Special Equestrians, Inc

10/31/2026

Special Equestrians, Inc. enjoyed a spooooky week in Therapeutic Grooming!🎃

Even the horses enjoyed trick or treating! 🍬

Our participants kicked off class by learning about desensitization training. Things become a lot less spooky when we give horses the opportunity to see, smell, and touch new and unfamiliar objects. With the encouragement and guidance of our participants, our herd bravely investigated plastic bags, umbrellas, and even a ghost!

Armed with newfound bravery, our participants then took their equine partners Trick or Treating in the sensory trail. Some pumpkins were filled with horsey treats, while others held a little trick! The “trick pumpkins” challenged our participants and their equine partners to try a horse trick of their own. Who dares to cross a tarp? Booooo! 👻

We are so proud of the leadership, kindness, and patience our participants show our herd—not just on Halloween, but all year long! ❤️🐴

Thank you, Lisa Coy, for letting your creativity shine through this week with engaging equine-assisted learning activities with your TG students! ✨

10/30/2026

Special Equestrians, Inc. had a feeling it wouldn't take long for Lisa Spooner, this year's Taste of Love emcee, to fall in love with our participants, their families, and the Special Equestrians community!✨

Last spring, Lisa spent time at the farm capturing footage and getting to know our participants, preparing to share our story with the greater community. We have stayed in touch by sharing our happenings and upcoming event information and are beyond grateful for her enthusiasm, generosity, and genuine interest in highlighting the impact of therapeutic riding and the importance of inclusion. Lisa wanted to help shine a spotlight on Special Equestrians by producing an impact story that showcases the incredible things happening here.

📺Lisa's story featuring Special Equestrians is scheduled to air on Thursday, November 5, during the 5:00 hour on Gulf Coast News!📰

We hope you'll tune in and help us celebrate our amazing participants, families, instructors, and horses! We are so excited to share a glimpse of the magic happening at Special Equestrians with our greater community. Be sure to watch and help us spread the word!

We're excited to share that Lisa will once again be joining us as the emcee for:

TASTE OF LOVE: A W**E & FOOD EXTRAVAGANZA
Riding Waves of Hope, Making Miracles Happen!

📅 March 21, 2027

📍 The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon

Join us for a very special evening benefiting Special Equestrians, Inc.! We can't wait to have Lisa back for an evening dedicated to celebrating our mission, supporting our participants, and making miracles happen!

Thank you Lisa Spooner for helping us give our participants a bigger voice, believing in our mission, celebrating our participants' abilities, and helping us share the miracles of Special Equestrians!

A LITTLE MORE ABOUT LISA

The following biography is courtesy of the Gulf Coast News website:

Lisa Spooner joined the Gulf Coast News team in 2014 after hosting the nationally syndicated morning show, The Daily Buzz. During her time there, she had one-on-one interviews with some of the biggest names in Hollywood like Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner, Jennifer Connelly, and Colin Farrell.

Lisa was also in charge of covering the news every morning on a national level and covered major national breaking news for the three-hour show, such as the explosion in West, Texas, as well as the Boston Marathon bombings.

Lisa received her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Texas A&M University. She began her career in television at a station in the Houston area, where she was the primary anchor. From there, she moved to Tyler, Texas, where she anchored the station's evening newscasts, and was also the Managing Editor, before deciding to give the morning show a whirl.

After spending more than five years in East Texas, Lisa moved to the Gulf Coast and anchored the morning show at another station in the community for a few years before heading to Orlando and the Daily Buzz.

Prior to getting her start in news, Lisa spent a decade of her childhood growing up overseas. She was born in England, but before she was six weeks old, her family moved to the Island of Borneo. She then proceeded to spend 10 years in different countries in Southeast Asia before moving to the United States.

In 2002, Lisa won the title of Miss Texas and competed that fall on the nationally televised Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City. During that pageant, Lisa won a preliminary interview award and was named as a top ten Finalist.

Lisa, her husband, and their daughter enjoy spending time outside in the beautiful Gulf Coast weather and enjoying all that the area has to offer. If you see them out and about, Lisa says feel free to say “hi.” She loves meeting new people.
❤️🐴🙏🏼❤️

10/30/2026

Special Equestrians, Inc. invites our community to Sponsor a Sensory Space in our Wishing Well Sensory Garden. 🌿

During the season of giving & gratitude we call on office managers, executive assistants, business leaders, and founders to explore ✨A Few of Our Favorite Things✨ and discover how you can help Make Miracles Happen this season. 💙

Throughout the year, we welcome work groups, guests who want to observe our classes, community partners, and visitors who want to tour our facility—all in the spirit of connection, service, and giving. And this season, we want to host YOU!

Tag your favorite law office, business, engineering firm, community organization, restaurant, company, family, or philanthropist and invite them to join us. There is something truly special about gathering to give back, serve others, and experience the joy of making a difference. ✨

Special Equestrians creates a profound sense of compassion, community, and camaraderie for work groups that support our mission to serve people with disabilities through equine-assisted activities and therapies. Your contributions to our therapeutic programs, alongside the work you do to serve our community, help make Southwest Florida such a beautiful place to call home.

💫 Let’s come together and Make Miracles Happen!

We’re especially grateful to welcome Dorcey Law https://www.dorceylaw.com/ for a workday this November! We've already reserved a Sensory Space for your team, as our leaders in scheduling a SE work day this holiday season. Thank you, Shelly Clark & Chris Wood, Sharon & Charles Smith, and the Jones family for sponsoring a space!

We encourage YOU to follow their lead and experience a day filled with hard work, fulfillment, gratitude, and giving this season.

Sponsor a Sensory Space! https://entry.givesmart.com Share. Tag. Share again.
Let’s spread the spirit of giving! 🎄💙🐴 See less

10/29/2026

Special Equestrians, Inc. recently experienced the Babcock Ranch Preserve Swamp Buggy Eco-Tour, where life slows, nature takes center stage, and Florida’s past seems to come alive with every turn along the trail. No two tours, no two days on the ranch are the same.

Surrounded by native wildlife, four Florida habitats, and the ranch's quiet magic, it’s easy to imagine a time when life was simpler and the seasons shaped our days. The greatest adventures seem to come from slowing down, stepping back in time, and rediscovering the beauty of Old Florida.

As we prepare to launch our 36th Annual Ride-A-Thon at Babcock Ranch Preserve on November 1st, we're grateful for our longstanding partnership with Tarpon Blue Land & Resource Management. For 36 years, this one-of-a-kind event has brought together the things we hold dear: horses, ranch life, nature, history, and the timeless beauty of the Florida landscape.

This partnership is about so much more than an event. It is about preserving traditions, creating meaningful experiences, and carrying forward a legacy that connects people, animals, and the land we call home. With their continued support, we can make a lasting impact for Special Equestrians while honoring the history and spirit that make this event so extraordinary.🐎☀️🤠

As we look ahead to this year’s Ride-A-Thon, we are especially excited to introduce new sponsorship opportunities that will help this partnership grow while preserving the charm, character, and nostalgia that have made this event so meaningful for generations.

Some places remind us that not everything needs to move faster. Some traditions are worth holding onto. And some adventures bring us back to the warmth of the Florida sunshine, the steady rhythm of our horses, the sounds of alligators, hawks, and sandhill cranes, and the feeling of being part of a mission bigger than ourselves.✨

Stay tuned as we launch the 36th annual Ride-A-Thon to benefit Special Equestrians, Inc., turn the page to another chapter of this cherished tradition, and share the exciting new ways our partnership continues to grow through sponsorship opportunities and pledging initiatives. 🙌

🌿 Discover the beauty and history of Babcock Ranch Preserve’s Eco-Tours: https://babcockranchecotours.com/ Babcock Ranch Eco Tour
Making Miracles Happen!
The 36th Annual Ride-A-Thon will take place at Babcock Ranch Preserve on February 6, 2027. Event details on our events page at specialequestrians.net.

10/28/2026

Special Equestrians, Inc. celebrates spooky season! 👻

10/27/2026

Special Equestrians, Inc. is proud to be a longtime United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades Pacesetter partner agency! As the 2026 United Way Pacesetter Campaign gets underway, we are reminded of the power of community, compassion, and coming together to support our neighbors.

At the same time, many families in our community are facing challenges and struggling to make ends meet. We may not always understand their circumstances, and we may have different beliefs about the causes of those struggles or the best ways to combat them. But regardless of our perspectives, the need to care for one another and extend compassion to our fellow community members still exists.

When we support organizations working to meet these needs, we can make a direct difference in someone's life. We can also help demonstrate that we are a caring and compassionate community—one that believes in offering people support, encouragement, and new opportunities which mirrors what we do here at Special Equestrians. Sometimes, that support can be the difference that helps a family overcome a difficult season, regain stability, protect against vulnerability, and find a new and healthy path.

Sometimes, a little help at the right moment can make a lasting difference in someone's life.✨

As a partner agency, we understand that every contribution matters, no matter the amount. The heart of this campaign isn't about how much someone gives—it's about showing support, standing together, and demonstrating what a compassionate community can accomplish.

There is never any pressure to give. We recognize and appreciate that our SE community members give in so many meaningful ways through their time, talents, service, and generosity. Every act of kindness helps make our community stronger.

If you would like to participate in the United Way Pacesetter Campaign, on behalf of Special Equestrians, donations are welcome through November 13, 2026. You can find the fillable pledge form at https://www.unitedwaylee.org/pacesetters/.

Thank you for being part of the SE Community and for helping us continue our legacy of community support. 💖

10/26/2026

10/25/2026

Special Equestrians, Inc. is gearing up for Horsepower for Healing! 🐎❤️‍🩹✨

We are seeking sponsors to make this a success. Scan the QR and see that anyone can be a sponsor!

Donate a raffle item and advertise your business or give as a family! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HncL1LYx_oV33zWGG1lOXNv7IAHuBW3k/view?usp=drivesdk

Share, share, share again with car enthusiasts, equestrians, and anyone who believes in the power of miracles!! ✨

🐴🏎️ GOOD PEOPLE. FAST CARS. POWERFUL HORSES. ❤️

Special Equestrians, Inc. is fueling up for an incredible day as we launch the Horsepower for Healing Car Show, Annual Tack Sale & Rider Showcase!

📅 Mark your calendar: January 9th! Share! Share! Share!
🏆Car show open to all. Trophies and Club Awards!

Come out to the farm for some good ol’ fashioned fun while helping support our therapeutic programs and the incredible people we serve.

✨ SPONSOR & MAKE MIRACLES HAPPEN! ✨

Sponsorship opportunities are available for anyone who wants to make a meaningful difference in our community. Become a community leader in supporting people with disabilities through the powerful impact of equine-assisted activities and therapies.

🏁 Bring your family.
🐎 Support our riders.
🚗 Check out the cars.
🛍️ Shop our annual tack sale.
❤️ Help us make miracles happen!

📲 Scan the QR code or text Indy to 76278 to register a car, learn more, and become a sponsor!

Visit specialequestrians.net and look for “events” and “Horsepower for Healing” for details.

Let’s make this a horsepower-filled day that makes a difference! 🐴🏎️❤️

10/22/2026

Special Equestrians, Inc. enjoyed a wonderful professional learning session with our friend Dr. Emily Behan-Paulhus from Van Roekel and Associates Inc! We’re grateful for opportunities like these that bring us together to learn and grow! 💙

10/21/2026

Special Equestrians, Inc. celebrates Sammy’s birthday!! 🎈