Northern Michigan’s PEACE Ranch uses rehabilitated rescue horses in equine assisted therapy for people struggling with psychological, emotional and physical challenges. All equine therapy programs are conducted in uncovered outdoor arenas, limiting programs to 12-16 weeks per year due to the cool and unpredictable climate. This denies many the benefits of equine assisted therapy and education from September 1 to June 1 of each year.

To remedy this problem, the Utopia Foundation, in partnership with PEACE Ranch, has begun The Covering Project to build a 120' x 68' covered arena. The Utopia Foundation is offering a 25% matching grant toward the first $80,000 of the goal of raising $100,000 for the new arena. This low-maintenance structure will sit on donated land, and will be built in a way that allows it to be easily enclosed for future expansion. Once construction is complete, the only maintenance costs will be those related to lighting.

Your support of this program will allow children, schools, organizations and others access to the services at PEACE Ranch throughout the school year.