CAVE CREEK, ARIZ. (Oct. 31, 2023) – More services. More programs. More horsepower.
Horses Help, which provides adaptive riding and horsemanship services designed to contribute positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being of people with disabilities, is proud to announce it has moved into a larger ranch at 6525 E. Dixileta Drive in Cave Creek.
The larger facility means the nonprofit can provide more services to more people, extend its ride year with the new infrastructure, thus keeping programs open for a longer period of time each year.
“A lot of great individuals in the community and tremendous leadership within our organization made this possible,” said Horses Help Executive Director Gregg Goodman. “From our corporate sponsors and volunteers and our board of directors to the construction team and the Muscular Moving Men, it has been an incredible collaborative effort. We are thrilled to be able to expand our program services.”
The new Horses Help ranch covers 10 acres and 11 buildings. It includes two covered riding arenas. The former facility at 2601 E. Rose Garden Lane in Phoenix sat on 5 acres and did not have a covered riding arena or infrastructure for the future.
Unique program partnerships continue to drive Horses Help community leadership programming and education. Arizona Family Law Ranch is moving into one of the buildings and will offer some cutting-edge programs dealing with family divorce mediation.
A big part of Horses Help, Goodman said, is engaging with educational partners such as Midwestern University vet school and occupational therapy schools, psychology doctorate students and social work interns from Northern Arizona University and Arizona State University and exposing them to the healing dynamics of the Horse and Human interaction.
“Our new facility gives us the opportunity to work with these educational and medical partners and also build our network of volunteers to support all we do within our community,” Goodman said. “One of my goals is to have 200 volunteers participating each week in multiple disciplines says Goodman. This new ranch will make that a reality. Being a premier accredited center gives us that added level of professionalism.”
Industry partners that have helped in the move include Sigma Contracting, Muscular Men Moving, Resolute Construction, and Martin Brothers Construction. Muscular Men Moving took over the former Horses Help space and donated a wealth of time and talent worth of moving 35 years of “stuff” to the new ranch, Goodman said.
Goodman said the new facilities also give Horses Help the ability to extend its program year. The active season is roughly mid-September through the end of June. Horses Help took July and August off at the former facility.
“Sustainability is the key to everyone’s future. Being a good steward in our community is evident with our 35-year history,” Goodman said. “Being a donor’s No. 1 choice is vital. We had the grandchildren of one of our philanthropic legacies visit us recently. It was wonderful to have them out on the new property getting the tour and a sense of the philanthropic history within their family.”
Horses Help is hosting its Annual Barn Bash fundraiser on Nov. 4 at the new ranch. The theme for this year’s event is “Blazing a New Trail.” The event begins at 5:30 p.m., and ends at 10 p.m. The event includes a tour of the new facility, cocktail hour, catered dinner, music, a silent auction, and casino games.
The Barn Bash is the largest fundraiser for Horses Help. Proceeds from this year's event underwrite program expenses for all participants, help pay for food and hay for the organization’s horses. Proceeds also directly impact special needs individuals, military, and first responders, trauma survivors, and at-risk youth in Arizona.
The adaptive riding and horsemanship program promotes strength, increases flexibility, develops balance, improves coordination, and builds self-confidence.
Horses Help also provides equine-assisted learning (EAL), a form of human-equine interaction that provides a personal learning experience. EAL promotes the development of self-awareness, self-esteem and confidence, problem solving skills, emotional regulation, and self-control. Other services include therapy with equine movement and equine-facilitated psychotherapy. To learn more about Horses Help, visit horseshelp.org.
For more information or to purchase tickets or sponsorship packages for the Barn Bash, click here.