The Stable Ground Institute began with a girl, a somewhat spirited horse named Tara, and me—her mother.
My daughter’s love for riding was what first brought Tara into our lives. As she grew and began riding other horses, I found myself stepping into Tara’s stirrups—literally stepping into a journey I never expected, one that would change everything.

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Tara became more than a riding partner.
She became a teacher.

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She taught me presence—in ways that were sometimes not so subtle, because when I wasn’t fully present, I found myself on the ground. She showed me how to set boundaries with courage, how to communicate without words, and how to build trust through honesty rather than force. Above all, she taught me the quiet strength that comes from simply being seen.

I often tell people: Tara made me a better person.

And she continues to teach me every single day, as do all the horses who have joined us since.

My connection with Tara brought me face to face with my own past. I am someone who has known childhood trauma, experienced a form of foster care, endured domestic abuse, and raised a child as a single parent while earning every one of my degrees. I know how hard it is to grow, heal, and rise above circumstances that try to shape who you become.

For years, I volunteered with children in foster care and underserved communities. I saw firsthand how many of them would never have access to the gift I was so fortunate to have—a horse who helped me reconnect to myself, rebuild trust, and learn who I could be.

And that’s where the dream began.

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How could I bring what one horse taught me—and everything I’ve learned through decades of work and education—to people who need connection, confidence, and safety the most?
How could I offer them the transformative moments that allow them to be seen, to grow, and to realize the amazing people they are meant to become?

 

Stable Ground Institute was created to share that gift.

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Stable Ground Institute is a nonprofit equine-assisted learning organization dedicated to helping people build stronger connections—with themselves, with others, and with horses.

We believe connection is not one-sided, and it is not limited by background or circumstance.
Everyone deserves access to the power of learning through horses.

That’s why we proudly serve the full community.

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Our Commitment

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We are also committed to advancing research into the powerful ways horses support human growth, learning, and potential. Our goal is to contribute to a deeper understanding of how equine-assisted learning strengthens connection, resilience, and social-emotional development across different populations.

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Stable Ground is more than a place.

It is a community built on the belief that connection transforms lives — and that horses are extraordinary partners in that transformation.

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