Reader Story

Tommy's journey in the world of Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) began when he stepped onto the trailer leaving behind his life as an Amish cart horse...

Liver is a registered Haflinger mare and she is 36 years young...

Marvel—"to be filled with wonder or astonishment." A fitting definition and the name of our wonderful 30-year-old therapy horse, Marvel.

Peaches is a 2-year-old dwarf miniature horse that we rescued in 2017. She was 7 months old when we rescued her and had many medical issues with walking and her hooves.

Oscar may be small in stature, but he has a heart to rival Secretariat!

Horses have been a wonderful source of comfort in my life. But the first pony I brought home, a little Shetland my neighbor had rescued from the local auction, well, I wouldn’t have called him “comforting”...

Jessica came to Haven Acres in 2016, a very anxious and fearful 9-year-old...

Buttercup has been my daughter's horse for therapy for over five years...

In April 2013, our second son ended his own life in his room at our house...

On April 6, 2018, I stood in a college auditorium and scanned rows filled by my faculty colleagues, students, family, and friends—the people I most admire and want to respect me. Then I said something I never thought I’d utter aloud...

I’ve been riding for about 9 years now and it has become my rock. When I was 7 I was hospitalized for an anxiety-induced stomach ulcer...

I have been riding at the REATH Center for two years now. It has become a big part of my life. When I was born, I was diagnosed with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC), a congenital joint contracture in two or more areas of the body.

Oct 17, 2003, a wreck with a drunk driver changed my life in a heartbeat. I went from being healthy and active to using a wheelchair...

William Robert is an exceptional pony and a most valued member of Circle C Equestrian Center...

"Tootsie is a wonderful 36-year-old pony who is still going strong.."

"From therapy lessons with children with cerebral palsy to teaching a beginner rider with a slight mental disability how to trot by themselves to competing in mid-level eventing, Hami does it all..."

"It was a July day, the sun was bearing down, and I had just slid out of the saddle after a trail ride. My helmet was loose—most of my hair was gone. My blood pressure was low, a side effect of chemo..."

"Liberty is a Paint draft mix. She joined the Horses for Hope herd in 2014..."

"Smoke is a bay Quarter Horse and he is our go-to horse for beginner children at Lets Saddle Up..."

"I'm an Army veteran who has a traumatic brain injury, major depression, and anxiety. Before I got involved with horse therapy life just felt like a dark road I was just wandering on..."

"Thirty-two-year-old Sugar has been patient with over 150 young children thus far..."

"Kiwi is a one-in-a-million therapy horse. She's a 20-year-old Haflinger that's been with us for over 15 years..."

Nemo was an 11-year-old Welsh pony listed online for sale. The ad said he was a hunter/jumper pony, great temperament, and ridden by a child...

I met Shiloh at a time when I thought there was no hope for me to enjoy life again...

Last summer I found myself in a really bad place. I was barely functional and could barely leave the house...

"Tank was taken in and had been beaten and had a hard time trusting people and needed a job..."

"My horse Rumor Has It has been in my life since she was 4 months old..."

"During a spring ride with a friend I fell off my horse. I shattered my lower leg and cracked my hip..."

Tentatively and quietly he said, "I can't go to school." The words came out as if they had been clawing in his throat all day and finally managed to narrowly escape...

My horse Koda has rescued me from depression and anxiety....

I was the Equestrian Director of a private school named Bachman Academy, for children with special needs. They ranged in grades from middle school to high school...

Fifteen years ago I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis...

My horses San and Tyler have gotten me through some very dark times in my life...

I have been blessed with amazing horses who have taught me many life lessons...

Moonshine was a throwaway, ruined off-the-track racehorse who had been abused and then abandoned...

When I was 16, I begged my parents to let me ride the beautiful, *very* recently saddle-broke PMU mare that our good family friend had recently bought...

I was an avid horsewoman with extensive trail riding experience. I also dabbled in Limited Distance and enjoying Mounted Orienteering. But late November 2016, I suffered a terrible side effect to the flu shot called Guillain Barre Syndrome...

My name is Amanda, and I am an Air Force veteran who nearly lost my life to PTSD...

Twelve-year-old Damion has Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. He is in a wheelchair, unable to stand or walk without assistance...

How does anyone handle the unexpected loss of a 15-year old Arabian to colic? We had come so far...

Jake is a 21-year-old Tennessee Walker Paint gelding that has been working for the 4-H Grand Equestrians Therapeutic Riding Program in Howell Michigan for longer than I can remember.

I have miniature therapy horses. JJ was my first one and the one I take out visiting the most as he's the one that seems to connect with the people who need it the most.