Horse Warriors

“PONY CAMP added 12 new students and utilized all our upper-level mentors for sessions that included horsemanship, arena riding, daily art sessions and the end of year gymkhana. Programs were for 8-9 year-olds, and a separate group for 10-11 year-olds. 2 of those in the older group have moved up to our teen program for the 2026 year-round teen sessions, and one has become a weekend volunteer for horse feeding. READ-RIDE-DRAW expanded the arts program to include fabric construction as well as the usual drawing and painting. It was a huge hit! Students in the younger group read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and were able to utilize a stuffed horse found in our road to replay Edwards book adventures in our program. Reading campers were able to go on a trail ride in the Bridger-Teton National Forest on their last day before completing their group art project summarizing the book. Reading Camp is for 8-9 and 10-11 year old readers. All of them participated in the end of year gymkhana as well. HORSE WARRIORS TEEN PROGRAM had 2 sections- one for middle school students and one for high school and post-grad homeschooled kids. All students are returning for 2026, and the post-grad student has been hired to be our intern. Winter activities included our annual monthly guest artist retreats and featured mixed media, portraits, fabric painting, small books, poetry, watercolor, and drawing horses. DEMO TEAM PRESENTATION held in June at the Alpine Mountain Days included 8 Horse Warriors participants- 3 staff, 3 youth students (ages 8, 14 and 18), one cancer survivor and one volunteer. Audience members learned how we teach relationship builing and clear communication on the ground, and at the end they were invited to come work with the horses themselves. GYMKHANA DAY 2025 was our biggest ever, with all our youth riders competing in the games. Every student received a ribbon in each class, along with a funny award from things that happende in their classes, and a certificate of achievment or promotion that included a photo of them riding their horses. A Friend of HW donated a number of previously won gymkhana trophies from years of competition in the California gymkhana circuit, so the winner of each class received a recycled trophy- they were absolutley delighted and loved hearing about their years of showing horses.”

“COMMUNITY KINDNESS PROJECT: this event was held in the Afton Civic Center and highlighted organizations that help the community. Horse Warriors was the featured non-profit we took 8 horses to the event for kids to meet and give treats. The library sponsors the event each year and provided panels so we could have the horses safely confined outdoors where kids and families could meet them. The library generously donated 3 new horse blankets, weight builder supplements for our old horses and 3 bags of horse treats.”

“ADULT PROGRAMS: CANCER KICKERS continued with the Saturday Superheroes Breast Cancer Survivorship program, meeting on Saturdays throughout the summer. Attendees spent their sessions sharing their medical progress and encouraging each other in the story cirlce. Program time included cirle time in the tipi, liberty walks through the big herd, horse choosing, grooming, ground driving, arena riding, homemade lunches served in the main lodge dining room, art time and closing circles with the horses. Two of the participants from the past 2 years were promoted to being Saturday Volunteers, helping new attendees as well as being able to work with their own horses each week. ART & HEALING MANDALA PROJECT This free art class for cancer survivors and caregivers focused on creating symbolic artwork to reflect each indivisuals choices of imagery to inspire personal healing. There were 2 sessions, 3 weeks each, meeting on Saturday afternoons in the winter. Attendees received professional level art supplies they got to keep, professional art instruction, and acess to a large library of reference materials and slide shows of similar works to inspire creativity. Groups were encouraging of each other, and many new friendships developed through the shared journey of cancer and creativity. WOMEN & HORSES: Fall programming included a 3-day immersion class for women ages 19 and up that delved into understanding horses, energy, body awareness and time in nature. Riding in the Bridger-Teton and in the Grand Teton National Park gave attendees from across the country access to some of the most beautiful natural environments in the country. Sessions included horse time, gourmet lunches, arena games, art time and trail riding. ST. JOHNS HEALTH ONCOLOGY STAFF DAY: Held in early June, oncology staff members were invited to a day at the ranch with the horses. Not only was it informative so they could recommend the Saturday Superheroes program to their patients, but it was a fun, give-back to a department of nurses and administrators who go to heroic lengths to help peopple in treatment for cancer. CANCER VIDEO OUTREACH: The WY Breast Cancer initiative sponsors our cancer programs and created a short video of our ED talking about the successes of the Horse Warriors survivorship programs. They are using this interview about the Cancer Kickers offerings to promote increased survivorship programs across the state.”

“SHOEING, VETERINARY and HORSE BOARD & FEED 48730.”

“EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES for COURSES 4072.”

“VEHICLE EXPENSE 4359.”

“Marketing/website/fund raising 1751.”

“INSURANCE 3635.”

“License, dues & subscriptions 1225.”

“OFFICE SUPPLIES 2229.”

“GRANT EXPENSE 4947.”

“PRIZES/GIFTS 436.”

“MEALS 644.”

“Bank and paypal fees; interest expense 4.”

“Depreciation 743.”

“Payroll liabilities 1159. 1160.”