Stories like Kevin…
This fall, a small group of young men from the LaSalle School arrived at the THS farm for an eight-week small group equine-assisted therapy program. Many of them have lived through significant childhood trauma, instability, and loss. Some have moved through foster homes for years. Many struggle to trust. Most arrived with guarded eyes and careful steps, unsure of what a horse or a farm might offer them.
And then, little by little, something shifted.
One young man, whom we will call Kevin, stepped off the van and walked straight toward Q, an energetic and expressive horse who is often described as stubborn or unpredictable. While most teens gravitate toward our steady horse George, Kevin looked at Q and saw himself.
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-Kevin, LaSalle School Student
-Erin Flood, Director of Residential Clinical Services, LaSalle School
The horses make connection happen…
“He is just like me,” he said.
From that moment on, their connection grew. Week after week, Kevin chose Q. He noticed things others did not. He matched Q’s energy, read his cues, and found a rhythm with him that did not require words.
Erin Flood, the Clinical Director of Residential Services at LaSalle, told us, “What I observed in him was acceptance of who he is.” She had known Kevin as one of their most dysregulated youth, a young man who rarely trusted adults and often felt blamed for the challenges he carried. At the farm, she saw something entirely different. Leadership, calm, and a newfound ability to regulate difficult emotions.
Carrie Harris, our Director of Programs, witnessed the same transformation from her perspective. “What I observed,” she shared, “was growth in leadership, insight, and confidence.” Without knowing his history, she watched a teen step forward, help his peers, advocate for his turn, and even handle disappointment with grace on the day Q was simply having a not so great day.
This is what we witness here every day.
In 2025 the THS-LaSalle School pilot program was funded by a grant from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. We are grateful for this support
In the year ahead, we are eager to support more teens like Kevin, but we need your help to do so.
Our partners at LaSalle School are ready to walk with us into 2026 in service to more youth. Our shared goal is to run three eight-week programs next year, serving six young men at a time. Each session requires $8,000 in financial support to cover the costs of equine care, staffing, clinical partnership, and the resources required to provide a safe and meaningful experience.
To implement this program at full capacity in 2026, we are seeking to raise $24,000. Will you help us reach this goal?
Your support makes these moments possible. It ensures our horses receive the expert care they need to do this work. It allows our programs for teens and children to remain accessible. And most importantly, it opens the door for more young people like Kevin to feel seen, understood, and capable of growth.
What we witness every day is courage.
We witness healing.
We witness hope.
And with your help, we will continue to witness it again tomorrow.
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