NATIONAL HELP A HORSE DAY
Pancakes, Ponies and Purpose
Pancakes with Ponies — National Help A Horse Day Sunday, April 26 • PonyUp4Kids Foundation
Join us for a heart‑warming community brunch celebrating rescued horses, healing and hope. Bring your family, enjoy a professionally catered brunch, meet our incredible horses and support life‑changing equine programs for children, veterans, trauma survivors, those with special needs and underserved families.
This isn’t just pancakes and ponies… It’s a chance for your family to:
* Connect with real rescue horses
* Hear their powerful stories
* Experience the magic of human-horse connection
* Support a mission that transforms lives
This year’s event is proudly co‑sponsored by Advanced Equine of the Hudson Valley, Duces Grill and Adams Fairacre Farms.
Get your tickets now! Mark your calendar. Invite your friends. Come make an impact.
Every ticket directly supports the PonyUp4Kids Foundation helping provide:
* Care for horses in need
* Humane education programs
* Life-changing equine-assisted experiences
You’re not just attending… you’re making a difference.
Event Details:
PonyUp4Kids is gearing up for National Help A Horse Day on April 26, you to join us. Your attendance fuels equine‑assisted programs for children, teens, adults, families, veterans, individuals with special needs, veterans, trauma and abuse survivors, those in recovery and underserved communities — while giving rescued horses a second chance at life.
Your Experience Includes:
* Enjoying a professionally catered brunch
* LIVE music
* Meeting the herd up close
* Hands-on horse activities
* Fun games for all ages
* Talk with the real-life equine veterinarians from Advanced Equine of the Hudson Valley
* Learn about equine-assisted programs and equine therapies
* Hear the stories of rescued horses
SUNDAY, APRIL 26
10am-2pm
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
This event is made possible by the generous support of:
Sponsors, Partners & Supporters
Dutchess County Skilled Trades Fair, Arlington High School
Stable Steps: Your Path to Equine Careers
PonyUp4Kids Foundation was excited to be featured at the Skilled Trades Fair on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at Arlington High School. We invited students, families, and community members to stop and discover the many career pathways available within the equine industry.
Visitors explored opportunities in horse care and management, equine nutritionist equine behavioralist, foaling/mare care, horse evaluation, equine appraisals, equine litigation, horse training, professional riding, veterinary, farrier, equine body workers, stable management and equine business development. They also learned how their passions and interests seamlessly stream into the horse world.
Every smile, every gift keeps our mission alive
Thank You for Making the Holidays Magical!
The barn doors opened, and magic poured in. Families gathered, children laughed, and the air was filled with the scent of cocoa and cookies. Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Cody — our beloved reindeer pony — brought storybook wonder to life, reminding us all that joy is most powerful when it’s shared.
From festive games to holiday music, every moment sparkled with community spirit. But beyond the laughter and photos, this day carried a deeper meaning: it shined a light on the mission at the heart of PonyUp4Kids — rehabilitating rescued horses and transforming their strength into healing for children, teens, adults, survivors of abuse and trauma, people in recovery, at-risk teens, individuals with special and diverse needs, veterans and families and underserved communities in need.
To our guests, volunteers, and donors: thank you. You didn’t just attend an event — you became part of a movement. Every horse fed, every pony brushed, every dollar donated, every smile shared — it all fuels our mission and keeps the magic alive year‑round.
We were honored to welcome NYS Assemblyman Anil Beephan, whose humor and kindness lit up the barn as he placed every child on Santa’s Nice List. His presence, along with District 22 Legislator Joe Tresca, incoming Beekman Town Supervisor Laureen Abbatantuono, and incoming Town Board members Kate Blake and Gina Ragusa, showed that our mission resonates far beyond the farm. Their support is a powerful reminder that PonyUp4Kids is building something real, lasting, and worthy of investment.
The holiday glow doesn’t end here. With your help, we can continue offering equine‑assisted programs that build confidence, resilience, and hope for those who need it most — while giving rescued horses a second chance at life.
Join us. Give the gift of healing and hope. Together, we gallop toward brighter futures.
Hope, healing, and joy exist because of your kindness.
Beyond the cocoa and holiday cheer, Our mission shines bright, steadfast and clear. Rescued horses with healing to give,
Helping children and families learn, grow, and live.
We thank every guest, each donor, each friend,
Whose kindness ensures our work will not end. And to leaders who joined us — their presence a gift, Assemblyman Beephan, Legislator Tresca, and Beekman Town leaders who uplift.
Your support keeps our mission strong, Spreading hope and healing all year long.
Holiday Delights: Gourmet Cookies
A Special Thank You to Chef Mark for His Extra Special Treat!
We are honored to announce that Chef Mark, renowned for his culinary excellence as former Executive Chef for the New York Yankees and at The Links in Union Vale, now showcasing his talents at JB’s Bar and Grill, will be sharing his artistry with all of us at the PonyUp4Kids Foundation’s annual Cookies and Cocoa with Santa event.
Chef Mark’s reputation for world-class cuisine makes his generous cookie donation an extraordinary highlight of our celebration. To enjoy holiday treats crafted by a chef of such distinction is a rare privilege — one that will make this year’s event even more magical for children and families alike.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Chef Mark for bringing his passion and generosity to our community. His cookies are more than a sweet indulgence — they are a symbol of the joy, warmth, and holiday spirit that defines Cookies and Cocoa with Santa.
