Dualling For Stars- From Show Pen to Therapy Arena
Kaylee and Dually
With his elegant movement, natural talent, and strong pedigree, Dualing For Stars—or “Dually,” as he’s known in the barn- has always turned heads in the show pen. Owned by Kaylee Muglach, this accomplished AQHA gelding has earned success in the ring, but it wasn’t always easy. Anxiety often crept in at the worst moments, loud noises, unexpected distractions, or an unfamiliar environment could unravel even his best-prepared rides.
Everything started to change when Dually stepped into a different kind of arena, one built not for competition, but for connection and healing.
Today, Dually serves as a therapy horse at Crossroads Corral, a Central Florida nonprofit providing equine-assisted therapy for veterans, youth, and families facing mental health challenges. There, horses like Dually support clients working through trauma, grief, depression, and more. For Dually, this work became more than a second job; it became a source of healing.
Therapy sessions at Crossroads Corral often involve “toys” like stuffed animals, tarps, hula hoops, and pool noodles, tools used to help clients regulate emotions, engage their senses, and build trust. For a horse once easily spooked by the unexpected, these sessions helped Dually develop a new kind of confidence. The same objects that would’ve caused anxiety in the show pen became everyday tools in his world, and his steady presence began to change lives.
One of those lives belonged to a young boy grieving the loss of his twin brother to suicide. Throughout his time at Crossroads Corral, he built a powerful connection with Dually. The gelding’s quiet strength, patience, and grounded energy gave the boy a space to process his grief. Over the course of the program, the child showed a remarkable improvement on the Children’s Depression Inventory, and Dually was there every step of the way.
And the transformation wasn’t one-sided.
When Dually returned to the ring, this time at the Paint World Show, showing in the International Ranch Horse classes, his family saw a different horse. In the ranch trail class, where he once would have spooked or lost focus, he navigated every obstacle with ease and confidence. And he won. Dually was the NSBA Youth Ranch Trail Champion and the Reserve Champion IRHA Youth Ranch Trail.
Kaylee and Dually – photo credit: Shane Rux Photography.
It was a triumphant moment for everyone who had witnessed Dually’s journey, both in the therapy arena and the show pen.
“We are so lucky to have Dually as part of our herd,” says the team at Crossroads Corral. “He’s not only making a difference in the lives of people who need healing, he’s growing and thriving himself. We’re so proud of him, and he is so loved.”
Dually’s story is a testament to the healing power of horses and the healing they receive in return. From the show ring to the therapy arena, he is a shining example of what can happen when a horse is given the chance to do what he does best: connect, inspire, and transform lives.
To learn more about Crossroads Corral, visit CrossroadsCorral.org.
