Why I’m Raising Funds
I’m proud to be part of the Horses for Mental Health campaign this year, and I’m teaming up with Mama Mia, one of our therapy horses and a beloved heart of our herd.
Mama Mia came to STEPS with Horses in 2018, and she arrived ready to give. She joined the program while pregnant, and even then, her gentle, nurturing nature was unmistakable. Once her foal was old enough to join her in the pasture, she dove into the work with teens and adults, proudly introducing her baby to every client who walked through the gate. When her foal was weaned, she transitioned naturally into play therapy. If there’s one thing Mama Mia has always known, it’s how to love kids.
At STEPS with Horses, our work is built around these kinds of relationships. Through equine-assisted counseling and play therapy, horses like Mama Mia help people navigate stress, trauma, and life challenges in ways that are experiential, honest, and deeply impactful. Mama Mia has a gift for making her clients — young and old — feel seen and safe. She follows her youngest clients around the play area with genuine curiosity, watching them make art, play in the sandbox, and cook pretend meals. Her presence says what words sometimes can’t: I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.
Your support goes directly toward the care of horses like Mama Mia and helps ensure that clients can continue to access these services. It also helps us grow sustainably so we can reach more people who need this work.
If you feel connected to Mama Mia or the work we’re doing, I’d love for you to be part of it.
Together, we can continue creating space for healing, connection, and growth — for both people and the horses who make it possible.
