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Join Rainbow on Saturday, June 7th, at the oldest horse show in the USA

Join Rainbow riders Anna-Marie Haines and Robert ‘Skip’ Vachon and their trusted partners, Bear and Denver, this Saturday, June 7th, at 2:30pm as they take part in a celebration of therapeutic riding in the Parker Hunter Ring at the 2025 Upperville Horse Show. They will be accompanied by Rainbow staff and volunteers and will ride alongside members of other therapeutic riding programs from around the region. We’d love you to join us to cheer them on and help spread the word about the joys and benefits of equine powered programs like Rainbow! More details can be found below or please email us at rainbow@rainbowriding.org. We hope to see you under the Oaks!

UPPERVILLE, Va., May 30, 2025 – The 2025 Upperville Colt & Horse Show, presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™, the oldest horse show in the U.S, returns this year from June 2-8 with more than 1200 horse and rider pairs competing. This year, the show will also celebrate equestrians in five regional therapeutic equine and para-equestrian programs with a demonstration on Saturday, June 7 at 2:30 p.m. in the Parker Hunter Ring (south side of Route 50). Parking and attendance at the show are free.

Rainbow Therapeutic Riding, Sprout Therapeutic Riding Center, Cloverleaf Equine Center, Loudoun Therapeutic Riding and Wheatland Farm will have two riders and two horses representing each organization. They will give a short introduction on the horses’ previous careers and why they are suited for therapeutic work. They will also introduce each equestrian and explain how therapeutic equestrian programs help them overcome challenges and motivate them to improve.

In addition, Wheatland Farm will also have a para-equestrian demonstration at the Upperville Horse Show. It should be noted that para-equestrian is different from therapeutic riding in that it is a highly competitive Olympic sport. Wheatland Farm is a U.S. Equestrian Federation Para-Equestrian Dressage Center of Excellence. It was the fourth center to have this designation nationwide. In 2018, Wheatland hosted the Para-Dressage Team Observation Event for the World Equestrian Games.

“We are delighted to have these amazing organizations participating in the Upperville Horse Show this year,” said Emily Day, executive director of UCHS. “No matter the discipline or level, we are all equestrians, and this further demonstrates the important influence horses have on our lives. It is truly a celebration of the relationship between horses and people.”

This year, the show celebrates its 172nd year and takes place daily from 8 a.m. to sunset. The weeklong show culminates on June 8 at 2 p.m. with the excitement of the $200,000 FEI CSI4* Upperville Jumper Classic featuring top world-class equestrians. The day’s entertainment includes junior and amateur riders, pony conformation (including pony foals!) and the Horses & Horsepower car show with everything from rare antique autos to muscle cars. The Upperville Horse Show also has more than 85 vendors and attendees are encouraged to come early to take advantage of great shopping.

In addition to shopping, the Upperville Horse Show also features great food options including Copper Fox Coffee, Everything About Crepes, Happy Family Ranch, Harry’s Lemonade, Haulin’ Butts BBQ, Hunt Country Charcuterie, Jump Start Café, King of Pops and more.

Founded in 1853 as a one-day show to encourage better breeding and care of horses, the show has grown to a weeklong tradition with thousands of equestrian and equine pairs competing in a variety of competitive disciplines. Many of the continent’s top professional riders as well as amateurs compete under the spectacular setting featuring the famous oaks at Grafton Farm—the same location since 1853.

The show encourages families to come out. There’s plenty of room for children to roam. Dogs are allowed and must be leashed, vaccinated and under owner’s control at all times. A Pup Parade on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. features junior dog lovers parading their furry friends around the main hunter ring. All kids 12 and under are welcome, and they can bring a chaperone to help as needed.

Sponsors of the 2025 Upperville Colt & Horse Show include presenting sponsor MARS EQUESTRIAN, Ethel M. Chocolates, Koons Motors, Michael and Wendy Smith, Lugano, The Salamander Collection, B&D Builders, Markel Insurance, and Delta Air Lines.

For more information and the full weeklong show schedule, visit www.upperville.com.

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About the Upperville Colt & Horse Show
The Upperville Colt & Horse Show, also known as the Upperville Horse Show and UCHS, is the oldest horse show in the U.S. Founded in 1853 as a one-day show to encourage better breeding and care of horses, the show has grown to a weeklong tradition with thousands of equestrian and equine pairs competing in a variety of competitive disciplines. Many of the continent’s top professional riders as well as amateurs compete under the spectacular setting featuring the famous oaks at Grafton Farm—the same location as 1853. UCHS is a 501(c)3 charitable organization that raises funds for The Churches of Upperville Outreach Program and supports other area charities. For complete schedules and up-to-the-minute results, visit the website at www.upperville.com.

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Julie Julie

GIVE LOCAL PIEDMONT DAY IS HERE!

It’s finally here! Our biggest fundraising day of the year, GIVE LOCAL PIEDMONT, is LIVE!

Our Rainbow Riders are hoping that you can make this our best year yet and help us continue to provide life changing therapeutic riding programs!

If you want to make your donation even more impactful, why not donate during the POWER HOUR between 3pm - 3:59pm TODAY when the non-profit with the MOST INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS during that time will win $1,000 from the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation.

So set your alarms for 3pm and donate as many times as you can!

GIVE LOCAL PIEDMONT is open NOW for your donations. Whether it’s $10, $100, or even $1,000, every penny goes to help our Rainbow students achieve amazing breakthroughs!

Our students, their families, and their communities thank you for your support!

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Julie Julie

Just 24 hour to go til Give Local Piedmont Day!

There’s just 24 hours to go til Give Local Piedmont Day, the region’s biggest one day fundraiser organized by the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation to help charities in YOUR local area!

Our Rainbow Riders need YOUR support to provide life changing therapeutic riding programs that impact both them and the communities they live in

Riders like Grace have experienced profound benefits from being a part of the Rainbow program. Her parents say:

"Since Grace could talk, she has struggled with sensory sensitivities, severe anxiety, and emotional regulation. As her sessions at Rainbow progressed we watched her emotional flexibility improve, her core support strengthen, and her ability to follow directions skyrocket. It was thrilling! But perhaps the most profound development was her confidence. Rainbow Riding has changed our lives in more ways than we can count and I am so grateful for the opportunity to watch my daughter thrive in this way."

Early giving is open NOW for your donations. Whether it’s $10, $100, or even $1,000, every penny goes to help Grace and the 300+ students that come to us each year achieve amazing breakthroughs!

Thank you from all of us at Rainbow.

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Julie Julie

Support our Rainbow Riders this Give Local Piedmont Day

Dear Rainbow Friends, Families, and Supporters,

As the saying goes, "if you do more, you need more,” and that’s certainly true for Rainbow Therapeutic Riding Center. From small beginnings 40 years ago, we now serve 300+ children and adults per year and impact hundreds more through our life-changing programs, all of which means we need your help now more than ever!

Rainbow started a nomadic life in 1985, moving from local area riding schools to private barns with a handful of volunteers and staff. In 2010, the organization moved to its current home in Silver Lake Park and created Rainbow Therapeutic Riding Center - complete with our indoor arena and viewing area, office space, fully equipped learning loft, outdoor arena, and a state of the art 12-horse barn.

The more than 300 children, teens, and adults we support each year come to us in pursuit of physical freedom from life-impacting disabilities, to ease the effects of a wide variety of mental health challenges, or just to learn how to groom and ride a horse when learning is challenging through traditional paths.

Our impact does not end with the individuals directly involved at Rainbow - therapeutic riding positively impacts the entire family and often the wider social network. So for every student, our impact is manyfold, making us an important community partner.

But to continue to do this we need YOUR generous support. Our 80+ volunteers give their time to Rainbow every week, sponsors and donors contribute to major fundraising events, but ALL OF US can give at Give Local Piedmont next Tuesday, May 13th, 2025.

This FUN community crowdfunding event is an important call to action to support our critically needed therapeutic riding programs. Whether you give $10, $100, or even $1,000, every dollar directly benefits our programs and riders like Grace:

"Rainbow Riding has supported our daughter’s growth in more ways than one. Since Grace could talk, she has struggled with sensory sensitivities, severe anxiety, and emotional regulation.

“In fact, the first time we visited Rainbow Riding we had to carry her out due to a significant meltdown. As a parent, I always felt the need to apologize or explain such behavior but at Rainbow Riding, I could tell there was no judgement or reservations about working with our daughter. I knew they wanted to help her as much as we wanted to get her support. Maddie started slow with Grace as we expressed our concern that she might struggle with the helmet and wearing pants in the heat but, there was no expectation. She truly went by Grace’s pace. The instructors told us that these sessions didn’t always need to involve riding to be successful.

“As her sessions progressed we watched her emotional flexibility improve, her core support strengthen, and her ability to follow directions skyrocket. It was thrilling! But perhaps the most profound development was her confidence. Up to this point in her life, Grace couldn’t access extra curricular activities. She has always had friends who played soccer, did ballet, or swam and due to her struggles, Grace was never able to participate in these things. I could tell it bothered her. Until now. Finally, Grace had a hobby. It was unique and challenging and it was an activity that quite literally gave her the reigns.

“So much of her life has been out of her control and I can think of the many times that Grace has cried out in the middle of a meltdown “I can’t help it!”. But in learning simple horse riding cues at Rainbow Riding, Grace has gained a sense of control over something much bigger than her, which I think is symbolic on many levels. Rainbow Riding has changed our lives in more ways than we can count and I am so grateful for the opportunity to watch my daughter thrive in this way."

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Julie Julie

Rainbow’s Outdoor Camp for Kids presents KAYAK CAMPS

It's time to ditch your winter gear and get ready for some fun on the lake at Rainbow's Kayak Camps!

ROCK (Rainbow's Outdoor Camp for Kids) will be hosting five inclusive camps on Saturday May 3rd, May 17th, June 14th, July 12th, and July 26th, from 10am - 12noon. Each session costs just $20 per person and is suitable for ages 9-18. Space is limited to 10 campers per session, so booking early is essential!

Please contact Robin on rainbow@rainbowriding.org to reserve your space or get more information. Sign up for one or all and we'll see you at the lake!

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VOLUNTEER OPEN HOUSE: Saturday, April 12th, 2025 - 10am to 12noon

Fancy coming down to your favorite therapeutic riding center to see what volunteering at Rainbow is all about?

Join us next Saturday, April 12th, anytime from 10am - noon, to meet the herd, the team, and see what makes Rainbow so special!

No appointment necessary, please just swing by and say hi!

Find us at the entrance to Silver Lake Park in Haymarket: 16198 Silver Lake Road, Haymarket, VA, 20169

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Julie Julie

Our Volunteer of the Month for March is JOE!

Congratulations to Joe who's been named the Rainbow Volunteer of the Month for March! Joe joined Rainbow just a couple of months ago and has already made a huge impact here! If you'd like to join Joe as part of our Volunteer team, simply email volunteercoordinator@rainbow.org or head over to our website and complete an application form at:

https://www.rainbowriding.org/volunteer-application-form

And watch out for details of our Volunteer Open House coming up on Saturday, April 12th!

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Julie Julie

EARLY GIVING FOR GIVE CHOOSE DAY IS OPEN!

Today sees the start of EARLY GIVING for the Loudoun & Northern Fauquier Counties Community Foundation's GIVE CHOOSE DAY.

This year's 24-hour online fund raising event takes place on March 25th and you can donate to Rainbow by simply clicking this link and adding us to your shopping basket.

Every donation helps, and we've put together our Spring shopping list to show you just how far your donation will go. Thank you all for your generous support!

$30: one week's supply of grain for a horse

$50: one fly mask and one bottle of fly spray to keep our horses itch free

$75: tuition for one student's riding lesson

$100: sponsorship of one child for a day at camp

$175: full care for one horse for one week

$500: hay for one horse for one year

You can see more about the fund raising event here.

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Julie Julie

RAINBOW’S 2024 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

We are thrilled to announce that our Volunteer of the Year for 2024 is the wonderful Joan Bushore! You can read all about Joan's Rainbow experiences here and if you'd like to join our wonderful team of volunteers, please do get in touch at volunteercoordinator@rainbowriding.org

Joan, thank you for all you've done for Rainbow over the past year and all you continue to do -- it's a pleasure working with you!

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Julie Julie

Please Help Our Rainbow Riders This Giving Tuesday

Today’s the day to show your support for our Rainbow riders by making a donation on Giving Tuesday!

With your help, we’ve been providing equine assisted activities to a variety of students with physical, emotional, and mental health challenges for nearly 40 years. 

Some riders want to improve mobility, others want to increase their ability to understand the world around them. The goals are as many and varied as the students who ride with us, but all of them want to change their lives for the better!

Demand for our services is now higher than ever, particularly at a time when adolescent mental health has become an epidemic and the number one health concern for parents. But we can’t do it without your donations.

We currently serve more than 300 students per year from across the area including Prince William, Fauquier, Culpeper, and Rappahannock Counties, but we have a waiting list of 70+ and desperately need funds to train both new horses and Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors.

As we approach Rainbow’s 40th anniversary, we want to make this our biggest and best fundraising season yet! Support us this Giving Tuesday so we can support those who need it most in the community by giving as generously as you can.

With many thanks from the Rainbow Team!

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