A University for Children

A Sanctuary for Animals

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Melanie

Melanie is the pride of McDonald Ranch leading other youth with her work ethic and by her example, planning and attaining goals.  The Ranch can’t take all the credit for Melanie’s success because she is also a straight A, honor roll student.  However, the Ranch is the “setting and the stage Melanie can dance on” showing her ambitious talents and outstanding ability to turn her dreams into realities.

As successful as Melanie is, she remains a compassionate and sincere young person with a huge heart for animals and children.  Her friendly demeanor has made her popular during her leadership as a summer camp and after school program counselor.  Melanie is an ideal role model for those who follow her as well as an inspiration of the proven success for what youth can achieve.

Melanie joined McDonald Ranch at the age of 10 to learn everything she could about animals with an emphasis on horses. Her goals were to ride with a balanced seat as well as to know the proper care of the horse she knew she would eventually own.

Upon her outstanding completion of our student trainer program, Melanie became a Jr. Trainer and was awarded her own horse, Najai.  She was also awarded a small but significant, partial ownership of an 1,100 acre ranch at Lake Berryessa.

Even though Melanie’s parents had offered to pay for her riding lessons, Melanie wanted more for herself and took pride in being able to get what she wanted on her own.  At 13 years old during the summer months Melanie came to live at the ranch Monday through Friday to master more growth and knowledge of business, ranching and animal husbandry.  She worked full-time throughout the summer to earn the money she needed to pay for her horses’ full board and care for the up-coming year.

This summer Melanie will again come to stay at the ranch full-time as a Lead Jr. Trainer mentoring the others who follow her.  Next summer, Melanie will become our first Youth Assist Camp Director.  After that she will attend U.C. Davis majoring in animal sciences and non-profit management so she can become the next executive director of McDonald Ranch when the founder, Linda McDonald, retires from her position.  With Melanie’s proven track record, no one who knows her doubts that she will do just that!

McDonald Ranch is honored to have the support and involvement of such a wonderful, young person as Melanie.

Joanna

Joanna has been Melanie’s right hand, teaching children through her profound knowledge of domestic and farm animals, especially horses.  She is a favorite at summer camps, always bringing a smile to everyone’s faces with her exuberant nature.

Joanna has been attending McDonald Ranch since she was 9 years old.  She started first as a student, seeking to obtain more knowledge in horse-back riding.  She wanted to become a safer and more confident rider, but also wanted to learn everything she could about horse care.  Upon her completion of the student trainer program at only 12 years old, Joanna became a Jr Trainer and was awarded her own horse, Romey, whom she had worked towards in the years past.  She knew when she first laid eyes on Romey that she wanted her to become her very own, and never lost sight of that goal.

At 12 years old, Joanna first came to live at the ranch during the summer to learn how to be a camp counselor, and to learn how to teach children about the animals and the care they need.  She attended almost full-time throughout the summer to master more knowledge and to earn the money to pay for most of Romey’s board.  Joanna helped teach students how to ride with a balanced seat up through a trot, and learned more about how to teach lessons.

Joanna will again be with us this summer, and the ones after that until she goes to college.  She is hoping to be accepted to UC Davis, majoring in Veterinary sciences.  She would like to become a vet, and continue her involvement in McDonald Ranch by providing her veterinary services. McDonald Ranch is honored to have the support and involvement of such a wonderful person as Joanna.