Our Story

 In 2013, while volunteering with a special needs ministry at a local church, we met a little girl named Mali. She was on the waiting list for therapeutic riding, and something about her stuck with us. Before long, we gave her mom our number and invited them to come to our home so Mali could ride our pony, Buttercup. What started as a simple invitation turned into something much bigger than we ever expected.

Mali and her little sister Kendall began spending time with us, and we watched as Mali connected with Buttercup in the sweetest ways. One day she said “whoa” and Buttercup stopped. Another day she picked up a grooming brush for the first time. Moments like those brought us to tears and showed us how powerful the connection between horses and people can be. As we worked with Mali, other families began to notice. People started asking if their child, niece, neighbor, cousin, or friend could come ride too. Through word of mouth, more and more kids started coming.

Eventually Mali moved away, but the kids kept coming....

What began with one little girl and one pony slowly grew into something we never planned but felt called to keep doing. 

That small beginning became Horses That Help, a nonprofit dedicated to using horses to bring healing, connection, and encouragement to people.

Over the years we welcomed children and adults with special needs, kids struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and attachment challenges, and families who simply needed a place of peace and support. Sometimes the riders experienced the biggest breakthroughs. Sometimes it was the parents or siblings who found healing. And sometimes we were the ones who were changed the most.

In December of 2020 our family moved to Ocala, Florida. Ocala is known as the Horse Capital of the World, and we quickly realized there were already several amazing therapeutic riding programs serving the community. Because those needs were already being met so well, we felt led to focus our efforts in a different direction. We began focusing more on horse rescue. Since opening in Ocala, we have taken in over 60 horses. Many have come from neglect, difficult situations, or owners who simply could not care for them anymore. Each horse that arrives here is given time, care, and a chance to heal.

While the focus of our work has shifted, the heart behind it is still the same. We believe horses have an incredible ability to help people heal. Sometimes the horses need that same healing too.

Looking back, we know this was never something we could have built on our own. When this all started, we had very little. Barely any property, no formal training, and not much money. But we said yes to helping one child, and little by little God provided what we needed.

He brought us incredible volunteers who give their time and their hearts. He has always provided just enough to keep going.

And it all started with a sweet little girl named Mali.