Program
Let's Ride
Ridin' Wild Ranch offers horsemanship and riding lessons to individuals with developmental disabilities, ages ten and older. Different than "therapeutic riding," our students will learn horse management and engage in recreational riding on a beautiful 56-acre ranch. The goal for every rider who comes to lesson is to have FUN while learning about how horses think, how they communicate, and how they bond with humans. Though many riders start with lead line lessons, our ambition is to get every rider to the level of independence that he/she/they wish to achieve. Walk, trot, canter, jump, trail ride, ground work....nothing is out of the question.
Each rider will be individually assessed and placed with an equine partner that best suits their riding goals. Lessons are small group, one hour time reservations. This includes grooming, riding and properly putting the horse away. A group of volunteers is on hand with our instructors to make sure safety comes first and everyone has ample help to mount and dismount comfortably.
Lesson fees charged on a sliding scale and purchased in packages of five lessons at a time.
Morgan Wenell
Program Director
Morgan was clear about her love of horses as a very young child and first channeled her desire to learn and ride with confidence as a member of the United States Pony Club at the age of nine. She participated in rigorous education, testing and competing with USPC for five years. Morgan’s passion took her to compete at the two-star level of Eventing with her thoroughbred partner, Stone Temple DF. In addition to her training as a competitor, Morgan had the honor of serving as groom for her five star coach at Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event in 2017. While starting her college career in Southern California, Morgan worked for, and trained under a four-star dressage and event trainer. Now, with 20 years of riding and competing under her belt, Morgan is focused on completing her degree in Counseling and Applied Psychological Sciences and will graduate in May of 2025 from Arizona State University.
In addition to her long-time involvement in the equine world, Morgan has found fulfillment and joy in helping individuals who have developmental disabilities. She has worked for Easter Seals of the Bay Area, Advance Kids, Inc. in Sacramento and now serves as Ranch Manager at Opportunity Acres, Inc. in Shingle Springs. Her experience in early intervention for young children with Autism and her assistance at a Community Crisis Home for adults with disabilities have prepared her for work teaching lessons and managing the 56-acre facility that is an Adult Day Program and Non-Public School for individuals with unique needs. Morgan’s instruction with the crew at Opportunity Acres includes horsemanship, riding, and health care for their equine friends. When Morgan is not studying or working, she enjoys wakeboarding, snow skiing and spending time with her fiancé and their two adorable dogs.
Morgan’s role as Program Director is to provide an instructional program that includes a mounted and unmounted education in the basics of handling horses, safety in riding and horsemanship, developing a relationship with horses, using and maintaining tack, building confidence for the rider by incrementally improving their ability to communicate with their horse from the saddle.
