Empowering Strides

08/25/2026

We are excited to announce that we are hosting our annual Empowering Strides merch fundraiser! We have both child and adult sizes of our iconic Empowering Strides maroon shirts and navy hoodies available. Please have your order placed by Sunday August 30th so we can send the order for printing. To order a shirt, fill out the Google forms linked below.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqlWd9bYNuu9a_GJwyqbefxYhgEsOjvA7rC5SGfGB9dQ9PjQ/viewform

Prices
Child Shirt
$18
Adult Shirts
$25
Child Hoodie
$38
Adult Hoodie
$45

We accept most payment types but prefer cash or check to avoid transaction fees. Please plan to pick up items from the barn after you have paid. Our instructors can accept cash or checks but other payment types will need to be organized with Laura.

We can’t wait to see everyone in their new ES gear!

08/18/2026

We love when research shows the impact equine assisted services have!

Exciting new research from CSU Equine Sciences is highlighting the potential for horses to support social-emotional learning in youth!

Published in the Journal of Experiential Education, the study evaluated Changing Leads, an 8-week equine-assisted social-emotional learning program delivered through a partnership with Hearts & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center. Thirty-one middle school students from six schools participated in the randomized, waitlist-controlled study.

Following participation in the program, both parents and teachers reported significant improvements in students’ overall social-emotional competencies. Improvements included skills such as social awareness, self-management, relationship skills, decision-making, and optimistic thinking. Importantly, teachers were masked to the purpose of the study, providing an additional measure of the program’s impact beyond parent-reported outcomes.

These preliminary findings provide promising evidence that equine-assisted learning can be a valuable targeted resource for students who may need additional social-emotional support beyond traditional school-based programming.
Congratulations to lead author Sarah Matlock and the entire collaborative team from CSU Department of Animal Sciences, the CSU-School of Education, the Temple Grandin Equine Center, CSU Department of Occupational Therapy, and Hearts & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center on this important contribution to the growing science behind equine-assisted services!

08/14/2026

Dinosaur! 🦖🦕🦖🦕

08/10/2026

We are excited to announce our partnership with ! Check out our wish list or shop for your own needs and have a portion of the proceeds donated to Empowering Strides.

Statelinetack.com/pages/rescue/empowering-strides

08/09/2026

Seattle Sounders FC Autism Acceptance Game 🙌🏻

08/03/2026

Charlie's task today? Stand still, receive scratches, and get covered with stickers. Best. Job. Ever.

07/29/2026

Happy International Equine Assisted Services Day 🌎! We are so thankful for our amazing team of humans and horses that allow us to offer these services to our riders. If you have been apart of the Empowering Strides family in any way, please comment a photo, story, or memory in the comment section below ⬇️

07/24/2026

We love Pickles!