The Engel Equine Foundation

The Engel Equine Foundation Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from The Engel Equine Foundation, Charitable organisation, 236 Goff Road, Norlina, NC.

The Engel Equine Foundation is a Nonprofit 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization providing access to horses and nature for children, teens, and adults seeking confidence, emotional healing, and personal growth.

Unfortunately, this week is going to be a HOT one! With temperatures expected to climb into the 100s along with high hum...
08/31/2026

Unfortunately, this week is going to be a HOT one!

With temperatures expected to climb into the 100s along with high humidity, we’re going to play it safe and skip riding this week. The horses’ comfort and safety always come first!

BUT… that doesn’t mean we can’t still have some fun!

If you’d like to come out, the horses would absolutely LOVE some visitors to give them a nice, cool bath, lots of scratches, and of course… TREATS!

Sometimes the best horse days aren’t spent in the saddle. Sometimes it’s just standing beside them, cooling them off, loving on them, and enjoying some quiet time together.

So if you’re looking for a way to beat the heat and spend some time with some very appreciative horses, come on out and spoil them a little!

We’ll get back to riding once the weather gives us a safer window. Until then, it’s cool baths, treats, shade, and lots of horse kisses!

My anxiety started at a very young age.I bit my nails constantly. At one point, I would actually pluck the hair from my ...
08/30/2026

My anxiety started at a very young age.
I bit my nails constantly. At one point, I would actually pluck the hair from my head until I had a bald spot. I worried about things a child shouldn’t have to worry about. My mind was always racing, always thinking, always anticipating the next thing.

I never received help. I just learned to live with it.

But there was one place where I never worried.

The barn.

The one place where my nail biting stopped. The one place where my mind became quiet.

You see, horses live in the moment. And when you’re around them, they have a way of forcing you to live there too. They don’t care about yesterday. They don’t worry about tomorrow. They just are.

And somehow, being in their presence calmed my anxious mind.

When I got my first horse, Tec, for Christmas, ALL I wanted to do was spend time with him. He was my safe place. My escape. The place where I could just be me.

But that time was limited. I was only allowed to see him a couple of times a week.

And I remember feeling so angry and resentful because I couldn’t understand why no one else seemed to get it.

“Don’t they understand?!”

The one thing I wanted to do. The one thing that made me feel like myself. The one place where my mind was finally quiet, was the one thing I was limited in doing.

Maybe that’s why I spend so much time with horses now.

Or maybe it’s because when I’m with them, something inside of me finally slows down.

My mind slows.

My breathing slows.

Everything becomes quiet.

And for a little while, everything is okay.

I think that’s something I’ve carried with me all these years.

And maybe that’s part of why I created what I have today.

Because I know what it’s like to have a mind that won’t slow down.

I know what it’s like to feel like nobody understands.

And I know what it feels like to find a place where, even for a little while, you can finally just breathe.

I want to clear up something that is sometimes misunderstood about what we do here at Engel Equine Foundation.We are NOT...
08/30/2026

I want to clear up something that is sometimes misunderstood about what we do here at Engel Equine Foundation.

We are NOT a therapy program, and I am NOT a therapist. We don’t claim to provide therapy or treat anyone for anything.

What we are is a place where anyone can come and enjoy horses, animals, nature, and the quiet country life no matter what their tax bracket looks like.

You don’t have to be wealthy to experience the joy of horses.
You don’t have to compete.
You don’t have to win ribbons.
You don’t have to be the best rider.
And you certainly don’t have to worry about being judged.

Sometimes you just need a place to breathe.

A place where you can step away from the noise, take a deep breath of fresh country air, brush a horse, sit outside, laugh, learn something new, or simply enjoy being around animals.

We want to help people build confidence, discover a love for horses, learn horsemanship, and experience the peace that comes from slowing down and connecting with animals and nature.

There is something incredibly special about a horse quietly standing beside you. About the sound of the wind through the trees. About dirt under your boots and a horse’s warm breath on your hand.

You don’t have to accomplish anything here. You don’t have to prove anything. You can just BE.

That is what we want Engel Equine Foundation to be, a place where people feel welcome, regardless of their circumstances, income, experience, or background.

Because sometimes the greatest gift isn’t therapy or competition.

Sometimes it’s simply having a safe, peaceful place to breathe and enjoy God’s beautiful creation with a horse beside you.

One thing I am NOT is a drill sergeant. I am not going to tell someone to “put your heels down” 20 times throughout a le...
08/29/2026

One thing I am NOT is a drill sergeant.

I am not going to tell someone to “put your heels down” 20 times throughout a lesson. I’m not going to constantly correct where someone’s legs, hands, or body are positioned every few seconds.

We WILL go over all of those things, but for a beginner, horseback riding is A LOT. There is so much to learn, think about, and take in all at once that it can become very overwhelming.

My biggest priority is SAFETY… andddd everything else will come with time.

Over time, your heels begin to naturally drop.
You start sitting up taller as you become more confident.
You learn to use your hips and legs more naturally.
Your muscles get stronger, making it easier to maintain your position.
Posting becomes more natural the more you practice it.

You don’t have to be perfect on day one. You don’t have to remember every single thing I tell you.

You just have to keep showing up.

My job isn’t to make you feel like you’re doing everything wrong. My job is to teach you, keep you safe, build your confidence, and give you the time and space to learn.

Because riding isn’t something you master in one lesson.

It’s something you grow into.

These two cuties got a bath today! And of course, no bath day is complete without the treat dispenser making an appearan...
08/29/2026

These two cuties got a bath today! And of course, no bath day is complete without the treat dispenser making an appearance! Caroline thinks treats grow on trees!

Woofta… what a morning! I had a very special student turn 10, and I wanted to do something small to make her birthday fe...
08/28/2026

Woofta… what a morning!

I had a very special student turn 10, and I wanted to do something small to make her birthday feel extra special. Little did she know she was going to get to ride with both her Dad AND her bonus dad!

And let me tell you… this girl rode better than EVER today! I kept telling her it must be because she’s officially 10 now! Apparently turning 10 comes with some serious riding skills!

One of my favorite parts of the morning was watching her younger siblings. They absolutely LOVE helping brushing the horses, loving on the dogs, and just being right in the middle of everything.

These are the mornings that remind me why I love what we do so much. It’s not just about riding horses. It’s about family, confidence, connection, making memories, and giving kids a place where they feel special and loved.

Happy 10th birthday, sweet girl! I hope you always remember this morning and how many people (and horses) were cheering you on!

What a beautiful way to celebrate turning 10!

Help me Wish Autumn a Happy Birthday!

I will always believe that some people just have it, and some people don’t. For some, riding comes naturally. For others...
08/27/2026

I will always believe that some people just have it, and some people don’t. For some, riding comes naturally. For others, it takes years of hard work, lessons, experience, and countless hours in the saddle to become a “decent” rider.

Believe it or not, I had to work really hard at becoming the rider I am today. I rode as many different horses as I could. I took lessons. I learned from every horse I sat on. And I was incredibly lucky to get my very first horse when I was just 10 years old.

But I also believe there is something deeper than riding ability.

You either have that connection with horses or you don’t. It’s something that's in your blood. Something you either understand or you simply don’t.

People who don’t appreciate horses often don’t understand what these incredible animals are capable of doing simply by being present.

They can heal you without you even realizing you’re being healed.

People came and went throughout my life, but horses were always a constant.

Growing up in a split home, I learned very young what it felt like to be uncertain. To feel like I didn’t belong. To feel like I had to fight for love. And learning how to navigate those feelings as a child wasn’t easy.

But horses made it easier.

They gave me somewhere to go when I didn’t know where else to turn. They gave me something to focus on when my mind was overwhelmed. They gave me comfort when I didn’t have the words to explain what I was feeling.

When I was with horses, my mind stopped wandering.

I stopped questioning.

I stopped worrying about where I belonged or whether I was enough.

I was simply there… with them.

And there was peace.

That peace is something horses have given me my entire life.

Maybe that’s why I believe so deeply in what they can do for people.

Sometimes, they don’t need to teach you how to ride.

Sometimes, they just need to stand beside you long enough for you to realize that you are okay.

And sometimes, that is the healing you needed all along.

There’s something so special about watching your child discover a love for something completely on their own. The second...
08/27/2026

There’s something so special about watching your child discover a love for something completely on their own.

The second night in a row, my oldest daughter asked to ride Gemstone. And honestly, my heart just melts.

One thing I have never done is pressure my kids into riding. I always figured that if they wanted to do it, they would show interest, and eventually fall in love with these animals the same way I did at a young age.

Sophia has told me more than once, “Horses just aren’t my thing.” And I have always been completely okay with that. I never wanted riding to feel like something she had to do just because I love horses.

Then came Gemstone. 💎

This gentle giant seems to have brought something out in Sophia that I’ve never seen before. She’s asking to ride. She’s interested. She’s wanting to spend time with her. And watching that connection develop is absolutely priceless.

I think sometimes the right horse comes along at exactly the right time.

It’s always a blast when this family comes out! So much laughing, learning, confidence-building, and making memories tog...
08/25/2026

It’s always a blast when this family comes out! So much laughing, learning, confidence-building, and making memories together.

And of course, we can’t forget the very independent almost-2-year-old running the show!

Some lessons might look repetitive from the outside. Your child may be doing the same thing over and over again, and you...
08/23/2026

Some lessons might look repetitive from the outside. Your child may be doing the same thing over and over again, and you may wonder, “Why are they still practicing this?”

Because building the muscle memory to post correctly takes time.
Learning balance takes time.
Learning how to safely communicate with a horse takes time.

I’m not interested in rushing a child through a lesson just so we can check something off a list. I want them to truly learn it, feel it, and become confident doing it.

I want every child who rides with me to know what to do if a horse starts trotting faster than they expected. I want them to understand their balance, their body position, their reins, and how to safely respond not panic.

So yes, sometimes we will practice the same thing again and again. And again.

Because repetition builds confidence, confidence builds skill, and skill builds safety.

I will put safety first every single time.

- The Engel Equine Foundation

Address

236 Goff Road
Norlina, NC
27563

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 6pm
Sunday 9am - 6pm

Telephone

2522048951

Website

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