The wide-open expanses that are the backdrop for the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M., are the perfect environment for horses as well as meetings.
Set on 550 acres of New Mexico’s Santa Ana Pueblo about a half-hour from Albuquerque and an hour from Santa Fe, the property’s stables are an iconic Southwestern draw for guests. The resort returns the favor to its equine residents by holding an annual Horse Rehabilitation Week.
This year the event will be held May 29 to June 2, 2018.
The Stables at Tamaya supports newly rescued horses that wind up at the property for a variety of reasons. The property typically supports five new horses each year, and has taken in 103 since its inception in 2013.
“We get a lot of calls—a lot of calls—it’s a very big issue in the U.S., so there’s just a lot of need to take on this challenge,” said Herb Rackliff, general manager of the property. “Sometimes it’s just that people have gotten up in age and can’t take care of horses, and sometimes we find the horses absolutely beaten, battered and neglected.”
Rackliff said that many guests stay at Tamaya in order to spend their time volunteering at the Stables, and meeting groups can be shuttled down to the operation to spend an afternoon as part of a CSR program. The resort also holds a rodeo night at its arena on Thursdays.
“They come in in all different conditions,” Rackliff said of the horses. “The hope is eventually the horses can go out for adoption. We’ve made the horses ridable, and they’ve become a staple of what we do here at the Stables. Some have become permanent residents.
"Today I believe we have about 67 horses and all but 20 of them have been rescued," he said.
To help bolster the effort, Tamaya holds a Horse Rehabilitation Week. The resort’s goal is to expand the program to sponsor 100 horses annually. Following are this year’s activities:
- Tuesday, May 29: Rounds for Rescues Golf Tournament at Twin Warriors.
- Wednesday, May 30: Youth Volunteer Day at the Stables.
- Thursday, May 31: “Adoption Auction” for businesses.
- Friday, June 1: Tamaya Rodeo at the Stables.
- Saturday, June 2: VIP Day at the Stables.
- Saturday, June 2: Horse Rehab Gala.
A variety of sponsorships are available for individuals and organizations that want to further Tamaya’s efforts. The Stables at Tamaya is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Paying it Forward
Here are some other hospitality organizations that are making a difference:
Visit Anaheim and the American Heart Association launched a “Heart-to-Heart” campaign that will equip Anaheim high schools with CPR kits and training over the next three years. Led by heart disease prevention advocate Jennie Garth, the philanthropic effort grew from the American Heart Association returning to the Anaheim Convention Center’s ACC North expansion for its Nov. 11-15, 2018, Scientific Sessions meeting.
Fairfield by Marriott celebrated its 30th anniversary by expanding its support for Habitat for Humanity with builds in New York City, Atlanta and Kathmandu, Nepal, among other destinations, marking the largest “Rally to Serve” day in Fairfield’s 30-year history.
Associates from more than 275 Fairfield properties around the world pitched in.
[Related Content: Read more about those giving back in our industry].
