UMA’s 12 Days of Giving: A Holiday Campaign to Support Our Horses and Students
Join us for the 12 Days of Giving—a countdown to December 12th (or sooner, if we hit our goal early—yippee!) where every donation brings us closer to our goal! Help keep our horses fed and cared for this month, while supporting our UMA community. Together, we can make December magical by giving back to the horses that give us so much. Every gift counts—let’s do this!
Our challenge this month is simple but urgent: we don’t have enough student memberships to cover the basic costs of keeping our horses fed.
This December, we need your help to ensure our herd is happy, healthy, and well-fed. While student fees cover our rent and operational costs, we’re short on funds for their food this month.
Curious how your donation can make an impact and benefit you?
Keep reading! Not only will your support help us reach our goal, but we’ve also created special perks for those who contribute. Whether you’re a current UMA student or a new friend of our herd, there are exciting ways you can get involved and enjoy more horse time this month. Scroll down to discover how your generosity can unlock exclusive rewards and help us care for the horses that mean so much to all of us!
Our Mission
Simple—providing our herd of horses with nourishment and a safe, loving home. Equally important is enriching their lives through interaction, care, and teaching sessions with our student members. Our students don’t just learn—they help our horses thrive, creating a partnership that benefits both human and horse.
What it takes to operate at baseline—no take home pay for Coach
To operate at baseline—covering expenses with no profit—we need the equivalent of 12 UMA Basic Memberships at $320 each. Advanced Horse Lab memberships, at $640, count as two Basic Memberships because they cover twice the cost.
For December, we currently have 8 students enrolled, leaving us 4 memberships short. This creates a gap of $1,280 that we need to raise to ensure our mustangs have the food and care they need to stay healthy and happy.
The Breakdown—What it takes to Maintain UMA
It’s time to be transparent. In the tables below, you will discover that all income goes directly to the care of our UMA herd. We’ve determined that we are exactly $1,280 short of reaching our goal this December.
Monthly Horse Food Cost Breakdown
The table below provides a breakdown of our monthly food bill for eight horses, totaling $2,182—this is just for their nourishment and doesn’t include other essential expenses like rent or the $400 for hoof trims, which occur every other month.
| Item | Quantity | Cost Per Item | Total Cost |
| Hay Bales | 16 | $37 | $592 |
| Grain Bags | 4 | $25 | $100 |
| Hay Cube Bags | 4 | $360 | $1,440 |
| Large Carrot Bags | 2 | $25 | $50 |
Total Needed: $2,182
Monthly Overhead Breakdown
| Expense | Total Cost | Covered by 8 Students ($2,560) | Remaining Balance |
| Rent, Insurance, Fees | $1,658 | $1,658 | $0 |
| Horse Food | $2,182 | $902 | $1,280 |
Total Overhead: $3,840 (12 students)
Currently Covered: $2,560 (8 students)
Shortfall: $1,280 (4 students)
With 8 students enrolled this month, we can cover rent, insurance, and fees, plus a portion of the horse food bill. However, we are $1,280 short—the equivalent of 4 more students—to fully cover the cost of feeding our horses this month. Every bit of support helps close this gap!
Here’s where you come in!
For every $80 donated, individuals can gift Horse Lab hours to a current UMA student. Family and friends can also participate by donating in honor of a student to provide them with extra Horse Lab days.
To reach our goal this December, we’re offering an exciting incentive for current and potential members.
If you’re new to UMA, this is a wonderful opportunity to join our community! By becoming a member, you’ll not only help us achieve our mission but also gain access to lessons and time with our incredible herd.
Donation Goal Breakdown
We need to raise $1,280 to cover the shortfall for horse food. There are a few ways to reach this goal:
Bonus for Students:
If someone donates $320 (or 4 x $80) in Horse Lab days, the student they honor will automatically be upgraded to a Horse Lab member. This means unlimited Horse Lab days during business hours while a coach is present for the month of December!
Every donation helps us care for our mustangs and sustain the programs that make UMA special. Whether you’re a current student, a family member, a friend, or someone eager to join our mission, you’re making a meaningful impact for our horses and our community.
How to Donate:
- Click the donation button to visit our campaign on Givebutter, where you can see our progress.
- Choose your donation amount.
- If you’d like to honor a student with Horse Lab days, write their name in the message box.
- Don’t know a student? No problem! Simply write “Coach Decides,” and we’ll assign it.
- Complete your donation and share our story with friends and family to help spread the word!
Help UMA’s Mustangs Thrive This December: Your Support Makes All the Difference
Join Us in Supporting UMA’s Mustangs—Donate Now and Help Us Reach Our Goal!
Ready to Make a Difference? You’re About to Leave Our Site and Donate on Givebutter!
Exciting!
I’m so excited to see where this 12 Days of Giving campaign takes us! The fun and excitement that will come from reaching our goal is truly thrilling, and I’m hopeful that with your help, we can provide the horses with the nourishment they need and the time they deserve with their beloved partners. Let’s make this December a success—together, we can make it happen! Thank you for being a part of this journey with us!
UMA’s Long Term Sustainability Goals to Keep In Mind
Our goal is to maintain a steady enrollment of 12 or more students at all times to ensure our horses are well cared for and our programs can thrive. This stable base allows us to fulfill our mission of providing excellent care for our horses while creating enriching educational experiences for our students.
We are also actively working toward obtaining nonprofit status, which will make fundraising more effective and enable us to better serve our herd and community. With nonprofit status, we can expand our impact, offer even greater opportunities for students, and secure the long-term sustainability of UMA.
Monica O. Knight
I’m a horse handling science coach helping equestrians, trainers, and horse lovers transform their horsemanship through proven methods—no gimmicks, just results. As head coach at United Mustangs of America in Arroyo Grande, CA, I’ve guided hundreds of students toward building true partnerships, have happy horses, and efficient horse-handling skills.
