Meet Our Mission and the Beautiful Horses Who Make it Possible
Be A Stroke of Luck and Help Fill TherAplay's Pot of Gold.
Be the Difference—Help Them Become the Hero of Their Own Story. Even the smallest donation makes a difference helping us to fund scholarships, programming, and outreach to children and families in need of a little luck. Help us reach our goal and build the pot for our Stable Futures Fund offering services to families who can't afford life-changing experiences like these. PICTURED: Giuseppe is a 21-year-old paint Warmblood who joined the TherAplay team in August of 2021.
Giuseppe is a former eventer and hunter/jumper. He is an absolute sweetheart and loves working with our kiddos! He is a great horse for our bigger kids who need higher movement within their sessions. He is a gentle giant, has an extremely easygoing temperament, and loves to look out his window and watch the world go by. Pictured with him is Luna, a grey 26-year-old Percheron, who joined Children's TherAplay in April 2022. Luna was rescued by one of our own handlers! She is a great horse for our kiddos who need a medium to high movement within their sessions. She is a very steady horse to get our kiddos used to this type of movement, and she is always very attentive to what our handlers ask of her. She loves brown sugar pop tarts, apple pie, and long naps in the sunshine.
Through the bond between horse and child, we are helping to shape stories of resilience and hope that will carry these children forward for the rest of their lives. We are helping them chase their wildest goals and dreams—not someday, but starting now. Your support makes this possible.
PICTURED: Barbie, a 17-year-old pony, joined Children's TherAplay in November 2024. Barbie's small size and unique blue eyes make her a favorite for many kiddos!
Our horses are more than therapy partners—they are steady, powerful guides who help children discover what’s possible. With every step, they help build balance, coordination, and core strength. With every ride, they help children stand taller, speak clearer, and believe deeper in themselves. Every donation, big or small, helps us continue to lift children up, help them discover their strength, and remind them that they are capable of more than they ever imagined. PICTURED: Peanut (21) and Banana (18) are Minature Horses who joined the TherAplay team in March 2023.
Peanut and Banana are a bonded pair! They have been together their entire lives and have been therapy ponies for a long time. These horses are not for riding, instead they are used for our Theraputic Animal Assisted Groundwork (TAAG) sessions. Kiddos utilize Peanut and Banana to practice grooming, feeding, leading, and other groundwork activities. Peanut and Banana offer sensory input, emotional reflection, social cues, physical stimulation, and companionship to even the smallest of our kiddos. They are truly tiny TherAplay unicorns! The combination of our child-centered clinic and the sensory-rich equine movement helps make children's dreams of independence a reality.
Every child deserves the chance to feel strong, capable, and limitless. At Children's TherAplay, something extraordinary happens the moment a child meets a horse. Barriers begin to fall. Muscles grow stronger. Confidence rises. But more than that—these children are seen not for their limitations, but for their courage, their spirit, and their potential. PICTURED: Chipper, a 16-year-old Quarter Horse, joined Children's TherAplay in May 2025. Chipper previously showed in the Quarter Horse circuit (and did very well)! Everyone that meets him comments on how friendly and gentle he is. Chipper has a high wither which offers a narrow base of support for the kiddos - something that is often requested but not many of our horses can offer! He loves peppermints, a good roll in the sand, and his stall-neighbor Beau.
25 Years. 17 Horses. 950 Therapy Sessions a Month. Countless Lives Changed for the Better. WE LOVE WHAT WE DO!
This Day of Giving, you have the power to be part of that transformation. Your gift helps provide therapy sessions, horse care, specialized equipment, and the trained professionals who make this life-changing work possible. Together, we can continue to lift children up, help them discover their strength, and remind them that they are capable of more than they ever imagined. PICTURED: Zella is a 17-year-old Paint Horse who joined us in September 2024. Zella was used for trail riding before coming here. We are excited about her size, her wide base of support, and slow rhythmic movement. She is kind, honest, and always willing to please. Beau, also 17, is a large pony who came to TherAplay in November 2022. Beau is social, sweet, and cuddly. He has an athletic build that is the perfect size for kiddos ready to move up from our smallest ponies and transition to using the mounting block for a more independent mount. Beau loves treats, a good snuggle, and a snort-filled game of tag with any taker, horse or human. Kipper, currently looking for a quiet retirement home after many years serving children, is a19-year-old Welsh Pony who has been part of the TherAplay team since December 2019. Kipper was well-loved by his owner and her grandchildren before becoming a part of the TherAplay family. He is appreciated for his forward, high moving gait. He is perfect for kiddos who need a small pony with lots of input. Kipper loves nose kisses and playing with zippers.
Building Strength. Inspiring Courage. Crowning Possibility.
In the presence of these gentle giants, children become brave knights, fearless explorers, and unstoppable dreamers. They experience independence. They feel pride. They begin to imagine futures filled with possibility instead of limitation. PICTURED: Ella is a 15-year-old Welsh Pony who joined Children's TherAplay in March 2022 after serving as a lesson horse at a neighboring farm. Ella is a sweet, small-framed princess of a pony who truly loves her job working with children. Next to her, our noble Sir Willow is a 14-year-old Welsh Pony who came to TherAplay in November 2023. Willow has a low-back with AP/Lateral movement and is generally a low-movement horse making him ideal for our smallest and most fragile children. His noble heart is fond of silly shenanigans and nose boops and he has been known to open latches and escape his stall at any time he believes it will buy him a ticket to the all-you-can-eat buffet.
Please consider supporting me in my efforts to raise funds for the Children's TherAplay Foundation during our 8th Annual Day of Giving. This year is especially meaningful as we celebrate 25 years of Children's TherAplay, serving children with disabilities and/or unique needs through innovative, life-changing care.
Children's TherAplay provides physical, occupational, and speech therapy using a horse as a treatment tool. Helping children and their families build strength, confidence, and independence.
Donating is easy! Simply click the "Donate Now" button to the right and follow the steps. No gift is too small, and every dollar helps us reach our $95,000 Day of Giving goal and ensures families can continue to access the care their children deserve.
Thank you for your support and for being part of 25 years of impact!
GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN
Please share - help spread the word. Honored to be the Facilities Coordinator for Children's TherAplay and to directly impact their mission and reach, I have personally witnessed the miracles, magic, joy, and confidence this place, our staff, and our wonderful horses bring to children every single day. LIKE. SHARE. DONATE. Let's smash our goal and every match challenge we get, because THIS is TherAplay!