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A Message From Our Team
From the Board President’s Desk – Summer 2025 Update
As announced on June 11, 2025, the Board of Directors proudly selected Laura Keller as the new Executive Director of Horses Help. Laura officially began her role on Monday, June 23, and she is already off to a strong and enthusiastic start. During her first week, Laura made it a priority to connect with staff, greet every visitor to campus, and begin laying the groundwork for a collaborative and mission-driven future. She even gave her office a fresh new look, painting over the old yellow walls to create a more welcoming space for team meetings and creative thinking. And, true to nonprofit life, she rolled up her sleeves right away, handling a leaking irrigation pipe on campus without missing a beat. Her hands-on approach and positive spirit are already making a meaningful impact. Together, let’s continue building a Horses Help that welcomes innovation, values each voice, and never forgets why we show up... for the healing, joy, and growth made possible through our horses.
Reimagining the Trail Ahead – A Message from Our New Executive Director
Dear Horses Help Family, It is with immense gratitude and excitement that I write to you as the new Executive Director of Horses Help. Stepping into this role feels like returning to the heart of purpose, where compassion, connection, and a little bit of horse-powered magic come together to make incredible things happen. As someone who has spent over 25 years in nonprofit leadership and community advocacy, I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative power of partnerships, and the spirit of Horses Help embodies exactly that. You, our volunteers and donors, have been the driving force behind our impact. Every hour spent in the barn, every dollar invested, every heartfelt gesture of support has created a ripple effect on the lives of the individuals we serve. Now, as we turn the page and begin a new chapter, we have an opportunity to reimagine the future with boldness and joy! Together, we will build on our foundation and explore new horizons by expanding access to therapeutic riding and equine-assisted services, growing our community programs, and deepening our commitment to inclusion and innovation. You’ll be hearing more from me soon about our evolving vision, upcoming projects, and ways we can further empower and engage the Horses Help community. But for now, I simply want to say thank you for welcoming me, for believing in this mission, and for being part of a journey that changes lives. Let’s keep dreaming big. The trail ahead is bright, and I’m honored to ride alongside each of you. With gratitude and determination, Laura Keller Executive Director
Program News
The 2024-2025 Program Year for Equine Assisted Learning was a success, thanks to our wonderful Equine Specialists, participants, donors, and grantors! It was amazing to see each of our participants become more confident as they connected with the horses and learned more about themselves and what they are capable of. We are happy to report that we had wonderful lessons with groups focused on team building and group bonding experiences, supported by our experienced Equine Specialists and our capable herd— all made possible thanks to the generosity of our donors and the grants we received. Learn more about the group EAL program, the HERD, in our blog post at: horseshelp.org/blog. Looking forward: We are eager for the 2025-2026 program year and excited to welcome both new and returning participants to this impactful program! Reach out to the Program Manager now to secure a spot for individual classes starting in mid-September. We currently have availability for single corporate group team-building sessions and ongoing group bonding experiences beginning in mid-September. Again, thank you to each of our donors, grantors, Equine Specialists, and horses for making Equine Assisted Learning safe and worthwhile!
Volunteer Corner
New Volunteer Opportunities: Join Our Barn Buddies Team! We’re excited to announce the expansion of our Barn Buddies Program at Horses Help! We are seeking volunteers who are passionate about horses and want to make a meaningful impact behind the scenes. Barn Buddies help maintain a safe and nurturing environment for our horses! •New Barn Buddy opportunities include feeding, grooming and turnouts. Whether you're an experienced equestrian or simply love being around horses, we’d love to welcome you to the team. To learn more or get involved, please contact volunteer@horseshelp.org.
