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Cozumel Horse Sanctuary / Rancho Universo A.C. |
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A Vital Community Service in Need of
Volunteers & Donations to Benefit Our Equestrian Friends
At Rancho Universo Cozumel, the dedication to providing a safe, loving and caring facility for horses that have been mistreated and abused is of upmost importance. Many of these beautiful creatures have suffered unbelievably at the hands of their former owners and it is sanctuary's mission to heal and nurture these animals back to health, allowing them to trust humans again. The payback is these rehabilitated horses are then able to provide a nurturing, safe and healing experience to assist in therapy for disabled children. They become advocates of those with disabilities and simply put, the horses do not see our differences, deformities or our wheel chairs. These rehabilitated gorgeous animals have left their past behind and now provide an opportunity for both adults and children to bond with them and feel their unconditional love!
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Rancho Universo A.C. Horse Sanctuary - OUR HISTORY! |
Mission - To create awareness and educate people by allowing them to experience horses in a semi wild state. Horses are Healers!!
- Liliana Velasco-Ariza - Liliana is the founder and has long been passionate about horses and how they interact with our lives. As a young girl she volunteered at riding schools in exchange for lessons and went on to manage a riding school in London. Later she became certified as a British Horse Society(BHS) Riding Instructor and horse assisted therapist. Since moving to Cozumel she began to combine her efforts by rescuing horses from abuse and subsequently training them to work with children with disabilities
- 2001 - Liliana received a call on October 19th about an abused horse in Cozumel! She was able to rescue the horse and this rescue effort began the Cozumel Rancho Universo AC Horse Sanctuary! Liliana continued over the next few years rescuing and saving more abused horses.
- 2004 - After rehabilitating these abused animals, these gentle horses were now ready to "pay-it-forward" and the sanctuary started providing horse assisted therapy sessions to children with neurological issues (and sadly, many of these children are the result of ignorance and misunderstanding, just like the horses that are now giving them a new confidence and independence through the therapy sessions)
- 2006 - The sanctuary was awarded funds by the Mexican Federal Government to improve the facility and infrastructure for a riding center for the disabled.
- 2008 - In May of 2008, the sanctuary become a Non-Profit Organization - please note that the Rancho Universo A.C. Horse Sanctuary and Horse Assisted Therapy Center is a "Stand-Alone" Non-Profit and is "NOT" affiliated with the Humane Society! To ensure you donations are received properly, please make donations directly to the sanctuary.
- 2008 to Present - The sanctuary continues to rescue abused horses and needs your support to providing food, care and assistance to the horses and the growing therapy needs of the disabled children. They welcome volunteers and donations!
To Make a Donation to Assist in Saving the Lives of these Magnificent Animals -
Please Click on the Photo Below |
Rancho Universo A.C. Horse Sanctuary - WHAT WE DO! |
Step 1
Rescue and Rehabilitation of our Neglected & Abused Equestrian Friends
- Most unfortunately, we find that ignorance is the most often the cause of many of the most damaging things in life. People for centuries have referred to animals as dumb, unthinking, unfeeling creatures. Very often, when someone does something atrocious we hear "they are worse than animals"!
- Rancho Universo A.C. Horse Sanctuary and Horse Assisted Therapy Center is a refuge and permanent home for the casualties of this kind of thought process. So many of these loving and caring horses were sentenced to death simply due to human stupidity.
- The rescued horses at the sanctuary had endured abuse, confinement and starvation and then were discarded as rubbish. When this happens to a human, people are appalled and yet it is so common for these beautiful , kind and loving creatures to be mistreated and were forced to endure this abuse.
- The sanctuary rescues the horses and has an immediate goal to get their health concerns addressed. They provide much needed feed and nutrients to get the horses healthy, ensure all injuries are properly treated and work diligently to bring the animal back to a healthy state.
- In the process of helping return the horse to health, the center works on rehabilitating the horses (mentally and emotionally) to get them to trust humans once again. Those that are able to recover in all aspects are then retrained to provide therapy for children with special needs. Unfortunately, not all of the horses are able to be fully rehabilitated to provide this wonderful service, but "ALL" the rescued animals will live out their lives on the sanctuary in comfort and in a loving environment!
Step 2
Empower and Build Confidence for our Special Needs & Disabled Children
- Horse Assisted Therapy provides interaction between the rehabilitated horses and humans (both adults and children). This allows both horses and "patients" to switch roles and become caregivers and help both animals and humans in their recovery.
- Very simple tasks, such as bathing the horses, grooming and brushing their coats or simply offering a carrot helps promote many skills such as leadership, self-confidence and empathy for others. Improved self image, learning awareness and spatial awareness are often a result of the therapy sessions with the horses.
- Simply riding the horses has been shown to assist in physical healing through the reception of stimuli. Some of the physical benefits include improved joint mobility, balance and coordination, increased muscle tone benefits.
- The center offers many forms of therapy and sessions that consist of: natural horsemanship management training and internship; riding therapy lessons for the disabled; hippo therapy for patients with hypotonia; early learning stimulation; and many other services.
- Rancho Universo A.C. Horse Santuary and Horse Assisted Therapy Center is certified by the Asociacion Mexicana de Equitacion Terapeutcia (AMET Mexican Association for Riding for the Disabled) and the Riding Federation of Riding for the Disabled International (FRDI).
Rancho Universo A.C. Horse Sanctuary - HELP US CONTINUE OUR RESCUE EFFORTS! |
Rancho Universo A.C. Horse Sanctuary - Photo Album
As with many "Non-Profits", the ongoing challenges of operation are always a major concern. Rancho Universo A.C. Horse Sanctuary and Horse Assisted Therapy Center has many wonderful sponsors, but can always use your support and assistance. We urge you to contact them directly as they need many types of support. Here are a few ways you can help:
- Volunteer Your Time - If you would like to volunteer your time, they need support in grooming, feeding, cleaning, etc. and welcome those that can assist in these daily efforts. Please feel free to phone them at 987-119-98-28 to see how you can assist in providing "hand's-on" support to the center.
- Fundraising - If you are a member of a group that would be interested in fundraising for the Rancho Universo A.C. Horse Sanctuary, please contact them so they can provide information for your fundraising event or group. They are always happy to help in any way to assist you in your fundraising efforts for their ranch and are grateful for any and all donations. For more information, please email them at info@ranchouniverso.org.
- Donate - All donations received go directly towards feed, medicine, maintenance of the facility, grooming supplies (brushes, combs, saddle soap, etc.) and are what allows the center to continue providing the rescue services and therapy sessions that help heal both the horses and human. Again, we stress that ALL DONATIONS need to be made "DIRECTLY" to Rancho Universo as they "ARE NOT" associated with the Humane Society of Cozumel, but are a separate, "Non-Profit" organization.
To Make a Donation to Assist in Saving the Lives of these Magnificent Animals -
Please Click on the Photo Below |
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Copyright 2000 - 2024 Sherri Davis, All Rights Reserved. Contributors retain the copyright to their work. Please do not take art or written content without permission. Other graphics and reference materials are used and attributed as per the Fair Use Provision of The Copyright Act and individual terms of use.
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