Free Rein Foundation

Free Rein Foundation Free Rein Foundation is a 501c3 rescuing horses & offering equine-assisted growth & learning programs

Free Rein rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes horses that have been abused and enlists their incredible “horse sense” in Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) programs. The use of horses in the treatment and training of humans is a non-traditional therapeutic approach. Activities provide opportunities to explore ways of managing difficult situations, fears, attitudes, and ways of being in relationships and society.

06/05/2026

Zinn is hopeful that he will one day be promoted to pasture manager 🤓

Welcome to Free Rein, Coco and Nelson!Coco & Nelson are three year old African Pygmy goats. Although they look similar, ...
06/01/2026

Welcome to Free Rein, Coco and Nelson!

Coco & Nelson are three year old African Pygmy goats. Although they look similar, you can tell them apart because Coco is a female and is smaller than Nelson. They will eventually live in the mini pasture alongside our other goats and mini horses. For now, they are adjusting to their new environment in a separate enclosure. They are very sweet and will be adored by Free Rein volunteers and guests 💗

05/31/2026

Cowboy is a 21-year-old Dun Paint, with the kindest heart and the sweetest personality. He previously boarded at the Huntington Central Park Equestrian Center during 2022 and 2023.

During that time, Cowboy began to show signs of physical deterioration. After being evaluated by his vet, it was discovered that he had a heart murmur and a back injury. His owner made the compassionate decision to retire him to a horse sanctuary. Heidi Van Der Hoek, who helped care for Cowboy at the equestrian center, worked with Cowboy’s owner to find him a new home. Cowboy moved to his retirement home on April 1, 2023.

On May 1, 2026, Cowboy was seized by animal control as part of a large-scale rescue and investigation into poor animal welfare on the property. Because of Heidi’s connection to Cowboy, she worked with animal control to get Cowboy to safety. Cowboy was transported from animal control custody to San Luis Rey Equine Hospital for evaluation. His medical evaluation confirmed malnourishment and neglect.

Cowboy is truly the best boy. He loves attention, has the kindest heart, and we feel incredibly honored to give him a safe place to live out his years. We are especially grateful for Heidi’s commitment to Cowboy’s rescue and for making sure he had a way back to safety. He will now receive the love, dignity, and care he has always deserved.

Today was bittersweet because we held our last session with the Chargers Platoon!😢The focus of today’s equine growth an...
05/31/2026

Today was bittersweet because we held our last session with the Chargers Platoon!😢

The focus of today’s equine growth and learning session was leadership. It takes a clear mind, trust, and leadership to move a 1000+ lb animal through an obstacle course, and the cadets stepped up to the challenge! They also brought serious muscle in helping us with two major ranch projects 🐴🪏

As this special group of young men prepare for graduation from Sunburst Youth Academy, we wish them good luck and hope they will continue to build upon the skills they practiced at Free Rein. We were continuously impressed by their camaraderie, grit, and commitment to growth. Congratulation, Cadets!🎓

05/27/2026

Free Rein is home to elderly horses, horses with health problems, and horses recovering from malnourishment.
Each horse has a custom diet that helps us ensure every member of our herd is meeting their nutritional requirements!🐴🍴

All Free Rein horses eat hay, the foundation of a healthy equine diet. When needed, we add on pellets. Pellets help us target nutrient deficiencies and keep weight on. They are also a tasty vehicle to deliver medications! 💊

Book signing and lecture with was so much fun! It was a perfect afternoon at the learning about President Roosevelt’s ...
05/24/2026

Book signing and lecture with was so much fun! It was a perfect afternoon at the learning about President Roosevelt’s adventures in Yosemite, his love for horses and animals, and his connection to Huntington Beach 🐴☀️🇺🇸

Thank you for coming out! If you missed it, Chris Epting’s book is titled “Theodore Roosevelt in California: The Presidential Adventure that Saved the Wilderness.”

05/18/2026

‘Tis the season for fly masks, so we thought we would answer some frequently asked questions! 🪰🚫

Horses wear fly masks to protect their sensitive eyes from flies, mosquitos, and gnats that cause irritation and infection. Horses are able to see through fly masks because they are made of a fine mesh. The mesh also has the added benefit of filtering out UV rays on sunny days 🐴😎

It was a privilege and an honor to join Principal Allen Mendrin at College View Elementary in Huntington Beach this morn...
05/15/2026

It was a privilege and an honor to join Principal Allen Mendrin at College View Elementary in Huntington Beach this morning for the final day of Teacher Appreciation Week. As a nonprofit focused on local community impact, Free Rein Foundation was overjoyed to partner with the Huntington Beach Police Department’s Mounted Unit to surprise the amazing staff at College View Elementary and build on the theme, “We Are the Best in the West!”

We had the opportunity to greet students and parents as they arrived at school, and seeing their eyes light up with excitement — especially those who got to pet a horse for the very first time — was nothing short of magical. It’s essential to show up for our youth and families in the community, particularly for a school dedicated to improving test scores, minimizing absenteeism, and engaging families in meaningful ways.

Thank you to everyone who made this event possible!

Continuously learning and improving 🐎Thank you Dr. Gabi for coaching our team on horse communication, respect, and bound...
05/15/2026

Continuously learning and improving 🐎

Thank you Dr. Gabi for coaching our team on horse communication, respect, and boundaries. This is the second training Dr. Gabi has hosted this month and we are so grateful for the time and expertise she has lent our organization. She makes such a difference in keeping our horses happy, healthy, and safe 🐴💛

05/13/2026

You’re invited to Unbridled Hope! 💌

Tickets are on sale for our annual summer gala! We hope you’ll join us for a fun evening in support of Free Rein Foundation’s mission to rescue horses and deliver equine-assisted therapy to at-promise youth 🧡

📍 The gala is on August 8, 2026 at the in Huntington Beach.

🔗 Tap the link for tickets and more info

https://freereinfoundation.org/events/

Address

Huntington Beach, CA

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 3pm
Sunday 8am - 7pm

Telephone

+17148427777

Website

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