May 2025 First Nature News

May 2025
First Nature Notes: The Onset of Summer Vibes...and Schedule

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Dear Friends of First Nature Foundation,

Summer is here in Central Florida! At least in terms of weather, with heat indexes 100 degrees or higher! We’re glad we and the horses have ample shade to take advantage of during the blazing sunny hours… and we hope for cloudy weather on the daily! Speaking of which, thanks to those of you who sent good vibes for rain, as several storms that passed through in the last couple of weeks have greened up our pastures nicely.

When it’s this hot and as school is ending in the next two weeks and everyone is thinking about their summer vacations, things at the ranch slow down. Our very busy April has turned into a more relaxed May, program-wise. We hosted a day-long staff retreat for Help Now of Osceola, several Serenity Sessions, a meeting of the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, and our usual Horse Wisdom for Heroes program. We are looking forward to an easy summer where we are focused on generating memberships to support our programs and booking autumn programming and event dates (hint, hint ;-)) .

You make what we do possible.

It’s your support that powers the programs we offer—and helps transform lives throughout Central Florida. If you’re not already a member or donor, would you consider joining us with a monthly gift of $10, or even $5? It’s a small investment with a big impact.

Our programs reach youth, families, and communities through the healing power of nature, horses, and connection. Here’s what a behavior therapist shared after supervising teens in our Horse Sense for Teens program:

“First Nature Ranch has been a life-changing experience for our teens. The Horse Sense for Teens program has helped them boost their self-confidence through leadership and communication skills. They have learned the importance and power of their own voice. This program has helped them gain self-awareness by connecting with nature. We are so thankful for the services Kerul and her team provide to our teens, and we look forward to our continued partnership.”

Your monthly support helps make experiences like this possible.

Become a Member or Give Monthly today and invest in a stronger, more connected community.

Make a monthly donation using the QR code. Click on your amount and then check the box to make it a recurring donation.

Become a Member

Your membership also helps support the care of our amazing herd of horses, as well as facilitation and supervision of the horse/participant interactions during programs (and much more!). Our most experienced and treasured staff member is Allyn Carnahan. Allyn started as our Social Media Coordinator in November 2020, just as she gave birth to her adorable daughter, Evie. She started helping with events and other tasks such as maintaining the website, co-facilitating in programs, networking at chamber events, and more, so was soon elevated to Promotional Director. Taking on ever more responsibilities, in 2024 she was promoted to Assistant Executive Director. She’s been so devoted to our little nonprofit and a couple of months ago the board voted to bring her on as our Executive Director. Congratulations to Allyn!

“I was unsure about what it would be like to work for a nonprofit after a career as a teacher, but I took the chance and never looked back. Within a few months, I realized that Kerul was the kind of person I could work with forever. And when I finally understood the difference between equine therapy and equine facilitated leadership development, I was sold! I bought into our message and our mission and have done my best to help First Nature grow. It’s been a wonderful place to flex my teaching skills and develop talents I didn’t even know I could. I have grown so much personally and professionally and I owe it to Kerul, the peacefulness of the ranch, and the horses who challenge me every day. I am humbled to be promoted to Executive Director and excited to see what lies ahead for us.”

Everyone falls in love with the ranch... and the horses! First-time visitors often tell us how enlivening and stress-relieving it feels to be here. In fact, it’s hard to get them to leave!

Want to experience that peace for yourself? Book a Serenity Session—a relaxed, one-hour, supervised visit where you’ll connect with the horse of your choice. You’ll get to help feed, groom, and simply be with one of our herd in their stall, the arena, or the pasture.

It’s a gentle, grounding way to unplug and reconnect—with yourself and with nature.

Book early to reserve your ideal date and time! You can even help us bathe them if you want to, like the pictures below from yesterday's program!

We’re SO CLOSE—just a few hundred dollars to go! Our Outdoor Lighting Capital Campaign is nearly 100% funded, thanks to the incredible generosity of our community. A HUGE shoutout to one amazing donor (C.G.B—you’re our hero!) and her employer’s matching gift for helping us get this close! Now, we just need a little more help to cross the finish line.

Your gift—no matter the size—will help us complete the installation of lighting inside and outside our covered arena, so we can safely host evening programs year-round.

If you haven’t donated yet, now is the perfect time. Be part of the final push!

👉 Donate now and help us light the way!

Donate to Our Capital Campaign

In Loving Memory of Dakota

On April 25th, we laid to rest our gentle old man, Dakota. At 33, he was the eldest member of our herd—and though age and illness took their toll in his final years, his fighting spirit never wavered. For the past three years, Dakota battled health challenges that caused weight loss and increasing pain. Yet, through it all, he remained strong and ever-watchful, a quiet guardian to his herd. But more than his struggles, what we remember most is who Dakota was.

He shared an extraordinary bond with Goldi, his companion of nearly 20 years. They were inseparable—grazing side by side, communicating with silent understanding. Dakota was the only one who could get away with a playful nip at her flank, a testament to their deep and trusting friendship. Within the herd, Dakota was the investigator—the one who would step forward when others spooked, calmly checking out the unknown. He always brought up the rear, keeping watch and ensuring the safety of those he loved.

His strongest bond, though, was with Kerul. Dakota was her heart horse. Their connection was profound and enduring. Even in his final days, he followed her every movement with devoted eyes, waiting patiently for her return when she walked away.

Dakota had a quiet, yet magnetic presence—his loss is deeply felt by all of us.

Run free and happy now, Dakota. You are forever part of this land, this herd, and our hearts.