His inquisitive and pleasing nature makes him the perfect equine partner for our participants to help them accomplish their goals. We love this sweet affectionate boy and cannot wait to see all the miracles he makes possible.


Havana was donated from our dear friend, Alison Carr, and joined our herd in August of 2023.

TigerLIFE and CHS Transition Academy Achieve Program Join Forces as they Journey Toward Independence

With the help and guidance from our amazing volunteer, Donna, Memphis TigerLIFE and Collierville High School's Achieve Program work on various projects together twice a week at our farm. These trips allow both groups the opportunity to learn vocational skills while helping us fulfill our mission.


Check out a few of the awesome projects they've been working on this month! Thank you from all of us at Southern Reins!

Horseshoes For a Purpose

From Hooves to Hands


Memphis TigerLIFE and Collierville High School's Achieve Program demonstrate a labor of love by cleaning, polishing and prepping horseshoes as take-away gifts for our 2nd Annual Southern Supper. Both groups worked tirelessly to ensure each horseshoe looked brand new and ready for their new homes. By choosing a horseshoe, guests were able to honor their hard work and support our mission to enrich lives throughout our community.

Christmas Time at the Farm!


With Thanksgiving just a few short days away, Southern Reins has begun to get in the spirit of the holiday season! With the guidance of our amazing "Chairman of Decorations," Karen Hall, our TigerLIFE and Collierville High School Achieve Program friends have been decorating holiday trees and spreading smiles. Their assistance with little sprinkles of Christmas spirit across the farm brings such joy!

Gift with a Purpose - Get your Honorary Notecards Today

Our Holiday-Honorary Notecards are Now Available!

$100 for each pack of 10


We are pleased to announce that Southern Reins Holiday-Honorary Notecards are NOW AVAILABLE to order! For $100, these 10-pack of cards display wonderful moments between our participants and their horses, making the perfect gift to share your holiday cheer. All proceeds make a difference for everyone we serve . . . and the most valuable gift we can give is the gift of helping others. The deadline to order your cards in time for Christmas is December 8, 2023.


Contact Lizzie Cash to order: lizzie.cash@southernreins.org

Thank you for changing lives . . . one ride at a time!

Photos from the Farm

Paint-A-Piece At The Farm!


Southern Reins shares a warm thank you to Jessie Hanks with Paint-A-Piece for joining us at the farm this month and hosting a lovely painting class for our volunteers and participants' parents! Spending time with our amazing community by sharing laughs and smiles is always such a fun time. We cannot wait for the next one!

First Horizon Foundation Funds DeSoto County Sponsorships


Members of the Southaven Branch of First Horizon Bank proudly present a check for $1,500 to Kanette Keough, Southern Reins Director of Development. First Horizon Foundation has supported sponsorships for DeSoto County residents since 2019, and their partnership and investment in our program is so greatly appreciated. Thank you for your wonderful continued support!

Lila Loves Her Therapy Horse and Partner, Shiloh!


One of our sweet Adaptive Riding participants, Lila, thoroughly enjoys spending time after each lesson giving her therapy horse and partner, Shiloh, gentle strokes of appreciation. These interactions help build and strengthen the bond between them and provide healing and joy. We love seeing these sweet connections every day at the farm!

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.
SUPPORT SOUTHERN REINS
SOUTHERN REINS CENTER FOR EQUINE THERAPY
901-290-1011 southernreins.org
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