Sande School of Horsemanship

05/26/2025

Today we pause to remember the brave women, men, and animals who gave their lives not only to protect Americans, but countless others across the globe. May their sacrifice be honored with deep gratitude and respect. Photo of a horse drawn ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. Courtesy of military.com

05/20/2025

Would you or your business like to sponsor the Boot Scootin' Benefit this year? We are working to expand our equine-assisted therapy programs and seeks support from the local community to sponsor its annual Boot Scootin’ Benefit. Sponsors are an important part of ensuring a successful event.

According to Sande's Spring Client Data, 55% of Sande students experience anxiety or depression; 26% have a diagnosed mental or behavioral health disorder, and 32% have experienced childhood trauma. Clients reported an overwhelmingly positive effect on their lives due to participation in Sande programs. According to the survey:
97% reported increased confidence
49% reported improved communication skills
74% reported an improvement in their overall mood.

Columbia County needs more mental health programs and activities for residents with disabilities. Our county does not offer Special Olympics and has just one mental health provider for every 2,083 residents as compared to one for every 313 residents in Multnomah County.

With the help of the community, we are working to expand our facilities, mental health programs, and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. All proceeds from the Boot Scootin’ Benefit will support the expansion of Equine Assisted Mental Health and Therapeutic Riding Programming. If you would like to sponsor, donate an item or purchase a table email Sarah at [email protected].

Sponsorship Tiers for higher level donations can be found on the Sponsorship information page.

05/16/2025

This week kicked off our student benefit ticket sales contest which runs until June 2! We are so excited about this event as we get so much feedback about how fun it is (it's a Benefit, but feels like a party)! Good music, good food, a mechanical bull, and fun for all ages!

There are two ways to purchase tickets this year:
1. (Preferred method) Scan the QR code on the image and purchase the tickets through the website. There is a place in the cart / checkout page to put the student's name who sold the tickets.

2. Give cash / check to the student and the student records the sale on their packet sheet and turns it in at lessons.

Prizes:
The top seller will earn a PRIVATE trail ride for 6 people this summer.
The second to top seller will earn 4 spots in a group trail ride.
The third to top seller will earn 2 spots in a group trail ride.

Contact Sarah at [email protected] with any questions!

05/11/2025

Happy Mother’s Day from Sande School of Horsemanship!

05/09/2025

Fun Fact Friday!

Did you know that horses have dichromatic vision, meaning they only have two types of cones in their eyes to distinguish color, whereas humans typically have three types of cones. Horses can see shades of yellow, blue and green much easier than shades of red. Reds often appear yellow, green, or gray - similar to a human red-green color blindness.

Thanks to pangovet.com for this helpful graphic.

05/05/2025

Spring is the time of year when flowers are blooming and colors emerge...and when many of us live with the misery of seasonal allergies. The sneezing, scratchy throat, and watery eyes are not fun! Like humans, horses can also get seasonal allergies. This can show up in coughing, sneezing, and even hives. Also like humans, horses can take allergy medication like Zyrtec to help relieve symptoms. In more severe cases veterinarians may prescribe a stronger medication, or even a corticosteroid, to help manage the allergy symptoms. We also soak the affected horses hay in water before feeding to help reduce the dust and pollen in their stall, and allow plenty of time in the wide open air of the pastures.

05/01/2025

Huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out to our annual trail clean up last Saturday! Your hard work is so appreciated, and our riders and horses are loving spending time on the trail. We truly have the best community around!

04/28/2025

The annual Boot Scootin' Benefit is back! Purchase your tickets now for a family friendly night filled with live music, good food, a mechanical bull and more! This event is always a good time and one you don't want to miss! Scan the QR code on the image to get your tickets now!

The Boot Scootin' Benefit is Sande School of Horsemanship's largest fundraiser, with all funds from the 2025 event going toward the Equine Assisted Mental Health Expansion.

04/25/2025

Did you know that Sande School of Horsemanship offers three of the four types of horse therapy? We have Equine Assisted Mental Heath through our Licensed Professional Counselor, Therapeutic Riding for individuals with disabilities, and Equine Assisted Learning is integrated into every type of lesson we teach ❤️

04/18/2025

The annual NAMI Walk and CCMH Mental Health Fair is coming up, and we want you to join the Sande Team! You can attend in person or virtually to support our team and NAMI Columbia County. The event takes place on Saturday, May 17 at McCormick Park in St. Helens. This is such a fun, family friendly event that we participate in every year. Come out to see us at the booth and do the walk if you are able. In person or virtual, join our Sande team here: https://www.namiwalks.org/team/Sande

See you there!!

04/16/2025

Mark your calendars for our annual Spring Trail Clean Up on Saturday, April 26. Winter is not kind to our trail system and we need it in top shape for our busy spring and summer sessions. Spend some time in nature while ensure our trail system is ready to use. It's a big job, but always a good time!

There are two shifts available to choose from:
10:30 - 12:30, with and optional free lunch from 12:30 - 1:00
12:30 - 2:30, with an optional free lunch from 12:00 - 12:30

Please email Sarah at [email protected] to RSVP. See you there!

04/04/2025

Summer Session Registration, Boot Scootin' Benefit, and other fun news! - https://mailchi.mp/21bb7e35cba3/d4inlmh1ys-14197236