I am sure you have all heard of Carousel Ranch but just in case you have not, it is a non-profit organization that teaches disabled children to ride horses. Recently, the program moved from a temporary home in Sand Canyon to a spacious place on Rockinghorse Road (is that a perfect name or what?!) in Aqua Dulce. Carousel Ranch's new home is perfect: there are lots of stalls (too many to count), two arenas, three paddocks, one small corral, a trail leading from Mexico to Canada, and so much more.

The new ranch is awesome. It includes at least three acres of land, perfect for the needs of Carousel Ranch. It has a huge arena that is so big you could fit the old ring and barn into it twice. A large pipe barn houses all of Carousel Ranch's horses. There is an additional paddock that can be used for horses that require more space or need a place away from the other animals. Another great feature of the new property is a cute, old-fashioned Western town that provides a shady place to have a break between lessons or set up a picnic lunch (although you still have to be careful about dust). On the upper level of the ranch, there are several more corrals, a mobile home, and a small house that will serve as the offices for Carousel Ranch. There is even an above-ground pool.

There have been several clean-up days devoted to making the ranch feel more like home. I participated in Make a Difference Day last October. On that day, about 200 volunteers worked hard preparing the property for the arrival of Carousel Ranch. Helpers moved buildings, cut trees, plowed the arena, cleaned out old junk, carried metal fence pieces, mucked out old stalls, and many other not-so-nice chores. By the end of the day, we definitely made a difference. Since then, volunteers have worked exhaustively to make Carousel Ranch's new home perfect.

If you have a child with special needs (or know someone who does) and are interested in therapy at Carousel Ranch, you can learn more about Carousel Ranch from their website www.carouselranch.org or by calling 252-7333. You should also call if you'd like to volunteer!


Jolie Stroh can often be found on the back of a horse.