BARN NEWS
Veterans spoke. RFJ listened.
The dates for the Ruck Up & Rebuild Retreat 2018 have been moved from weekdays to the weekend to better accommodate participants and volunteers. The new days are Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 18, 19, and 20.
Applications will open on March 1.
Enter to win one of two Valentine's baskets for you and your sweetheart. The baskets include dinner at Bonefish Grill or Cottonwood Grill, a night at the Anniversary Inn or The Grove Hotel, a bottle of sparkling cider, sweet chocolates, and a plush toy.
All proceeds support Ride for Joy. Return to our home page for ticket details.
Winners will drawn and contacted on 2/13/18. Get your tickets soon!
The staff at Ride for Joy are always looking for ways to improve and streamline the process of entering the program. From reducing the wait list length to pairing down the paperwork, getting into riding lessons should not bring extra stress for anyone.
One such frustration has been the need to use snail mail (what year is it?!) to send in applications. No longer!
RFJ now has two more efficient methods of applying for the program. The first is to scan and email completed paperwork to hminer@rideforjoy.org. The second is to fax it to 1 208 550-3208. Faxes will be received as emails to continue ensuring all information is kept confidential.
As doctors' offices are bound by HIPAA requirements and can not email releases, the fax number allows participant physicians to email releases directly to the barn. No more waiting for releases to be mailed to the house and then mailed to the barn.
Isn't progress swell?!
RFJ is bummed to announce that Winter Wonderland at Twin Oak Farms on 1/20/18 has been cancelled due to weather (it sure doesn't feel like winter!). Check back to see if the event is rescheduled.
Executive Director Christi King is honored to present Ride for Joy to the Mighty Girls Book Club on February 10, 2018.
The club is for ages 11 to 14 and features books with strong female characters. Members meet at the Silverstone Library in Meridian on the second Saturday of each month to discuss the featured book and listen to a guest speaker.
February's book is The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley with Christi as the guest speaker.
2018 is off to a great fundraising start. Congratulations to RFJ and Chris Allen, the new grant writer, for the first grant award of the year.
The Walmart Community Grant presented Ride for Joy with $1000 to support local communities.
"At Walmart, we strongly believe in giving back and are proud to support organizations that improve communities where our customers and associates live and work.
"As a Community Grant recipient, we encourage you to celebrate this accomplishment...We appreciate your efforts to help people live better and wish you success," said The Walmart Community Grant Team and Faculty.
A hefty thank you to Walmart from all of the bipeds and quadrupeds at Ride for Joy.
Happy New Year from the staff and equines at RFJ!
As you usher in 2018, perhaps you have wondered what 2017 looked like at the barn. Read the 2017 Annual Report to find out.
May this new year bring blessings and joy to you and your family. And a trip to the barn!
As the days to Christmas fly by, many of you may be thinking about last minute gift orders. If that is you, remember to include Ride for Joy as a donation recipient on sites such as Amazon Smile, Flip Give, Fred Meyer, Walmart and others. The students, horses, volunteers, and staff appreciate every penny donated.
Services for veterans have become well known throughout our culture as more and more military members discharge from service. With so many therapeutic options available, it may be difficult for veterans and their family members to know where to engage.
At Ride for Joy, therapeutic riding has been available to veterans since 2014, but the avenue has been in use for many more years. Science has recently begun to track and record the outcomes that riders have experienced throughout history.
Personal stories of the impact of equines abound. If you would like to read more about veterans and equine therapy, the following link will take you to one of many great articles: http://theweek.com/articles/722279/how-horse-therapy-helps-treat-veterans-ptsd.
Staff say regularly that volunteers make RFJ possible, but it bears repeating. Volunteers not only lead horses and support riders during lessons, they create games, organize equipment, and some even donate their time and artistry.
One such volunteer is Michael of MJ's Photography. This up and coming photographer trekked to the barn on a chilly December afternoon to provide much needed pictures of herd members for the new website. His patience and time are appreciated.
Consider him for your photography needs.
