Saturday September 28th @ Laguna Lake Equestrian Center – Fullerton
Saturday September 28th @ Laguna Lake Equestrian Center – Fullerton
Saturday September 28th @ Laguna Lake Equestrian Center – Fullerton
2020 - July
2020 - July
Save the Date
Lower Arena Project
Tara’s Chance was founded in 2012, inspired by a young girl named Bella, diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) at age two. Because Bella’s needs were significant at the time, she was turned away from equine therapy centers in Orange County, prompting the creation of Tara’s Chance to cater to her and children facing similar challenges. Today, Tara’s Chance serves 95 riders weekly with the help of 12 therapy horses. Bella’s remarkable journey can be explored in detail at taraschance.org.
In its early years, Tara’s Chance adapted its facilities by converting 12 horse stalls from a commercial boarding stable into a riding arena. This 60' X 120' arena has become the magical grounds in which Tara's Chance has witnessed incredible growth from all our riders. Currently the demand for Tara's Chance has resulted in a waitlist of 125 children. This demand underscores the urgent need for therapeutic riding programs for children with special needs in our community.
Addressing Limiting Resources
To successfully expand, we must address our three limitations to growth: people, horses, and land:
-
People: Human capital is essential for both program operations and support functions. Our staff of 12, supported by over 50 active volunteers, manages everything from therapeutic sessions to fundraising and administrative tasks. We are prepared to grow our team as needed.
-
Horses: The bond between horse and child is the heart of our mission. Our active 10 therapy horses and 2 mini horses are capable to serve 120 riders weekly.
-
Land: Our current 60' X 120' arena is utilized to capacity six days a week. The Lower Arena Project will provide the additional land needed to grow our capacity and serve more children.
Our Plan
-
Construction of a retaining wall to prevent flooding.
-
An ADA-accessible path to ensure safe access for all.
-
Development of:
-
A 50’ x 175’ riding arena
-
A 60’ round pen
-
Three horse stalls
-
Three wash racks
-
A tack shed for equipment storage
-
Parent seating areas
-
Permanent lighting to enable evening therapy sessions.
-
This transformative project to add 20,000 square feet of usable space on our 2-acre property, which will allow us to serve 164 children weekly and address our current 125-child waitlist. This new area, located down a 30-foot hill and currently inaccessible to children with special needs, will be renovated to provide safe, dry space where children can experience life-changing milestones, such as speaking their first words or taking their first steps, while connecting with our therapy horses.
​
The Lower Arena project is more than a construction effort it’s a community collaboration. We are seeking local businesses, tradespeople, and supporters who want to partner with us by contributing expertise, materials, or services. Together, we can create a safe, accessible space that expands opportunities for the riders and families we serve.
Renderings
.png)
