When Dave Flounders and Kathleen Saucier co-founded Samson’s Strength Sustainable Veterans Project (SSSVP), their mission was clear: provide transitional housing for veterans facing homelessness and job loss. What they didn’t know was that, years later, that mission would begin to shift, thanks to a pair of wild Mustangs.
In 2021, Dave and Kathleen brought home their first two horses, Samson and Until Grace, adopted from a Mustang TIP trainer in Alabama. At first, it was a personal journey. Kathleen had long dreamed of integrating horses into her work as a mental health professional. Dave, a military veteran, found unexpected peace in connecting with a horse for the first time after years of struggling to reintegrate into civilian life. These horses were more than companions. They were a turning point.
That turning point grew into a herd of eight Mustangs, two rescued Belgian drafts, and five donkeys. And eventually, a bigger vision emerged: to make horses an integral part of their support services through Equine Empowered Therapy (EET).
But funding that vision wasn’t easy. Until this year, Dave and Kathleen had personally covered all costs related to the horses. So when they were accepted to join the Seen Through Horses Campaign as an official Charity Partner for the first time in 2025, they saw a chance to tell their story and invite others into it.
That invitation was heard loud and clear.
As the campaign got underway, a supporter asked Dave and Kathleen to dream big. What would it take to build a safe, functional space for rescued horses and create more accessible equine experiences for veterans? Dave and Kathleen proposed two options. One focused on fencing and infrastructure across 55 acres. The other added small housing units for overnight visits. The very next day, the donor pledged to fully fund Option A, $121,705.
Land clearing started just days later. Supplies were delivered. The fences are going up.
But what happened at SSSVP goes far beyond any single donation.
“This campaign has been transformative,” Dave and Kathleen shared. “For the first time, we were able to share the full story, how horses are changing lives here, and why they matter. And in doing so, we found a whole community that believed in us.”
Beyond the major gift, the Seen Through Horses Campaign gave SSSVP the tools to deepen their outreach: from fundraising coaching to a supportive community of like-minded organizations. The experience also helped them redefine their voice and structure. They formed a team of Campaign Ambassadors, people who had witnessed the impact of their work firsthand.
It’s clear that SSSVP’s story is still unfolding. With a new fenced area, EET services will expand. More horses will find safety. More veterans will find healing. And that’s only the beginning.
As they look ahead, Dave and Kathleen are rooting for every organization in this space: “We believe there’s room for all of us to thrive. Keep dreaming. Keep showing up. You never know when the right person, the right story, or the right moment will change everything.”
Below are a few elements of the SSSVP’s story, as it relates to the Seen Through Horses Campaign 2025:
How will these funds be used to support your mission?
Every dollar from the $121,705 donation is going directly toward completing Option A: the fencing project for rescue horses. Land clearing began May 19, materials have been delivered, and fencing installation started June 2nd.
Additional campaign funds will support future EET experiences at SSSVP. Matching funds will help complete:
- Stone for the arena, barn, and roads
- Two 40’ bridges to cross a deep runoff stream and access 3 additional acres
- Two small homes and corrals in the rescue area to house visiting Veterans and adopters
Future plans include sharing horses with children and families during a parent’s military deployment. This includes connecting with military/veteran equine organizations to bring the Horses to Homecoming program to every corner of the US!
If you’d like to learn more about how your organization can get involved, contact Dave or Kathleen: [email protected] and [email protected]
In what ways did the campaign contribute to your fundraising success or visibility?
The Seen Through Horses Campaign helped us elevate both our visibility and fundraising efforts. It gave us the opportunity to publicly share the work we’ve quietly been doing for years, supporting Veterans and rescuing horses, and finally bring it to a broader audience that resonated deeply with our mission.
HMH and the campaign provided more than just a platform; it offered education through weekly fundraising trainings, access to a fundraising platform at no cost, and national-level visibility through celebrity endorsements, professional videos assets to showcase the work we do, and coordinated social media outreach, all of which our organization wouldn’t be able to achieve on our own.
Connecting with other nonprofits doing similar work was incredibly valuable and helped us feel like part of something much bigger. The support and credibility we gained by being part of the Horses for Mental Health network gave our story legitimacy, opened doors, and inspired donors to contribute in ways we never anticipated. This campaign wasn’t just about raising funds – it gave us the structure, support, and visibility to move into the next chapter of our mission with confidence.
