Building Confidence and Connection through Horses
Our farm provides the perfect sanctuary for people to balance their mental health. It offers a safe place for young people and adults to build healthy connections with the help of our caring staff and therapy animals. 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.* 20.8% of youth (ages 12-17) in Ohio report suffering from at lest one major depressive episode in the past year, and 14.25% are experiencing serious thoughts of suicide.** Youth in our community are struggling. With your help, we can provide proven, life-changing programs to help young people lead the successful and rewarding lives that they deserve.
When you have an eleven year old who is crazy about horses and needs support with their behavior and
mental health where do you turn? You call In Step With Horses. Meet Ness, who with the support of
our caring team, is learning to ride and so much more.
A case manager referred the family to In Step With Horses where Ness could feed her love of horses
while she works on important life skills like impulse control, regulating her emotions and developing
social skills. Ness started riding this summer, focusing on the goals that her family and case manager
helped to establish. Ness’ goal was to interact with the horses as much as possible. Amanda, her
mother, wanted her to learn how to manage her ‘big feelings’ and build connections with peers.
Ness loves her time at the farm. She has learned the importance of building trust while caring for the horses that she rides. It encourages her to interact with kids outside the home and develop social skills.
Ness feels happy and calm when she is riding, and she loves the connection she has made with the staff, horses and peers.
Amanda, Ness’ mother, says that the services Ness receives at In Step With Horses have given her goals to work toward. She has learned to be more patient and understanding. She feels at peace with the
horses and she has learned that when faced with challenges, she can overcome them.
“As her parent, I have had amazing experiences with the staff and volunteers. I appreciate the work that you do, and am thankful for the experiences you have provided my daughter.”
*National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI)
**The State of Mental Health in America, Mental Health America report for 2024.
