2026 Quarter 1 Newsletter
Winter Equitation Team Challenge
Eight different teams representing elementary, middle and high school riders from RHEC, Alanson, Traverse City, Sault Ste. Marie, and Ellsworth participated in this exciting and affordable event. Riders showed horses that were ‘drawn from a hat’. Thank you to all the teams and spectators for sharing our love of and access to horses even during our Northern Michigan winter! More than 20 volunteers with more than 50 volunteer hours pulled together with the volunteer leadership of Rising Hope Trainers Susan Klimas and Katherine Michels!
Spring Break 2026 Pony Camp
April 1-3, Rising Hope Instructors and experienced student volunteers offered newcomers and returning riders an introduction to horse care, safety, barn chores, fun ‘horsie crafts’, and, of course, riding. The camp culminated with riding over, around, and through spring-themed obstacles and an egg hunt! Rider progress was amazing and smiles were all around!
First Quarter Scholarships
Generous donors sponsored around 108 scholarship lessons from January through March. A Spring Break Pony Camp rider also participated with a one-half scholarship.
We hope to expand on these numbers throughout the rest of the year. We rely on your tax deductible donations to achieve our mission of making horsemanship accessible to this community regardless of the ability to pay.
It’s Rose’s 33rd Birthday!!
Our Red Roan, Rose, turns 33 in May! In celebration of our retired school horse who has touched hundreds of lives including through therapeutic riding, please consider donating in multiples of 33 to help us continue offering scholarships and expand our therapeutic offerings.
Did you know that it costs RHEC about $10,000 per year for all of our school horses medical care (dental, veterinary care, hoof care)?
Please consider donating today.
Board News
Thank you to RHEC’s out-going board! We appreciate your service and for making the transition to the new board smooth and efficient.
As of March 6, 2026, RHEC’s Board of Directors are as follows:
Amy McMullen, President
Emily Meier, Vice President
Patti Bartlett, Co-Treasurer
Michelle Suarez, Co-Treasurer
Lisa Kay, Secretary
We want to hear from you! Please connect with questions, comments or suggestions to: rhecboard@gmail.com
Thank you!!
Hundreds and hundreds of volunteer hours support RHEC’s mission. We are grateful for our RHEC volunteer family!
Flat Out Polo, Sarah & Paul Knapp, Rockford, Michigan for donating one-half of the $5,000 total cost of Rainey, our new school horse!!
We would love a vacuum to be donated for our office area! It’s spring cleaning time!
Rising Hope Equestrian Center
2787 Quick Road, Harbor Springs, Michigan 49740
risinghopeequestriancenter@gmail.com
(231) 526-6353
EIN: 20-1896405