Give to the MAX DAY 2024

Although the picture we used for this fundraising campaign may look a little mundane, this actually was an amazing triumph for this young lady (and for our volunteers and staff)!  It was the first time she chose to ride a horse.  Twenty minutes later she was saying, "I am flying! I am flying!" as she rode around the arena. She has autism with limited verbal skills, so hearing her perfectly describe the feeling so many of us have as we ride horses was incredible.  Her joy and feeling of flying had all of us crying happy tears. 

This participant started her journey in our therapeutic riding program as being scared of even entering the building. Too many people, strange smells and animals made her fearful to come in.  We started to bring our mini pony, Foxy, out to the parking lot for her to meet and groom.  This time with our volunteer and pony, allowed her to begin to trust not only horses but the new people in her life here at the ranch.  Eventually, she made her way into the barn to see Foxy.  She was still weary of the animals and environment, but slowly started to respond not only to the pony but to the other horses in the arena.  She started to watch her brothers ride the horses more and more.  We could tell she was wanting to ride also.  First, we introduced her to a bigger horse to groom and learn parts of the horse. When she was comfortable with the big horse, we decided it was time for her to get on.  She is now able to ride in for her whole session time every week and is truly enjoying it.  Her mom has said it has helped her in so many ways and allowed her to conquer fears, anxiety and build relationships in new ways.  Therapeutic riding program at the Lee-Mar Ranch Equine Center helps so many participants and their families every week.    This is what you are supporting when you donate to the Lee-Mar Ranch Equine Center!

The Lee-Mar Ranch Equine Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission at the Lee-Mar Ranch Equine Center is to build community programs designed to improve the quality of life for all ages and provide affordable, accessible and effective equine-facilitated activities with an exceptional learning environment that will support individuals with disabilities and children at risk.

Our center, established in 2009 as a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to serving individuals with disabilities through therapeutic horsemanship programs. 

The therapeutic benefits of horsemanship lessons, include improved flexibility, balance, coordination, and muscle tone, are well-documented. Furthermore, our program aims to support the development of communication skills, a sense of responsibility, and the emotional rewards, particularly among young participants. 

Despite our ongoing commitment to these programs, we are facing significant challenges due to the increasing costs associated with maintaining our aging facility, covering animal care expenses, purchasing hay, feed, stall bedding, and other essentials. While we actively engage in fundraisers, individual donations, and seek sponsorships, the financial strain is impacting our ability to sustain our operations and meet the growing demand.