On Tuesday, June 1, the members of the Rainbow Acres Horse Crew eagerly boarded a van at 8:30 a.m. to head over to Future Hope Equestrian – a horse training facility just outside of Cottonwood, AZ. Recently, the Ranchers have been anxiously following the story of Mercedes – a mare who gave birth to a foal only about two weeks ago. They were all so excited to see the little one! The two weeks the Ranchers had to wait before seeing the foal were well worth it. They immediately fell in love with the little foal, and some began to ask when Rainbow could have one of their own.
In addition to the excitement and learning afforded by the opportunity to see a baby horse, the day at Future Hope was filled with love, support and service. Future Hope Equestrian has been a wonderful supporter of Rainbow’s journey into the equestrian world. They often provide rich educational opportunities, and the Ranchers have made several trip to Future Hope to observe and participate in training activities.
For this particular visit, some members of the Horse Crew were asked to help clean rocks and debris out of a few of the riding arenas. All of the Ranchers pitched in and did a wonderful job! Picking up rocks can seem like mundane work, but the Ranchers who have worked with horses know it is an important task in horse management. The Horse Crew often discsses the consequences of too many rocks or sharp objects in the riding area. These included hoof bruises and punctures.
It is amazing how much information the Horse Crew has learned when it comes to working with the Ranch horses. Opportunities to put that information into practice in a new environment, like Future Hope Equestrian, help show that the knowledge is solid and can be practically applied. The Ranchers take their equestrian education seriously and show a deep sense of responsibility and pride in all that they have and continue to accomplish.
