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We Can Ride Annual Print Newsletter
Tails of the Twin Cities July 2016
Chefs’ Brigade
Masquerade!
On March 6th we had our
21st Annual Chefs’ Brigade dinner. This year the 200 people that attended the event came dressed in their finery and masks, and enjoyed good food and a good time! The dinner Chef Bob created kept with our masquerade theme as he disguised our crab cakes, beef tenderloin, and other courses in culinary perfection. The selection of live auction items kept the bidding hopping, and everyone had fun this year bidding on the silent auction items with their phones!
We want to thank Bill Lunn from KSTP for hosting our event again this year. Many thanks as well to Linda Tedford, who spoke about her son Chris’s experience at We Can Ride over the past 17 years. How wonderful to hear how Buddy has helped Chris find his abilities.
Photos provided by Ferguson Studios
Don’t miss out on the fun next year...
March 5, 2017
Chefs’ Brigade Fiesta!
9-year-old Adonis puts on his riding pants, straps on his boots, and slides his gloves on. Looking like he was born to ride, he’s ready for his weekly riding lesson with Bubba.
After being referred to We Can Ride about a year ago, Adonis and his family were drawn to the “magnetic and positive energy” of the horses and the envi-ronment here, according to his mother, Anna.
The family had been seeking out a place where Adonis could ride horses as a form of therapy for his autism. Adonis had been seeing different speech therapists, but still remained non-verbal, until he started riding. A few lessons in, Adonis began saying partial words and eventually was able to tell his horse “walk on”, bringing tears to his parents’ eyes. Having a non-verbal child can certainly be difficult, so what may seem like a small feat to most people, is HUGE in the eyes of Adonis’s family. His mother tells us that this is where his voice comes out. We Can Ride puts a smile on his face, and he puts a smile on ours.
Adonis Speaks and Bubba Listens
Mark Your Calendars April-July 28
Buy-a-Bale
June 6-August 7 Session III
July 16
Saddle Up Sampler
Sept. 6-Nov.14 Session IV
July 16-October 8 Cash Raffle
October 8
Harvest Horse Show
November 17 Give to the Max
March 5, 2017
Chef’s Brigade
Welcome to our new Team Members:
Michelle Anderson
Barn & Facility Manager
and Instructor
Kristen Hochmuth
Fundraising & Communications
Coordinator
Denise Miller
Finance Manager
Therese Naber
Riding Instructor
Jenny Alders
OTR Hippotherapy
Page 2 Tails of the Twin Cities
We want to tell the Twin Cities!
Do you know any groups who would like to hear about
We Can Ride?
Page 2 Some of our Horses got out. Can you find them?
Sandman
Dasher
Jasper
Clown
Thora
Molly
Mort
Buddy
Gus
Chefs’ 2017,
FIESTA! Come Join us!
If you have a heart for the mission of We Can Ride
and you want another fun way to help out, please
consider joining the
2017 Chefs’ Brigade
Planning Committee.
Not sure about joining? Come to a no-obligation
meeting on Tuesday, August 9th at 6:00 pm in
the We Can Ride offices.
There is something for everyone and you decide how much time you can
give. The more the merrier! Ole’!
Contact Kristen at Fundraising
@WeCanRide.org if you have any questions, want more information or
want to join. From the Barn Aisle Forever in our hearts...
Blondie Chester Blondie and Chester were “ charter members” of the therapy herd
at East Wind Farm. Sadly, at ages 37 and 33, they left us for the
eternally green pastures. Blondie was the queen of the herd. She knew
her job and she excelled in it. Chester was an amazing therapy horse,
and a wise ruler of the herd. With his smooth gaits, we told nervous
beginners that riding him was like riding a couch. We are so grateful to
have had their patient presence and willing attitude as they performed
their miracles each class. Rest in peace sweet buddies!
Major, sadly, also left this life. He lovingly served his We Can Ride clients,
volunteers, and staff for 2 years. Major was known for his hugs and his flirting. Even
when he was in pain, he courageously and patiently cared for his riders. He touched
so many lives and was truly the muscle behind the miracles. He will be greatly
missed!
Retiring from our We Can Ride Herd We also want to wish our retired and retiring horses well: Domino, Crystal and Tia! We will remember you as we think of you relaxing in your new retirement barn.
Tia is still looking for a retirement home. If you are interested or know someone
who might be, please contact our equine manager at [email protected]
Welcome to our new horses: Mr.P, Cupid and Torry!
Go to WeCanRide.org to see their handsome faces!
We Can Ride Janet
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Second Annual Saddle Up Sampler! Come join us on Saturday, July 16th 2016 from 4-7 pm (3 pm VIP) at Skyrock Farm in Medina.
Indulge in local and national beer and wine samples from 18 vendors while enjoying an afternoon of live music by
Gravel Roads, delicious food by The Bones Brothers, Hammerschlagen, a silent auction and prizes. The day wouldn’t be complete
without a train ride around the property, and a tour through the vast collection of pipe organ and carrousel memorabilia!
Make it a party and invite all your friends!
Tickets are $45-$65 to participate in the tasting and $15 for the designated driver. Available now at WeCanRide.org/SUS
I am constantly
amazed at the philanthropic
spirit demonstrated at We
Can Ride AND those who
foster the giving spirit in others.
Last year, I was really touched by Chloe’s story. She is one of We
Can Ride’s riders, and if you meet her, you won’t forget her. She is a sweet
young girl who loves riding—and she is one in a set of triplets! That’s right,
three girls; Sammi, Guin, and Chloe.
As the girls looked forward to their eighth birthday, you can imagine
the excitement. Amazingly, these girls chose to ask friends and family for
donations for We Can Ride rather than traditional birthday gifts. Instead of a favorite movie or toy, they wanted
“boring” paper checks, thoughtfully made out to We Can Ride. They knew those “boring” checks would turn into
hay for the horses, lights shining in the arena, or a visit by the vet. That’s a LOT for eight year olds to grasp, but
they did.
The untold part of the story is about Nicole, the girls’ mother. She would probably deny it, but I’m sure
she had more than a little-something to do with these girls’ choice, and their mature attitude of giving. Not only
was it great to receive an unexpected gift to help with our ever growing costs, but also the world gets the greater
gift of three philanthropic young ladies entering the world. These upcoming citizens will undoubtedly inspire that
same giving heart in everyone they meet, and the world becomes a better place!
We Can Ride survives and thrives on support from families like this. I kid you not when I tell you that
most of our donations come in smaller packages. We get a few larger gifts from foundations and individuals, but
the lion’s share is the many smaller donations we receive. We are telling the truth when we say every dollar
makes a difference.
Would you consider one gift that will make a twofold impact? We like to help foster the giving spirit, so if
there is someone you would like to honor with your gift, we will send both you and them a letter. That way, you
touch more than just We Can Ride with your gift. Think of it as a “pay it forward” gift.
To families like Nicole and her girls, we salute you, and thank you for making a difference!
We Can Ride receives
AMAZING COMMUNITY SUPPORT. There are so many faithful friends who contribute
both large and small donations—friends who keep us
running and strong.
Right now we would like to honor & thank those who contributed $500 or more in 2015:
Many, Many Thanks!
BUY-A-BALE! Hay! Time to make a difference!
Healthy Horses Make Miracles Happen!
Our annual Buy A Bale Fundraiser is in full swing and you can help! Ask friends, family, and neighbors to help feed and care for the horse you love. All of the donations go to our wonderful therapy horses, and each $10 donation is a vote for your favorite horse. You could win a prize!
It takes over $3600.00 a year to care for one of our horses!
Make sure your horse becomes “Horse of the Year”!
The deadline for donations is July 28th and we still have a long way to go to meet our goal of $36,000.00!
Donate at WeCanRide.org/buyabale
Check at the office if you do not have a donation packet.
Because of
you,
We Can Ride!
Page 4
Kathleen & John Adams Ameriprise Financial Arcola Farm & the Johnson Family Melena D Bellin Black River Sandra Bullock Canterbury Park CoBank Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa Dick & Denise Cota Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC Kelly & Marv Dietrich Joseph & Karen Eichten Elizabeth Quinlan Foundation Lisa Eskelson Elise Ferguson Dan Fisk Paul & Deborah Franson Scott H Franz Kate Gorman Groves Foundation Maureen Gustafson Janet Hegland
Julia & Elena Hengel
Kristen & William Hochmuth
Sandra & Gary Hornig
Indeed Brewing Company
InFaith Community Foundation
Just A Dream Foundation
Catherine M Kane
Knopf Family Foundation
Anonymous
The Kude Family
Karen J Larsen
John Lindeman
David & Michelle Lowe
Gregory Marchand
Jennifer & Steve Nelson
Bob Nielsen
Nancy J Owens
People In Business Care
Timothy T Welch Memorial Fund
Robert & Carol Adams Foundation
Marian Robinson
Richard & Patricia Rowan
Guilherme & Eliana Schmidt
Rebecca Scott
Stephen Shea
Spicola Family Foundation
Conan & Monica Stanton
Jordan Stradtman
Joseph Sullivan
Tina Syring-Petrocchi
Amy & Brent Taber
Dana & Ken Teff
Nolan Family Fund
Julie M Vangsness
Veterans of Foreign Wars
William & Laurie Carlson
Waconia Veterinary Clinic
Bill Walsh
Wells Fargo Private Bank
Linda Carlson Wescott
Emma Wexler
Laura Young
YourCause
YoYo Donuts & The Marquist Family
Cary & Gary Zahrbock
Visit
TheLangdon.org
and see how your furniture and
clothing donations can benefit
We Can Ride.
Page 5
Page 5
Please Consider Making A Donation
Because of you, We Can Ride!
I would like to become a member of We Can Ride for $45. Membership includes discounts at local businesses and 10% off our We Can Ride merchandise.
We Can Ride Membership - $45 annual fee (good thru 12-31-2017) I would like to make a one-time donation to We Can Ride’s mission: $500 $250 $100 $50 $30 $15 $_________________
My check payable to “We Can Ride” is enclosed.
Please charge my (circle) Monthly / One Time gift of $_________________ to:
VISA MasterCard American Express Discover
Card No.__________________________________________________ Exp. Date _____________
Name on Card ______________________________________________ Code on back_________
Please update my email ___________________________________________________________
I am eligible for an ADDITIONAL MATCH from my company Form Enclosed
* Check with your company to see if they will make donations to non-profits for your volunteer hours.
My gift is: in honor of in memory of ____________________________________________
Please notify: (name and address) ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Please return this form with your donation to: We Can Ride P.O. Box 1102 Minnetonka, MN 55345
Give online at WeCanRide.org or call 952-934-0057
From: Name ______________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________
City_________________________ State______ Zip_______________
Email _______________________________________________________
Tails of the Twin Cities
2015 Volunteer of the Year
We Can Ride
PO Box 1102
Minnetonka, MN 55345
Phone: 952-934-0057
Website: WeCanRide.org
Email: [email protected]
J oleen has given countless hours volunteering with
We Can Ride. She has helped with lessons as a leader,
sidewalker, and barn aide. Along with helping in lessons, Joleen
has helped with feeding, barn maintenance, fundraising and
events. When we are short volunteers in lessons or feeding,
Joleen jumps at the chance to help out and gives even more
hours. We could not do all that we do without the support, love,
talent, passion, and time Joleen has given us. When you work with
Joleen, you know that you have met one of the most beautiful,
kind, gentle, giving, loving, and motivated people in this world.
Congratulations Joleen Proulx
our 2015 Volunteer of the Year!
