As equestrians ourselves, we know the physical and emotional benefits of spending time with our animals regardless of whether that means riding, grooming, hand-walking or simply interacting casually with our horses. Extending those benefits to people with disabilities is the basis of the equestrian program at Mandy’s Farm, a residential and day facility in Albuquerque’s South Valley.

Our October speaker, Kim Fay, has been doing outreach with her standard and mini donkeys for some years in the form of meet-and-greets at El Rancho de las Golondrinas (and many other venues). However, her own journey has led her to a passion for Combined Driving with her miniature donkey Cyder’s Sir Bentley with whom she has won placings at the Division (multi-state) level.

She didn’t start out to teach others to drive but discovered driving and therapeutic riding skills go together!  Join us at our next program meeting to learn more about what Kim and her mini-donkey have learned when it comes to driving and therapeutic riding.

In January, Bentley and Kim started teaching a student from Mandy’s Farm who has autism to drive.  “There have been so many benefits for all of us, and the positive impact driving has had on my student is amazing.  As we expand, we’re excited that this will be the first such program in NM.  We just need larger equines, additional tack and carts or carriages and some accessible equipment to serve more individuals.”  What a success story! 

Come for the program at 7pm or dinner with others at 6 pm. We will be dining out in the front dining room and retiring to the back room for our program at 7pm.

Kim was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. On her way to California to work at Universal Studios, her car broke down in Albuquerque.  She never left!  Kim raised dairy goats and was looking for a guardian animal, because she traveled a lot for business.  But, it had to be something that would not attack her sitter.  “Enter my first donkey, Bud,” she explained. “I rescued him at five months old.  Even though I knew he was not the guardian I needed, he was small and cute, all legs and ears.  I fed him goat milk and trained him like a dog.  I didn't know any better.  Donkeys are much like potato chips, you can’t have just one, and the rest is history.”