Horses relaxed as the reindeer took over at Carousel Ranch for the annual “Santa Day” on Saturday.
The ranch, which specializes in equestrian therapy for children and young adults with special needs, celebrated the start of the holiday season with face painting, balloon animals, popcorn bar crafts, hot chocolate, smores and other festive activities.
Taylor Adachi, executive director of Carousel Ranch, discussed the magic of throwing a holiday party for the students and their families.
“We’ve been doing ‘Santa Day’ for decades. It started as a safe space for our students and their families to come to enjoy a fun holiday party. The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s (Station) helped Santa with some toys to give before Christmas. It’s a chance for the community to come together to have a fun afternoon before the beginning of the holiday season,” Adachi said. “I think it’s amazing to see the magic of the holidays come to life, and we’re able to do it here at the ranch in our Western town.”
Around 300 attendees, including former and current students, were expected to attend and enjoy the festivities, according to Adachi.
“It took us the last couple of days to set up. It is definitely a labor of love, but we’re always happy to do it. It helps our staff get into the Christmas season, too,” Adachi said. “I just want to thank the community for supporting us this past year. We look forward to another successful year. Whatever the new year brings us, we’re so thankful for what our program means to so many families.”
Michelle Brown discussed her daughter, Aubrey, 8, and her three-year trajectory with Carousel Ranch.
“This is our second time doing ‘Santa Day,’ and it’s just really cool. We love Carousel Ranch to begin with, because it’s great for therapy and building strength and getting to do stuff that maybe she wouldn’t be able to do otherwise. This is a special event for the kids to meet Santa, and they make it super special. Santa will know their names and give them gifts,” Brown said.
According to Brown, her daughter has improved her core strength and head control, among other things, since starting Carousel Ranch’s program.
“Aubrey is nonmobile, nonverbal. For her, it’s building muscles up. I think her core strength and head control have improved a lot since she started riding at Carousel Ranch. She can’t fully sit on her own, but she’s doing better than she did before. For her hips, it’s been helpful, because they’re kind of tight. Horseback riding helps with all of that,” Brown said.
While the therapy is great, the camaraderie between families and staff is even better, according to Brown.
“I love that they do this special stuff, because it’s nice to build a community and be around other families that are in similar situations. I’ve met people here that I probably wouldn’t have met otherwise,” Brown said. “The staff is amazing. They’re so sweet. They love all the kids, and you can tell that they love what they do.”
Cass Stauffer saw her niece’s experience at Carousel Ranch, before bringing her daughter, Hannah, 4, to the program for a year.
“I volunteered here, and my niece, Lilly Taylor, got to ride here while she was still with us for two and a half years. My daughter has hip dysplasia — she was born with her hips dislocated. [Through the program] we had physical therapy on our horse, Nora, which she loves because she has no understanding that it’s work because she’s on a horse. She can have fun and be herself,” Stauffer said. “The ranch does a beautiful job, and we’re just thankful for everyone that does fundraising year-round so that she could ride.”
