Rosewood Ranch was a happening place Saturday, June 13, as dozens of energetic children were involved in fun ranch activities. The children and their families participated in the fifth annual “Kids Day at the Ranch,” presented by Rosewood Services.
Rosewood Ranch, located five miles north of Pawnee Rock, provides year-round therapeutic horse riding for children with developmental disabilities. The Ranch opens one day each year to its children riders and their siblings, as well as to children of Rosewood Services employees.
“I look forward to Kids Day each year,” said Tammy Hammond executive director of Rosewood Services. “It gives families a chance to spend quality time with each other and their friends in a peaceful country setting. Children get a fun glimpse of ranch life and an opportunity to experience therapeutic horse riding. Children never seem to get tired of riding horses.”
The children participated in trail-pattern horse riding; they also enjoyed horse-drawn wagon rides around Rosewood Ranch with their families. The children had their faces painted, participated in a cake walk, colored pictures of cowboy-themed cartoon characters, and participated in children’s games.
More than 100 people participated in Kids Day this year. All who attended were treated to free corn dogs, chips, drinks, and snow cones, along with the opportunity to interact with special guest, Randy the Clown.
“Our Rosewood staff and volunteers really do a great job of putting everything together for the children and their families,” said Hammond. “Kids Day has grown into something special for all of us.....the staff, the families, the kids....we all look forward to experiencing this time together each year.”
The fifth annual Kids Day was held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and included horseback rides, wagon rides, face painting, cake walk, corn dogs, chips, sno-cones and other goodies.
It’s not open to the general public. The Ranch opens one day each year to its children riders and their siblings, as well as to children of Rosewood Services employees. Kids Day began because siblings of those children receiving hippotherapy expressed interest in getting to ride. They saw their brother or sister riding, and they wanted to try it.
Ages of the kids vary each year but they have ranged from 3 to 17 over the past five years that Kids Day has been offered.