EC Blog: The Whole Horse, For Every Heart

Horses have long served as humanity’s transportation, coworkers, friends—and healers. If you have even a basic understanding of world history and hands-on experience with horses, you already know something about this age-old relationship.

I want you to think about your own beginning with horses, where you are in your journey today, and where you hope to go. Is your journey tied to a personal goal? Training? Ownership?

Pause for a moment and consider what brought you here. Which horses connected with you most deeply? At what points in your life did they appear?

I truly believe those horses, the moments in which they arrive, and the connections they bring into our lives are orchestrated on a level greater than we can fully comprehend. Some horses challenge us. Some comfort us. Most leave us with lessons that remain long after our time with them has passed.

Often, the experiences that matter most are not the big wins or dramatic moments. Sometimes, it is the horse who gently nuzzles your baby girl when he meets her. Sometimes, it is the horse who stands over you while you cry for hours, pouring out all the hurt you have been carrying. And sometimes, it is simply the horse you never expected—the one who somehow checks every box and makes you feel safe and seen.

Those horses and those moments create real connections whose importance cannot be overstated. They are our “why.”

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If you have the opportunity to work or volunteer in a place where you can witness these small miracles every day—or even every week—I hope you take it. I did, and it became the reset I needed, not only in my life with horses but also in my personal life.

In February 2026, after enduring a profoundly tumultuous year, I left my previous career and became the program director and an instructor at Reinbow Riding Center, a seasonal therapeutic horsemanship 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Vermont.

Our mission is to improve the well-being and lives of individuals with unique physical, emotional, and cognitive needs through therapeutic equine experiences. Reinbow was born from the belief that the connection horses offer can be life-changing—and that everyone should have the opportunity to experience it.

The moments I have shared and the quiet miracles I have witnessed here have changed my life. This work has made me pause. It has restored my faith in humanity and deepened my trust in my horses. I will never see them quite the same way again.

Our program operates seasonally on a privately owned, secluded farm in a historic Vermont town. From the moment you arrive, the setting feels peaceful.

This year, our program has four horses, all owned by me or board members. That creates personal investment and connection. We also have an exceptional group of dedicated volunteers who return each week for training, lessons, and continuing education. That creates community connection.

Then there are our clients—young and old, from all walks of life, each with different experiences and needs.

Our horses become the conduit between those clients and what they are working toward. We match each person with volunteers and a horse, then work together throughout a seven-week session. We help clients connect, ground themselves, face fears, and expand the strengths and abilities they already possess. We do not focus on weaknesses. We focus on what each person brings to the arena and needs.

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For the very first lesson I ever taught at Reinbow, I chose Gus, the horse I had grown up with, who is now 25. He can be a little opinionated, but he is safe and dependable.

I paired him with a young woman with autism whose needs were dynamic, and I made sure a former special educator served as her primary volunteer. I entered that first lesson moderately terrified. Then I watched Gus become a completely different horse when he met her, and my anxiety began to disappear.

He stood stock-still while she brushed him. He patiently closed his eyes while she stimmed and made sounds. During the fifth week, when she found the courage to mount him for the first time, he carried her so quietly that you would have thought he had an infant in the saddle.

One particular interaction has stayed with me. A volunteer was holding Gus while the young woman stood at his side brushing him. She was stimming loudly and becoming agitated. Her anxiety was high, and she was struggling to ground herself.

Gus remained still. When her distress continued, he turned his head toward her and gently pawed the ground a few times. When that did not capture her attention, he began nickering to her.

Everyone heard it. I could hardly believe what I was witnessing.

When touch had not worked and movement had not worked, Gus matched her energy and used his voice to reach her.

And it worked.

She heard him, stopped, took a break, and collected herself. I watched in awe as the volunteer led Gus away and the young woman went to sit down. Then the moment was over.

The entire exchange lasted only seconds, but its meaning was immense.

Over the weeks she spent with us, this young woman became braver. She learned to communicate her needs and wants, and she experienced love, honesty, and kindness from a creature who wanted only to connect with her—and who made sure he did so in every way he could.

That first client and her connection with my horse became the foundation of my “why.” Their relationship reminded me of what lies at the heart of every meaningful connection: trust and honesty.

I trusted Gus with this young woman, and he took his job seriously. He saw her. He heard her. He understood what she needed without anyone teaching or instructing him. He simply chose to become what she needed in that moment.

These quiet interactions form the foundation of everything we do at Reinbow.

As the season progressed, the lessons I taught continuously taught me lessons in return. I found myself breathing more deeply, enjoying my days, and looking forward to witnessing the small moments that unfolded during each session.

Our volunteers see them, too. They return year after year to witness those moments and become part of them.

Reinbow Riding Center Board President and volunteer, Samantha Pearce understands that grounding connection on a deeply personal level.

“For as long as I can remember, horses have been a part of my life. They have been my greatest source of joy, peace, and belonging. I remember escaping to the barn when life felt overwhelming, sitting outside my horse’s gate, and feeling peace wash over me as I listened to them breathe. I would match my breath with theirs before ever knowing what breathwork or meditation was—or understanding the science behind them. To this day, no matter where I am, if I think about sitting in my barn or being out for a ride, I can tap into that same grounding peace.”

Clients who arrive scared and timid may come expecting a riding lesson, but they leave with something much greater: a partnership and the knowledge that another soul has seen and accepted their whole, authentic self.

It is about more than riding. It is the entire experience.

The whole horse is good for every part of the person.

In the simplest terms, horses are both mirrors and guides. They are truth-tellers and secret-keepers. No matter who comes to them, they accept each client exactly as they are and recognize the goodness they carry within. I believe that understanding is mutual.

Pearce’s belief in the power of these experiences led her to become part of Reinbow’s leadership and help guide its future.

“When I found Reinbow Riding Center, a place that connects people with horses, I was immediately drawn to its mission. Last year, I was honored to be named Board President. With our new Program Director and wonderful team of board members and volunteers, I am excited about Reinbow’s future. We are expanding our community outreach to increase awareness and growing our programs to ensure everyone has access to the services they need to thrive. My hope is for our participants to have a transformative experience and gain skills they can use outside of the arena.”

We are now working to expand our services to include programming for military members and veterans, first responders, local schools, and specialized support programs. Our horses are our co-teachers—and they are the best coworkers I have ever had.

My days are peaceful. During an otherwise chaotic time in my life, this work, these people, and my horses have reminded me that even when everything appears to be falling apart—even when the world and the people in it can seem ugly or broken—horses still see the good in us.

And somehow, they draw that goodness forward.

This unique and inspiring program has touched hundreds of lives and continues to reach more people every year. The work being done and the small miracles happening each day deserve to be recognized.

My hope is that this article benefits therapeutic horsemanship centers everywhere and encourages anyone considering becoming a volunteer, client, or allied professional to reach out to their nearest center.

Go and see it firsthand.

Pause. Pay attention. Look for the quiet exchanges that happen in seconds but can change a person forever.

That is where you will find the miracles.

Editor’s note: Once in a while, we need a reminder of why horses are in our lives. If this instance alone of Gus’ interaction with his companion does not do it, I’m not sure what else could. It actually caught me completely off guard when I received the blog, and it stunned me, bringing tears to my eyes. They have souls, and they give themselves willingly to us, playing the games and the sports we invent, even though they don’t have to. They are miracles surely sent as a gift from above.

Julia, this is spectacular and we wish you and your students only the best–we’d also very happily share more of your experiences with our readers.

~Delores Kuhlwein, Online Editor