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Special Year-End Message from Cheryl Holt, Executive Director |
| Hello All, I am so amazed and humbled when I think about all those who support River Valley Riders – our donors, board of directors, staff, volunteers, participants, and our horses! I continue to be eternally grateful to ALL OF YOU. With your help and support, we have made a sizable impact on the funds needed toward building A Stable Future. This end goal of a completed facility, with horses living on site and lessons year-round, the next step in the evolution of RVR, and I am so excited for our future! |
|  | This expansion is necessary for many reasons. We will be able to increase the number of participants served and programming will also be more continuous by eliminating the “start over” each spring. And, just as importantly, it will provide JOY all year long. RVR will be able to continue to grow by increasing and expanding our programming. This also will ensure that RVR will be here for the future, providing a stable, permanent program for staff (both paid and volunteer) and allow us to increase our RVR horse herd. |
| | Our mission remains strong – to create a supportive community where people with special needs connect with horses and experience life-changing benefits. We do this by providing programming involving marvelous horses, both for riding and carriage driving. A quote from one of our participant families: - “Our daughter looks forward to her lessons each week and is always beaming—it’s truly ‘her thing.’ We have seen significant physical gains in her core strength, balance and coordination. The environment at RVR has also provided emotional support and social growth, fostering confidence, independence and responsibility. We consider this program an invaluable part of her life.”
We continue to be very diligent about development and finances. We always fundraise, then build, to keep us out of debt. River Valley Rides remains debt free!! Our programming for 2025 was very fulfilling. We conducted lessons for 26 weeks, Monday through Thursday, with several weeks of programming on Fridays as well. We served over 150 participants, with the help from ~200 volunteers, 11 horses, and our certified instructors. Thank you to our many volunteers!!! As I have said many times, RVR cannot exist without the help from ALL of our volunteers and Staff! Here are some quotes from several of our volunteers from our 2025 survey: - "This was my first summer at RVR. I found this experience humbling, heartwarming and very satisfying. The parents/caregivers are so supportive. My riders have been unique and endearing. So much to learn."
- "RVR provides a very valuable and necessary service. I am a true believer in the healing power of animals, particularly the special bonding that can exist with a horse."
- "As I’ve said in past surveys, RVR is the most organized volunteer group that I’ve taken part."
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| | Autism and Genetic Disorders, such as Down Syndrome, are our largest categories of disabilities. We offer our services to most all ages. Riders must be at least 4 years old, but there is no upper age limit so long as there is a doctor’s approval and we have an appropriate horse available. As you can see, we have a good mix of age ranges. In closing, here are a few quotes from our participant families: - “My son continues to love going to RVR! He looks forward to Mondays and after he gets home from school, he will go sit on the bench by the door because his personal care attendant reminds him that it is horse night. He jumps up and down and claps his hands when he knows he is getting to ride. I really appreciate RVR and all the volunteers and staff. Everyone is kind and accepting and puts a smile on my son's face, which is not easy to do. It is typically the happiest I see him all week!”
- “My daughter had a decrease in anxiety and increase in confidence and willingness to try new things. She is more willing to share her thoughts in groups. Riding helps her remember goals and to use skills learned at RVR to remain calm.”
- “Our son talks about horseback riding all week. He is so much better at waiting for all things in his life. He is calmer in all aspects of his life. We have found a community here at RVR and the people understand! It’s been great getting to know everyone, and we are sad to have it not be in our regular routine year-round. We can’t wait until April!”
Sending all of you best wishes for health, happiness and love this Holiday Season! Blessings to you for the New Year! Warm regards,
Cheryl |
| | 2025 Round-Up Gala Update |
| The 26th Anniversary Round-Up Gala was truly a night to remember! The Round-Up Gala is River Valley Riders’ annual fundraising event, bringing together our community to support our nonprofit organization and, in turn, the riders, drivers, and families that we serve. On Saturday, November 22, 2025, River Valley Riders welcomed 223 friends and supporters to the DoubleTree by Hilton Saint Paul East for an evening filled with celebration, connection, and generosity. Guests enjoyed live music by Gary LaRue, who performed beloved hits from the Rat Pack era along with other easy-listening classics. Our emcee for the evening, Lori Crever of Protégé Power, brought energy, laughter, and warmth to the program. This year’s program centered around an ambitious and exciting goal: raising $100,000 for A Stable Future, our capital campaign focused on building an on-site stable to support year-round programming and allow our horses to live permanently on our property. Dan Chinander of Twin Cities Creative Media Group produced two inspiring videos that helped Cheryl Holt share the importance of A Stable Future. The enthusiasm and support in the room made it clear how deeply our community believes in this vision, and we’re thrilled to share more about the incredible results below. We are deeply grateful to our event sponsors, including Kathy Doucette Real Estate, AbleNet, Inc., Stewart Title, The Title Group, the White Bear Lake Lions and Stagetime Productions, as well as our annual corporate partners First State Bank and Trust, Crabtree’s Garden Gate, Marathon Petroleum, and RAM Buildings, Inc. Their generous support helped make this event, and its impact, possible. Most importantly, thank you to everyone who played a role in making the Round-Up Gala such a success. Whether you donated auction items, attended the event, bid generously, volunteered your time, or made a financial gift, your support truly makes a difference. From all of us at River Valley Riders, thank you for being an integral part of our mission! 📅 Save the Date!
Next year’s Round-Up Gala will take place on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at a NEW venue- Central Park in Woodbury, with catering by the Lake Elmo Inn. We can’t wait to celebrate with you again! |
| | | | | | A Proper Word of Thanks from Winston |
| Esteemed Friends and Distinguished Benefactors, Allow me to introduce myself (again), as manners are important. I am Winston, a horse of refined sensibilities, excellent posture, and an unwavering commitment to punctual mealtimes. I write to extend my most sincere thanks to all who supported River Valley Riders at the Round-Up Gala on November 22nd. While I strive to remain composed in all circumstances, your generosity has left me- how shall I put this... pleasantly astonished! The evening’s goal was to raise $100,000 in support of A Stable Future, a campaign devoted to year-round programming and permanent on-site housing for horses such as myself. Thanks to your extraordinary kindness, this goal was not only met, but surpassed with admirable enthusiasm. At last count, generous donors contributed over $150,000, a figure I find both impressive and deeply reassuring. |
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| Your generosity reflects a profound belief in the transformative power of horses, the strength of this community, and the future we are so carefully (and properly) building together. On behalf of Arvid, Annie, Ice, Booker, and the entire herd, please accept our most heartfelt thanks for your support, your enthusiasm, and your excellent judgment. With gratitude and impeccable manners,
Winston
Resident Gentleman & Gold-Star Collector |
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| | Horsepower: Fueled by Volunteers! |
| At River Valley Riders, our volunteers are the heartbeat of every lesson, trail ride, and smile. Each newsletter, we’re excited to introduce you to one of the incredible people who give their time, energy, and love to make RVR’s mission possible. Q&A with Kristin Berghoff What inspired you to start volunteering with River Valley Riders? “I got involved with RVR when I moved to the Twin Cities after college. I had a love for horses and enjoyed working with people with special needs. I had previously volunteered at a therapeutic horseback riding place near my hometown. When I moved to the Twin Cities I looked for something similar and found RVR. For a while I helped bring one of the volunteer horses to the program and very briefly a volunteer donkey!” |
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| What drew you to the program, and what keeps you coming back? “I love the work that RVR does! It is so neat to see the riders grow as individuals and gain skills that they use throughout their lives. I have also made many friends at RVR and love the community of RVR.” What’s one of your proudest moments as a volunteer? “I really enjoy seeing all the progress that riders make over the course of a year. It is fun to watch the riders gain independence in their riding abilities and watching how their interactions with their team grow and flourish.” Do you have a favorite horse? “I had to think about this one really hard and find it strange to say that I actually don't have a favorite horse. I love them all for different reasons and have enjoyed the opportunity to work with all of them. Each horse has its own personality and it's fun getting to know all the different quirks that make each horse a great fit for the program.” |
| What’s special about the RVR community? “The RVR community is special because of the people that are part of it. It is something I look forward to returning to each year after our winter break. One rider, Katie, in particular, I have had the opportunity to work with for as long as I can remember and I have really enjoyed working with her. I have gotten to know her and her family. She also makes her entire team, horse leaders and sidewalker, feel like they are a special group! We love our ice cream after riding, which she organizes. Cheryl is so good at bringing the community together and organizing everything so that it runs smoothly. All the instructors are awesome and bring out the best in everyone in the arena.” What would you say to someone thinking about volunteering? “I would highly recommend volunteering at RVR! It is a wonderful program and you will meet some awesome people.” You’ve seen significant growth to RVR as an organization in your 20 years of volunteering. How will future expansion impact our participants and our community? “When I first started at RVR, we held the program at the Washington County Fairgrounds. It has been amazing to see all that RVR has accomplished. It was exciting when we had land that we could call our own. Each additional step in improving RVR has been exciting. The expansion of having an indoor arena has been so beneficial to the riders. We used to have to cancel for so many different weather conditions, so it has been a game changer to be able to have lessons in the rain and the heat with the beautiful indoor arena. As future expansions happen, it will be cool to be part of them and see how beneficial the changes are to our riders and our volunteer teams.” |
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| Kristin was interviewed by another great volunteer, Rowan Hilden, Hamline University Intern. Thanks Rowan! |
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| | | Miss Pickles began her career with River Valley Riders in the spring of 2010, when she was only 4 years old. A very young horse with an old soul, beautiful, and so gentle and kind. It was so fitting that her birthday was on February 14th – St. Valentine’s Day - as she had a big heart and loved people. Miss Pickles was a western pleasure show horse, but did not like that lifestyle and became depressed, that is why her previous owner gave Miss Pickles to Cheryl Holt for use at RVR. She was happy being a therapeutic riding horse and quickly became a favorite with our riders. She enjoyed her career until her early retirement in 2024. Sadly, Miss Pickles passed away in February 2025. She is missed by all those whose lives she touched. Thank you Cheryl and Todd Holt for lovingly sharing Miss Pickles with our riders for 15 years! |
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| | Journey of a Vintage Sleigh |
| Kim Loomis, a retired chemistry professor, has owned a vintage sleigh since she was 17. The sleigh has traveled with her from New England to the Midwest. After several moves, Loomis (sleigh in tow) landed in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. The sleigh is close to 120 years old, with Loomis having recently finished the final painting. The sleigh has been generously donated to River Valley Riders. Loomis noted that she looks forward to seeing the sleigh harnessed to a River Valley Riders horse, stating, “…now I hope snow will come through for some good sleigh rides.” |
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| While Loomis is not sure who owned the sleigh originally, she noted that it did come from a farm in New Hampshire, where she is originally from: “My best guess—the sleigh was purchased new around 1900-1910, right around the end of the horse and buggy era. It was likely stored in the hayloft of a barn and forgotten for a long time.” Loomis first bought the sleigh in 1979 and paid $150 for it, which Loomis emphasizes was, “...a lot of money back then!” |
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| Loomis renovated the sleigh in several stages. When she first received it, most of the paint had disintegrated or flaked off. Loomis did a thorough photo-documentation in 1989, along with detailed drawings of the pinstripes and artwork on the back of the dashboard, sides, and the back. Her goal was to preserve and replicate the original look of the sleigh. She then stripped the last of the paint, filled, sanded, and primed the sleigh body, gear, and shafts. After painting the body and gear their original black and red colors in the 1990s, life got busy with family and work. The sleigh was pretty at that point, but the final artwork had to wait. This summer (2025) Loomis dusted off her pinstriping and art brushes and now the restoration is complete. |
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| When asked what the sleigh means to her personally, Loomis responded, “l loved horses and did have a horse that drove, but the sleigh means more to me than a fun sleigh ride. I admire its craftsmanship and art. You just don't see this kind of art on our everyday things now. Simple sleighs like this one sold mail-order from Sears and Roebuck in 1900. They were beautiful and it is rare these days to have one in such good condition.” |
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| While this sleigh has never been used by Loomis with a horse, she has many fond memories of the sleigh with her family. “We have kept this sleigh in garages for the last 45 years. At our current home… we would move the sleigh into the breezeway between the house and garage at Christmastime and put lights on it. Once there was 6" of new snow on the street and my kids (college-aged) pulled it down the street.” When asked what inspired her to donate the historic sleigh to River Valley Riders, Loomis replied, “I was surprised to see that (River Valley Riders) use(s) horse-drawn vehicles with people who cannot ride the horses. I asked if they would like a sleigh and they said yes. That was the nudge I needed to finish painting it. I'm happy to see it used.” |
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| Finally, when asked if there was anything specific Loomis wanted others to notice or appreciate, she added this:
“One-hundred-twenty-plus years ago, winter was the time when people could travel and visit friends, neighbors, and family. The farm harvest was done and winter allowed more social time. But the conditions had to be just right: about 6" of packed snow, 15 degrees temperature, and trips less than ten miles away—much like the ideal cross-country skiing today. A little cutter-type sleigh like this for two people was an easy way for a couple to get around, especially during the holidays. Add bells and a warm sleigh robe (I've included both) and they could make a quick (and possibly romantic) ride over to a friend's house for a party. A winter horse-drawn version of an MG Sports Car. As the 1857 song goes: Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.” |
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| | | Planned for April 11, 2026 New Volunteers: The morning Zoom meeting and afternoon hands-on training are mandatory. Volunteers who started in 2025 and did not attend April 2025 training day: The afternoon hands-on training is mandatory. Returning Volunteers: You are welcome to the afternoon hands-on training as a refresher or to be evaluated as a horse leader. Our season-starting training day on April 11, 2026, will be a great introduction to the fun and responsibility of RVR volunteering. For brand new volunteers the day will begin in your home with a Zoom session from 9:00am to 10:30am. We will be reviewing the 2026 Volunteer Handbook and sharing information about the most common diagnoses/disabilities of our participants and how to best support them to achieve their goals. The afternoon in-person training will start at 1:00pm at our Afton lesson site (2007 Neal Avenue South) for hands-on experience with our horses, ending at 4:30pm. The afternoon in-person training is mandatory for new volunteers and returning volunteers who started with RVR May-October 2025 with only the evening training. Lessons are planned to start at our Afton lesson site the week of April 20th for riding and week of April 27th for carriage driving. Please put these dates on your calendar now! Hope to see you in the Spring! |
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| | | Thrivent members! River Valley Riders is approved to receive Thrivent Choice Dollars. You can recommend where some of Thrivent Financial's charitable outreach funds go by visiting the Thrivent Choice website. |
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| | | We are looking forward to another successful 2026 program season! The program is planned to begin on April 20th through November 5th, 2026, providing 26 weeks of riding. Carriage driving will begin April 27th through November 5th, 2026, providing 25 weeks of lessons. We will again divide the program into 3 sessions with the weeks of Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day off. - Spring (9 weeks for riding; 8 weeks for driving)
- Summer (9 weeks)
- Fall (8 weeks)
Our lesson fees for 2026 will remain the same: Group Lessons $65.00 per 45-minute lesson; Private/Semi-private riding lessons will be $90.00 per 60-minute lesson and Carriage Driving lessons will be $65.00 per 30-minute lesson. We opened registration in mid-December for those who were in the program in 2025. They will have until January 30, 2026, to get the registration form and nonrefundable $75.00 registration fee per participant mailed to RVR. The liability form and medical forms are due by April 1, 2026. If there are any spots remaining, they will be filled from our waiting list. See you in 2026! |
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| Our mission is to create a supportive community where people with special needs connect with horses and experience life-changing benefits. River Valley Riders (EIN# 41-1949447) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with support from individuals, foundations and corporations. All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Financial statements will be provided upon request. |
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| River Valley Riders
8362 Tamarack Village Suite 119-440 Woodbury, Minnesota 55125 |
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