Build a very sturdy wheel chair ramp and mounting platform to assure safe, easier mounting and dismounting

Please come out and support us once again
Victory Reins 2nd Annual Candlelight Bowl
Orland Park Bowl
Saturday May 22,2010
8:00 pm

Please contact us if you can donate items, want to sponsor a lane, make a monetary donation or get a group together for a night of fun!



 

Of course, it is every little girls dream to own a horse, right? As a child I lived, breathed and even dreamt about horses. Going so far as to try to talk my parents into keeping one in my backyard! No one would notice, I’d say! Having the passion for riding is one thing. Grooming, mucking stalls, feeding, exercising, hand walking a sick horse and the financial responsibility is another thing. Owning a horse may be an expensive proposition but the benefits and life lessons learned at the barn outweigh the negatives 100 to 1! Several years ago I met a very quiet, shy young lady by the name of Megan. Her parents had heard about us from some of our church family and thought it might be a good idea for her to hang around at the farm. We started out hanging out on Saturdays. All day long we would clean stalls, scrub buckets, clean water troughs, feed horses, clean tack, cobweb the barn, water and drag the arena, put up hay, groom, clip and bathe horses and anything else you can think of associated with horses. She had the very same passion and love for the horses as I did. I could see it in her eyes, as she lit up whenever working around and being with the horses. Megan would work from sun up to sundown along side of me barely uttering a word. She never complained, never questioned, she just rolled up her sleeves and got down to business. She has proved her love and compassion for horses over the last 4 years many times over. It has been a privilege teaching her how to ride and handle the horses. She has blossomed into a very elegant, talented rider who has learned how to ride any horse that she gets the chance to swing a leg over. She has learned many life issues at the barn as well and I think it has given her a sense of accomplishment. To be able to ride like the wind on a trusty steed! What greater thing in life is there? There is no greater gift that I could ever imagine than presenting her with her own horse. Megan’s 17th birthday was coming and I spoke with her parents about the possibility of giving her a horse that she fell in love with the minute his hoof hit the property a few years ago. Lets face it. Everyone has their favorites! They felt that she had shown them that she was capable of caring for and taking on the financial responsibility of owning a horse and agreed. The word spread like wildfire throughout the barn about the secret, to everyone except Megan that is. She could not understand why so many people were at the barn the day she showed up to clean stalls and ride. It was just another typical day at the barn, right? We put a put a large bow on Titan and hid him in the arena and just casually gave her a birthday card. As she was reading the card and tears were filling up in her eyes, Titan was brought out behind her and there he stood, looking ever so handsome! He wrapped his muzzle in the crook of her neck and breathed a soft breath while she read her card. It took her a few moments for it to sink in and then she knew that he was hers forever! Megan, it has been a wonderful journey and we look forward to the years to come. We are grateful that we were able to make your dream come true! If ever anyone deserved to own a horse, it is you! Be blessed and share what God has given you! I promise you the blessings will continue to multiply.

When it is done as a community service at Victory Reins! Girls Scout Troop 876 from Peotone came out to spend part of their Spring break helping us get ready for our riding season. As any horse owner knows, horses are a lot of work and upkeep. Hopefully, by the time you feed them, muck their stalls, scrub the water buckets, clean your tack, groom your horse then saddle them up, you have enough energy to ride! When Lori called me and asked if her troop could come out to help, we welcomed them with open arms.
Six girls, from Troop 876, Taylor, Rachel, Ericka, Tess, Cassie and Abby came out with Lori, Patti and Courtney with a few smaller children in tow! After introducing them to all of the critters here on the farm and feeding the carrots and apples that they brought out, we all went to work! They helped us muck stalls, scrub water buckets and cleaned just about every saddle and bridle in the barn! Lori even washed the windows in the arena.
We had various stations set up to educate the girls on proper horse care and maintenance. While they were working we discussed why we had to clean the buckets and provide fresh water and food for the horses. How important a clean dry stall is to keeping your horse healthy and happy and how much better a saddle looks without an inch of dust on it! While cleaning the tack they were educated on the various types of saddle and learned how to identify the various parts of the tack that we use. The girls we also taught the proper way to halter and lead a horse safely into the indoor arena where we turned them loose to watch them play.
Ollie our fuzzy, “look like I was swallowed by a bear” pony volunteered to let the girls learn about grooming techniques and brushes. When they were finished, our little pony was knee deep in fur and looked a little better but still beastly to say the least.
It is always amazing to me to see the transformation in people when they come to the barn. At first a little apprehensive or maybe even down right afraid, transforming right before our very eyes in to confident, smiling individuals . It is amazing what a little educating can do, Fear of the unknown, until you experience the magic of bonding with a horse. If you would have told me, that as 10 yr old I was going to do a service project scooping poop at a stable, while I was on Spring break, I would have probably raised an eyebrow or two. Most likely I would have gone because everyone else was doing it. I give these young ladies and their leader’s a lot of credit. They all came in with smiles on their faces and set about doing chores with great enthusiasm! Laughter was even heard while they went about their various chores. There is something to be said about the hearts of these young girls who sacrificed their free time helping us here at Victory Reins so that others less fortunate than they will benefit! One of the leaders actually said that she wished she would see a smile like that on her daughters face when she is cleaning their room!
The stalls were immaculate, bridles and saddles cleaned and ready to go, I’d even drink out of the water buckets they were so clean! We took a few minutes to demonstrate the various gates of the horse and answered a myriad of questions it was time for them to leave.

THANK YOU GIRL SCOUT TROOP 876! You are the best! Looking forward to your next visit!

We have now entered the digital age.

For that last 26 years I have worked from home for my husband’s business while raising our two children. My son is 26 years old, has graduated with a degree in engineering and has his own home. My daughter is 22 years old, has a full time job and lives at home. So needless to say I have done my job in raising these two fine adults and was searching for something to fill my void.

I have felt for some time now that I needed to do something for myself. I wasn’t sure what it was but knew that it was more than working out, shopping at the mall or going out to lunch with a friend.

A while back I heard a statement that struck me. ”Do something for yourself, volunteer!” At first I really did not grasp the meaning behind this. Well, can you guess what happened next?

I was asked to help out at Victory Reins and was a little hesitant at first, being somewhat fearful of the horses and not quite sure of what I was getting myself into. With a little coaching and encouragement from the staff I have really enjoyed becoming a volunteer!

During my time there I have met some great young ladies who volunteer, take riding lessons and do a number of chores at the barn. I get to help out with Ethan, Sonny and Georgia during their lessons. The time passes so quickly because they are such a joy to work with.

It is obvious why the kids at Victory Reins are so wonderful. You just have to meet their parents and it all makes sense. They are loving, caring and involved in their children’s lives.

Victory Reins has turned out to be a blessing in my life and an answer to prayer!

Deb

Our first Benefit Garage Sale was a huge success! In the bible it says you have not because you ask not. Well we asked and we received! Donations came in from over 100 families and businesses for our first garage sale! The cars with people were streaming in all day long! There was definitely something here for everyone! Not only were they coming to buy our treasures but new donations came in as the day went on!

The word is getting out about what we do at Victory Reins and how we are impacting the lives of our students! Everyone is in agreement that this is a good thing and definitely well needed in our area. We have met so many awesome people who want to co-labor with us on this journey that we are overwhelmed by their kindness and grateful that they too, have caught the vision. I am still amazed at what took place this past weekend right before my very eyes! People who we don’t even know helping us carry in tables and cover our merchandise with tarps when it started to rain. Offering tarps and signs for the sales, donating their change and encouraging us with their kind words. It was awesome to see the community come together for such a worthy cause!

We are so grateful that all of you took the time out of your busy day to bring us your items for the sale and to come out and shop over the weekend. The garage was literally packed up with boxes at least chest high to cover at least 2-1/2 bays. It took us over 14 hours and several people to set it all up and the best part of all is that it was all organized so well and pre-priced that all we had to do was set it out! Good thinking Sue! Start boxing up those unwanted treasures so we can do it all over again next year!

This just may have to be an annual thing! We did have a lot of fun, laughs and good food! Not to mention the fact that we raised $2200.00 to the penny! Even though the Treasurer threw in the last cent literally! We still have a few items to sell on E-bay and hopefully a few other larger items that are still being considered. Plus we were able to pick up our first corporate sponsor BAP ENTERPRISES, INC.

Thank you from the bottom of our heart to all those who have touched us so deeply by co-laboring with us. We met many of our neighbors and made a lot of contacts in the area. It was a great day for networking and meeting new friends.

Our vision is now becoming a reality because of you! Your support means the world to us and encourages us to strive to get this program running. Many of you have donated your time, money and talents so generously! We are so blessed to be associated with you and I know from personal experience that you are definitely the wind beneath my wings on a daily basis! Your enthusiasm drives our passion for the horses and the children and enables us to reach out to the community more effectively.

Please sign up to be on our contact list so we can keep you informed of upcoming events!

Blessings to you!
The entire staff @ VICTORY REINS