Sandy Prairie Riding Academy

07/01/2022

We are holding a meeting on August 8, 2022 at 6:00 at my office:
934 S Fortuna Blvd Ste A, Fortuna. Next to Hot Brew.

Everyone who is interested in being on the board or helping brain storm is welcome to attend!
Kristie Sorrel and Susan please share and spread the word.

05/17/2022

We are ready to get the program rolling! Our tax exempt status has been approved. Now we need to develop a board. If you are interested in serving on the board, please send a message.

Our goal is to help children have an opportunity to learn the joy of horsemanship - children who have the passion but no financial means to pursue the dream.

10/10/2021

Around the ranch

09/26/2021

You might just help change a life by supporting
SPRA in offering the safe experience of horsemanship to the economically challenged youth of Humboldt.💓🐴✨

https://www.facebook.com/100044551504588/posts/446110906883956/?sfnsn=mo

I don’t remember a time I wasn’t addicted to horses! But the interest among today’s kids is dwindling, statistics say. Why is this?

Whether due to accessibility, sheer expense, urbanization, over-scheduling, technology and all its attractions, or just fewer willing mentors, the trend should be a concern for any one of us in the horse industry.

At a symposium I attended a few years back, directors from “the big four” North American breed organizations were on hand to explain this real concern. They’re spending a great deal of time and money, trying to figure out the widespread shrink in their youth divisions. Even at the few local shows these past summers, I was surprised to find senior classes with huge entries, while the youth classes had mere handfuls of kids…

Folks, without these up ’n’ comers, the future of the horse world looks grim.

As far as general horsemanship goes, a lot of the allure seems to have gone out of it for kids and why, is anyone’s guess. I've got my own theories, for sure. All we can do is start with every single child we meet day to day. Making time for them, encouraging them, listening to their dreams and stories, allowing them to pet our horses, should they ask. Keeping them safe but nurturing their interest…

One never knows one’s influence, when it comes to mentoring a child.

09/19/2021

The barn overlooking the arena

09/18/2021

We are an official 501 (c)(3) now!
This is a work in progress with one mission - to give kids in economically challenged homes the opportunity to safely learn horsemanship skills and experience the joy of horses.
Susan Combes is our president, Kristie Williamson is the secretary and Jamie Walling is the treasurer.
We accept donations and can give you a receipt for your donation. Please message us if you would like to donate or to find out our wish list and needs.
The business address is c/o Jamie Walling .934 S Fortuna Blvd, Fortuna, CA 95540

09/18/2021

A shout out to all of those that grew up as a horse crazy kid😍🐴
You can now help make this a reality for youth in Humboldt.

https://www.facebook.com/500273500010606/posts/3294808683890393/?sfnsn=mo

I'm kind of bored so I'm going to explain something about this photograph. I got this horse when I was 13 years old. I was 30 before my mother told me it was the worst fight her and daddy ever had. You see I was supposed to pull up my grades and I was supposed to do more chores Etc before they would consider getting me a horse. I talked to my daddy into going to look at him...and I loped this horse around an arena and daddy wrote a check for $250 and we brought the horse to a place I had already picked out next to Mason High School.
A horse can save a young woman's life.
I tell people Crackers saved my life and I'm going to explain why.
I was not popular. I didn't have fashionable clothes. I didn't participate in school activities. And I was treated very cruel by kids at school.
I was not cool. Matter of fact I was the farthest thing from being cool.
This horse made me cool as all kinds of s*** you can imagine. I would go to the barn and trot him across the school yard in through the neighborhood and all kinds of kids wanted to be my friend then.
It was like having a Corvette when everybody drove a pinto.. of course I blew them off and I just went riding.
I had wings.
I also had something to love and care for that mattered.
When many of my peers were going to Joe Creek to smoke w**d and drink beer and party I had to go to the barn. It was such a great excuse to not participate.
I got my first job at 14 at a restaurant making teas and salads for the waitresses. My first paycheck was $38 and I was so proud. My father looked at me and said "great now you can pay for your own feed and your pasture rent." Well..f**k.. there went the idea of going to the mall and buying clothes and makeup with my girlfriends.
But good for me!!! In a million ways..
I was wild and I was free.
I don't care about the way you look or your eyelashes. I don't care about the clothes you have or the car you drive. How do you treat the animals you have?
I like you if you like to get out in the woods and fish and notice all the different colors of green in the leaves of a tree.
I like you if you take good care of whatever you are in charge of.
We slipped off a cliff one day and that horse scrambled on his belly to get me over the edge and he saved my life.
He saved me in more ways than one.
Blessed are the cowgirls...
If your daughter wants a horse. Get her the damn horse.

photo and post credit: Amie Beishline Wolfinger

08/09/2021

The view from the barn😍