We are supporting Shining Hope Farms with their yearly operational costs, with a focus on their Therapeutic Riding Program for people with disabilities. This program aims to improve well- being and quality of life for both the participants and their families.

The non-profit program was founded in 2002 in North Carolina in response to the needs of the community to provide therapeutic services in an enriching farm environment. It uses animals (in particular horses) as therapy to serve people with a variety of disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down’s Syndrome, Developmental Disabilities, and help them to find wellness, strength, and hope on the back of a horse.​

The riding program offers a unique way of working with the daily challenges that people with disabilities face. Certified riding instructors conduct these group lessons where participants are engaged in games and activities that help with balance and coordination while riding their horses. The lessons are recreational in nature and the riders are assisted by a horse leader and sidewalkers which provide an enjoyable social environment. Basic riding and horsemanship skills are taught throughout the sessions.

The program has many benefits, including:

• Improving Physical abilities: such as increased balance, trunk control, fine and gross motor coordination, flexibility, and muscle strength

• Emotional Stability: such as improved self-image, confidence, self-esteem, and independence

• Enhancing Social Interaction: including gaining the ability to work with others, increase cooperation, teamwork, and responsibility

•Improving Cognition: such as increased attention span, motivation, vocabulary, memory, and concentration

These are essential skills that people with disabilities can build with in a nurturing environment, at their own pace, with professional support. Through continuous lessons, individuals will be able to better function in their environment, helping them to become more connected and also more independent who are better able to engage with their family, friends, and community in meaningful ways.

We want to ensure Shining Hope Farms’ programs continue and remain accessible to all who could benefit from them. By supporting their operational costs, the program can remain low cost to participants and the staff can focus on their core business of delivering interactive therapy.

We are happy to be supporting such a great program in our locality and we are exploring the possibility of volunteer opportunities for our givers within the Charlotte/Belmont area. Feel free to contact us for more info if you are interested!

We are supporting Shining Hope Farms with their yearly operational costs, with a focus on their Therapeutic Riding Program for people with disabilities. This program aims to improve well- being and quality of life for both the participants and their families. 

Mt. Holly, North Carolina USA

Shining Hope Farms was founded in 2002 by Paul and Milinda Kirkpatrick in response to the needs in the community to provide therapeutic services in an enriching farm environment. The purpose of the farms’ services is to improve the quality of life of the participants as well as their families. Shining Hope Farms’ programs have been structured to serve individuals and groups with a variety of disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down’s Syndrome, Developmental Disabilities, Brain Injuries, Hypotomia, and the like. Our clients find wellness, strength, and hope on the back of a horse.

Shining Hope Farms

Saddle Up for Good - NC

Get ready for some heartwarming stories! Meet the participants of the Therapeutic Riding Program at Shining Hope Farms, whose smiles are as bright as the sun thanks to your support.
For these beautiful souls with disabilities like Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down’s Syndrome, the program is more than just a weekly activity — it's a beacon of hope that brightens their week and provides them with life-changing benefits.

The positive feedback from participants and their families is overwhelming. “Coming to SHF is her favorite part of the week! She talks about her horse all the time!” exclaimed the sister of an adult participant. And a mother of a participant added, “We see the positive impacts of therapeutic riding in her ability to communicate in difficult situations and regulate herself better.”

By supporting the Therapeutic Riding Program, you are not only directly impacting the participants but also indirectly impacting hundreds of families for many years to come.

Bringing Joy & Transformation: Stories from the Field

You did it! With your generosity, 150 individuals with disabilities are now able to enjoy the life-changing benefits of horse therapy.

Meet Brad*, a young man with autism who has struggled with change and building close relationships. But thanks to horse therapy, he has found comfort and consistency in the routine of visiting the barn, caring for his horse, and riding. He has even formed a close bond with his certified therapeutic riding instructor, Riley, whom he affectionately calls "his buddy."

Studies have shown that social connections are vital for our overall physical health. Horse therapy provides not just the physical benefits of improved core skills, but also the emotional rewards of communication with the horses and forming meaningful relationships. Brad's newfound confidence bond with Riley will undoubtedly help him create even more connections in his life.

Join us in celebrating this heartwarming transformation, and the many more to come.

*For privacy reasons, real names are not disclosed.

Unbridled Healing: The Transformative Power of Horse Therapy

Elisabeth Larson, our partners Therapeutic Riding Instructor & Program Director, says: 
“It is truly fantastic to see what therapeutic riding can do for our clients. The growth I am witnessing both socially, physically, and mentally is amazing. I’ve seen my clients grow more confident and independent, and that translates into their day-to-day life tasks.”

Mite’s team will visit Shining Hope Farms Charlotte center this December! 

To finish the year on a high note, we will be bringing a few volunteers with our team so they can have first-hand experience with our partners and engage in one of our 2022 projects.

We are very excited about this upcoming activity and cannot wait to share some highlight photos and videos from our journey.


Heading infield this week!

Logan is a 15-year-old boy who strives to do things correctly. He has autism and experiences difficulties with self-confidence and communication skills. He understands that he is different, but it's difficult for him to articulate how he feels or what his needs are. 

He has always had a love for horses, so when his family learned about our partner's therapeutic horseback program, Logan ditched his beloved gaming on his Xbox to get outdoors. 

Once a week, he improves his riding skills by learning how to correctly steer his horse, going through and over obstacles, and working up to a posting trot. 

Logan's mom says the Shining Hope Farm program is helping him become better at communicating and feeling more self-confident in who he is. Riding horses has helped Logan feel more in control — providing direction to the horse has helped him feel empowered and experience success during his classes.

We are so proud of Logan! 

Impact story of 15-year-old Logan

Our partner, Shining Hope Farms, was founded in 2002 to provide therapeutic services to people with various disabilities in an enriching farm environment. 

In this project, our givers are supporting the farm with their Therapeutic Riding Program, where trained specialists and certified riding instructors help people participate in games and especially designed activities that teach balance and coordination skills while riding horses. These activities contribute positively to their cognitive, physical, emotional, and social needs, providing fantastic outcomes for each participant and their families.  

Those with physical limitations can better control their motor skills while at the same time enhancing their self-confidence by mastering activities. All in a fun environment with the gentle nature of horses! The participants report enjoying the sessions a lot and that it helps enhance their quality of life. 

July Update

This month, 78 riders with various conditions, including Sensory Processing Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, and autism, attended therapeutic riding lessons. They all have the same goal: to become independent riders. And they're making amazing progress! 

But it's not just about riding. They're also learning how to groom, tack up, and lead their horses. And they're loving it! Take *Riley, for example. At first, she couldn't stay on the horse for more than a few minutes due to her sensory Processing Disorder. But now, she's riding the entire session like a pro! And *Matt, who was diagnosed with autism, has gone from struggling to stay balanced on the horse to steering almost entirely independently. 

Congratulations to Riley, Matt, and many other clients for the considerable improvements being made every week. 
 
*For privacy reasons, real names are not disclosed.