In Memory of Samantha Rocha-Dyer

Horses have a special place in the heart of the SRD Straightening Reins Foundation because of Samantha Rocha-Dyer who would have celebrated her 25th birthday on November 13,2020. A bright young girl who loved animals and horses, volunteered, spoke up for the underdog, did well in school but could not erase the sadness that followed her from a very early age. When Samantha’s depression and anxiety became apparent Deborah Rocha did all she could to reach out for support and decided to move the family to Acton for a quieter environment where they could have horses.
Samantha took refuge in her horses by talking to them and sharing her thoughts. When Mia, the small white Mustang arrived, they immediately bonded. Mia became her favorite and they became inseparable. Unfortunately, depression presses deeply into one’s soul and Samantha passed away April 17, 2011 at the age of 15.
Deborah Rocha founded SRD Straightening Reins to provide children and teens a safe place to find their voice and learn tools to make better choices through the equine-assisted learning method. She wanted to offer a program that would provide preventative methods for youth so that other parents would not have to experience the same loss she had endured.
In memory of Samantha, SRD is selling a “HOPE” bracelet that will help fund the Grandparents Parenting program which will visit the Ranch twice a month. This program will assist grandparents and their grandchildren to learn better coping and communication skills. The “HOPE” bracelets can be purchased for $12.00 each. If you’re interested in purchasing a bracelet or if you would like to hear about the other programs available through SRD please contact debbie@srdstraighteningreins.org or (661) 803-1641. If you find that your child is experiencing depression, anxiety, self-loathing or having difficulty with their coping skills, please reach out for help. https://srdstraighteningreins.org, https://bethedifferencescv.org