What's Happening

What an exciting time this is when Praying Hands Ranch (PHR), Parker Fire Fighters and local communities join together to serve disadvantaged families ,women & children from Battered Women’s Shelters, Special Needs residential homes, families from Salvation Army and Whiz Kids. Thanks to 70 volunteers, PHR staff and Board, Parker Fire Fighters prepared for the annual Christmas Party. Gifts, clothes, and food were collected. 250 Christmas stockings were sewed and filled. Women’s personalized baskets were filled (for battered women shelters). Creative Arts from Senior Center sewed stockings and made felt mice. Parker Task Force donated canned goods. Latter Day Saints from many local wards helped with stockings, gifts, and at the party itself. Eagle Crest High School students came and did a “Cookie Decorating Booth”. There were games to play, crafts to make, and the Parker Fire Fighters gave away the gifts and stockings.

There were two Eagle Scout projects. One was Luke Warnac who collected used bikes and refurbished them to give away. Jake Rothey who collected gifts and food for the guests. Thank you Eagle Scouts!

A Hoof and a Prayer

 What a special young lady!

My name is Quincey Kippley. I am 12 years old

and I have been riding at Praying Hands Ranch (PHR)

for almost 10 years. 

 Before I was born I had a stroke. My doctor said I may never even

walk. It was difficult for me to do a lot of simple things that other

children do naturally. I didn’t start walking until I was 20 months old!

Shortly after that, my mom saw a special on TV about PHR and she said a light bulb went off in her head. Since my mom used to teach children to ride horses when she lived in Illinois, she thought riding might be great for me. She has always loved horses!! She came in and asked me if I would like to go visit the ranch and maybe learn to ride. I was so excited I could hardly wait! 

 My mom and dad took me to the ranch and we met Shirley and Carl. I began riding a white horse named Rosie. I was 3 ½ years old then. I was never afraid. Riding just seemed pretty natural for me. A lot of my instructors told me I have a good “seat”.

 I received some PT and OT over the years, but because it is so expensive and our insurance didn’t cover that much, most of the therapy I received was at Praying Hands. That is where my parents saw the biggest difference happening with me. My mom says that it helped my posture, improved my balance tremendously, helped to loosen a lot of tightness I have on my right side, gave me great self-esteem, and was just a lot of fun!. No one knows how I would have turned out if I hadn’t had equine therapy, but my mom and dad are certain that without it, I would not be where I am today. 

 My class is the first graduating class from Praying Hands and I will miss everyone a lot. But I do hope to continue riding in the future.