Horses that Help provides FREE horseback riding and horsemanship training to special needs children, at-risk youth, veterans and their families, using rescued and rehabilitated horses.
“Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something”
Max Lucado
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24,253Horses That Help
A non-profit 501(c)3 equine rescue and sanctuary. A safe landing for at-risk horses.
Gideon is back!!! Nearly a decade ago he was a staple of HTH and worked with kids of all abilities in our program. It was a hard and specialized job and over time he let us know it was too much so we found him a loving home with a lot less pressure. He’s been living a great life all these years but life changes happen and his family brought him back to us today. We were so excited to reunite and although we’re on a new farm, he definitely remembered us! I rarely take photos of myself but wanted to recreate a headshot with him from 2017… We’re both older and hopefully wiser 😅. He’s welcome to stay with us forever but is adoptable should the perfect situation arise. Gideon is pretty much perfect under saddle and would have to be restarted and remuscled as he’s been living on bon bons but he’s definitely “been there, done that”. Easy keeper, needs front shoes, does not tie and is fine living alone … great with people but a bit of a bully with other horses. Loves the camera and is a total ham with a heart as big as him ❤️We’ve been helping horses and humans for most of our kids lives, it’s kinda in our DNA so it’s no surprise that our youngest daughter, Jessica, developed a helping niche of her own and got really really into working with birds. She has volunteered hundreds of hours with various avian rescues and helping friends with troubled birds and just through word of mouth (much like how Horses That Help organically started) she’s officially branched out and created the “squawking side of HTH” aptly named “Helping Parrots - A Bird Rescue and Training Center”. At only 17 she clearly has a gift training and caring for birds and has already made quite an impact. If you would please give her page a “like” and a “follow” to help it grow FB presence that would amazing and she’d be super thankful!!! And if you’d like to adopt or foster a bird, reach out to her page as the intakes are already pouring in. 🥰🙏www.facebook.com/share/144JmDGgv4/?mibextid=LQQJ4dHelping Parrots - A Bird Rescue and Training Center
The Squawking Side of Horses That Help, a 501(c)3 non-profit located in Marion County FL.5 years since one of our most memorable saves! This boy literally has a Cinderella story from rags to riches and is now a spoiled loved one to a lovely Palm Beach couple that treat him like a son. Believer’s testimony is that miracles do exist and to never ever ever give up hope… the best is yet to come! 🌟🌈We can’t save the world but for the ones we save, it means the world 🌈. Django had a home for life but then his owner tragically passed and he was definitely at risk being older and with Cushings. Thankfully relatives rallied and with the help of two non-profits working together and caring neighbors he landed with us until we could find his perfect home. Biggest thanks goes to Nadia Plante, Realtor - Ocala Fl.and @Robert Plante of Dirty Boots LLC Home & Farm Services Home & Farm Services for selflessly taking him in and providing heaven on earth! It certainly takes a village and the village stepped up for this sweet lucky boy ❤️🙏P.S. if you happen to have Prascend (medication for Cushings) we’d love the donation to forward to them. Thank you!!! 😊Wildwood Animal RescueIt’s always so heartbreaking to get in beloved horses after their owner passes away. His whole world turned upside down but thankful he’s safe. Welcome Django. A beautiful boy who’ll be available for adoption once we get to know him. We were told he hasn’t been eating well and has lost weight but we quickly learned he loves alfalfa and Purina Senior Active so with that combo he should be back to a great weight in no time! If you can help with his feed bill,Venmo @Horses That Help Zelle 561-281-8599 Horses That HelpAlso, if you’re local and would like to come by and meet him and maybe give him a bath or some lovins I know he’d love the attention ❤️
Our Mission
Using horses to break through physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, and cultural barriers.
Early on at Horses That Help, we learned that everyone needs help in one way or another. Everyone has a story, everyone has a past, a hurt, or tender area and everyone needs love and to feel they belong.
What started as a ministry for special needs children has evolved into so much more. I think in the day and age, most children are “at-risk” and we aim to provide a safe, wholesome, loving environment where these kids can let down their guard and simply be kids. A child lights up when you point out their potential and they rise to the occasion when they are trusted to help. Something amazing happens when you take a kid from their everyday environment and expose them to nature and horses and hard work. They get to groom, ride, and wash down the horses but the best is when they are entrusted to help a special needs child that comes to ride. Now you have a kid that gets to experience the amazing feeling of helping and making a difference in the lives of others and instead of a victim of circumstance, this kid is a hero, an overcomer, a vital part of something special and that’s when the real miracles happen.
As the children heal, their families heal too. And it all starts with a kid and a horse.
Vision
Dream big… there’s a lot of people to help.
We currently serve 80-200 children a month. Kids with special needs, teens that are facing crossroads, youth that are considered “at-risk”, and teens in foster care. In this supportive, safe, caring environment, these kids are thriving and are empowered through each obstacle they overcome. They become family. These kids come to the ranch for mentoring, food, fellowship and learning. Learning not just about horses but life skills as well. But I envision even greater growth… I see mentors in place to teach mechanics and carpentry and sustainable gardening. I see teams fixing the cars of single moms and special needs families. I see teams building tables where families gather to eat the food we all prepare with the organic produce they helped grow.
I see hurting, starved, abused horses being loved on tenderly by kids who’ve been through the same. I see abandoned animals and people being made whole and given a new purpose and hope for their future.
I see good people in bad situations being helped.
I see urban youth going camping, roasting marshmellows, and riding a horse deep into the woods. Healing happens on long, quiet trail rides for both horse and rider and neither return unchanged.
I see kids that feel hopeless rising above their circumstance and becoming leaders and mentors.
I see community support and resources available to help their families and a network of people joining together to help however needed. I see lives changed for generations to come… and it all starts with a kid and a horse.
Horses
Just like people, each horse has a story…
Alvin
Mustang
Color: Bay
Age: 8 Years
Weight: 1200lbs
Moses
Tennessee Walker
Color: Blue Roan
Age: 19 Years
Weight: 1100lbs
Gus Gus
Tennessee Walker/Mustang
Color: Black
Age: 9 Years
Weight: 1500lbs
Pepper
Quarter Horse
Color: Grey
Age: 21 Years
Weight: 900lbs
Icee
American Shetland Pony
Color: Black
Age: 20 Years
Weight: 450lbs
Teddy
American Shetland Pony
Color: Black & White Paint
Age: 25+ Years
Weight: 600lbs
Rosette
American Shetland Pony
Color: Chestnut
Age: 5 Years
Weight: 500lbs
Simon
Mustang
Color: Chestnut
Age: 5 Years
Weight: 900lbs
Frisco (Cocopuff)
Mini Pony
Color: Black & White Paint
Age: 5 Years
Weight: 200lbs
Photos
Sponsors
We could never do what we do without all our amazing sponsors!
Help
Please fill out the contact form or call 561-281-8599.
Horses That Help is always looking for volunteers to help!
Ocala, FL
(561)281-8599
[email protected]
www.horsesthathelp.org