Stable Ground Institute
Our Mission
At Stable Ground Institute, Inc., we believe everyone deserves a place to feel safe, seen, and supported. Through the powerful connection between humans and horses, we create experiences that enable healthy connections, rebuild trust, and spark hope for the future. In the quiet strength of the barn, individuals and families discover resilience, nurture healthy relationships, and find the confidence to write a new chapter in their story—one filled with possibility.
At this stage, our work focuses on foster care youth and their families. Our long-term goal is to expand to domestic abuse and human trafficking survivors.
Who we serve
Currently, we serve foster care children and their families residing in Lake, Volusia, and Orange Counties. These young people and the families that take them in often experience multiple placements, disrupted education, and the emotional toll of separation from their families and siblings.
We serve them because children in foster care face unique challenges such as loss, instability, and trauma that can leave them feeling unseen and unheard. Through equine-assisted learning, we provide hands-on experiences where horses become partners in growth. Working with horses allows these youth the opportunity to:
Build trust in a non-judgmental relationship.
Develop communication skills and problem-solving skills by guiding and caring for a horse.
Strengthen self-worth as they experience success in a safe, supportive environment.
Practice self-regulation and resilience, since horses reflect emotions in the moment and reward calm, consistent behavior.
Rebuild connections through the partnership of horses, and they will gain the experience of building strong, resilient relationships that extend well beyond the barn, with everyone around them.
What we do creates opportunities for healing, empowerment, and lasting skills that can be carried into school, relationships, and well into adulthood.
