Spirit Open Equestrian Program

It's such a fun and rewarding experience volunteering for Spirit. The staff are all so friendly and the horses are very well taken care of.

Spirit is such a great and rewarding program. As a volunteer, I get to see these kids learn and develop alongside other great volunteers and phenomenal instructors.

I have been working with Spirit for almost 4 years now. Being able to be apart of the lives of the riders is so important because you can see them develop in a positive way. The connections made not only with the staff but with the riders as well is something I will always cherish!

I sponsor one of the horses at Spirit and i see first hand what great work this organization does in helping people with special needs.

And the horses are loved and well cared for.

Spirit is a place of joy for both humans and horses

My daughter is an experienced equestrian. She enjoys sharing her knowledge with the students at SPIRIT. She loves helping both horses and students reach new levels together. She has been volunteering for the last 3 years.

As a Spirit volunteer, this program is such a great option for those with special needs and also for those that want to give back to the community. The staff is kind and provides the tools for me to be a working part of this program. I enjoy the time I volunteer at Spirit and also the ability to put a smile on a child's face. Plus, being around horses is a bonus :)

Between the horses, staff and volunteers, and students, there is something magical at Spirit! Volunteering with Spirit is the best part of my week, I cannot recommend it enough!

The most wonderful group of caring people. I've thoroughly enjoyed volunteering here -- it's incredibly organized which is a dream, and the impact on the students who come to the classes is truly moving. Can't say enough about it.

The part of the lesson I look forward to the most is trotting as well as trail rides. The program has made my muscles stronger. More importantly, it’s helped with my confidence, making me realize I can do anything. SPIRIT means so more to me than anyone will ever know. The friendships I formed there are my closest. My relationships with Grace and Max is closer than some people are with each other. Grace always takes great care of me and I trust her completely. She always gives me a great ride. She’s helped me do so much stuff. Max increased my confidence and gave me so many laughs and smiles. Huckleberry taught me independence. I always look forward to riding, trotting, grooming, giving treats, and seeing my friends, four and two-legged. Thank you SPIRIT!! I’ll never be able to thank you enough.

Spirit is a treasure in Northern Virginia. Our teenager volunteered on weekends and despite waking up early (not easy for teens) always greeted us with a big smile at pickup time. The experience of helping with the horses and clients was rewarding, and the Spirit staff are wonderful. It's a kind, generous, and well-organized place. We're fortunate to have Spirit in our community.

My first introduction to Equine Assisted Activities was 25 years ago with my niece. She positively glowed as she benefitted from the physical and mental growth provided by her horse therapy. When I retired, I decided to volunteer at SPIRIT. I remain passionate about SPIRIT'S mission and our contribution to the community and the families we serve. Please take the time to explore how we can help you grow, heal and nourish your soul. We await you with open minds, open arms and many horse tales!

Spirit has been an incredible experience for my daughter, who is an Equine-Assisted Learner (EAL). From the very beginning, the program stood out for its supportive and nurturing environment that tailors their approach to meet each child’s unique needs. Through her participation, my daughter has grown tremendously—both emotionally, physically and socially. Working with the horses and students with unique abilities has taught her valuable lessons about patience, communication, self-confidence and an immense amount of emotional growth. I’ve seen her take these skills into other areas of her life, and the positive impact is undeniable.

Spirit offers such a special service to our busy, stressed northern Virginia community. It's a rare spot where you show up as yourself - whether you're a student, family, volunteer - and you leave better than when you came. Spirit classes are inclusive with special needs clients participating alongside typically developing students. I always say Spirit rescues clients, their families, and even our horses. It's a jewel of a place in the middle of a DC suburb.

Our autistic daughter has been participating in Spirit Equestrian Riding Therapy sessions for the last 6 months and we are pleased with the program and the volunteers that assist. Originally, our daughter had anxiety towards many animals and Spirit has helped her be at ease with horses. Their efforts have helped her develop a liking to horse-riding and she is now looking forward to her new activity every weekend. Each session, our daughter rides through a trail at Frying Pan Park and she enjoys it. We would recommend the program for special needs children to familiarize themselves with horses and different surroundings.

SPIRIT is a great place with wonderful horses, amazing staff, and passionate volunteers! The staff and horses are always working their hardest to provide a positive, welcoming environment to both participants and volunteers. I have seen SPIRIT work to give each individual the kind of assistance they need in order to help them grow- be it in confidence, new skills, or independence. Thanks for all your hard work!

SPIRIT has been helping this community grow children who are confident, strong and caring for many years. The community recognizes the positive impact Equine Assisted Learning, Therapeutic Riding, Psychotherapy, Hippotherapy and Horsemanship workshops have on the physical, emotional and life skills of children and teens benefitting from the programs.

The SPIRIT staff and volunteers are well trained and very caring of those they work with. At lessons you see smiles, hear giggling from the children riding and their parents and families watching. SPIRIT offers a wonderful positive enviornment for all who attend the services.

The horses of SPIRIT are all gentle, well trained and loved by all who ride or care for them. Most are rescued by or donated to the program and given the opportunity for second or third careers serving their community. They are a herd and are given the opportunity for free roaming in their fields and stalls. A luxury life for horses in todays world!

Spirit has been a gift to our family - it literally got us through Covid. A safe, outside activity I could share with my teenager. And I even got my husband on a tractor as a volunteer! My favorite part of participating in the program is supporting the parents of our riders - watching their faces when their kids ride alongside kids and adults of all abilities. It's such a relief in this high pressure area of the country (DC metro) to visit the farm and truly take a deep breath with ponies and friends.

Nice horses and good people. In need of some better volunteer management (training, scheduling, etc.) so that the EAL’s aren’t doing the majority of the work, and there’s more of a balance.

Since my first day as a beginner student at Spirit, I’ve loved coming and i’ve learned so much. Now as an EAL, I look forward to coming to Spirit every day and meeting new riders.

I’ve been at Sprit for about a year now, and I’ve been looking forward to coming to the barn each week. The Spirit community is great to be a part of, and being able to get to know the riders and their personalities has been incredible. Getting to watch and be a part of the riders growth has been something I never thought I’d get to be a part of. Spirit has been incredible in every way.

Spirit has been a wonderful experience for my grandson. He had gained confidence, strength, listening skills and a true love of horses. He has gained such compassion for the horses by working with them and caring for them. It has been the best experience for him and for the family. All the coaches, handlers, and volunteers are terrific and so patient while passing on the skills and life lessons to the riders. I highly recommend Spirit Open Equestrian Program. A truly fantastic place.

Romana Sanchez Palmer

SPIRIT is an incredible organization. I look forward to volunteering every week. It's incredible to have the opportunity to help with the therapeutic riding lessons. I love seeing how the riders progress every week and the positive impact that interacting with horses has on the clients. I feel so honored to be a part of the work that SPIRIT is doing in Northern Virginia.

I volunteered here since 2017 (so six years now!). SPIRIT to me illustrates "all hands on deck." Every single dollar and hand is put to work to help serve the therapeutic needs of families all over the DC metro area.

They have been incredible with helping people with disabilities and veterans! Horses are taken care of! Volunteers are incredibly friendly!

I have volunteered for over a year. The dedication of the regular staff and instructors is incredible. The interactions we share with our riders benefit the staff and volunteers as much they benefit the riders. I look forward to my weekly sessions at Spirit.

Volunteered for this program and the horses are well trained and reliable; the Instructor is experienced and provides activities well suited for each rider. Careful care is taken so each rider has the best horse for their needs

SPIRIT Open Equestrian serves the community by providing Therapeutic Riding programs that promote healing and improve life skills for individuals and families; especially catering to children with special needs.

Additionally, most of their horses have been rescued from kill pens or auctions, giving them a second chance at a fulfilling life of service and love. 

As a weekly volunteer at SPIRIT since April 2022, I have already seen the incredible amount of progress these kids have made in overcoming physical obstacles, anxieties and improving their overall confidence levels. 

SPIRIT is a wonderful organization that truly benefits our community and I am proud to help support their mission and vison.  

I have been volunteering at SPIRIT for 3 years now. I have seen the improvements that students make due to the care, compassion, and programming of volunteers and staff. It is truly a life-changing program!

Spirit has been amazing for my daughter. She can't wait each week for her lesson.

Everything about this program is special. Our son has been a part of it for more than two years, and he still looks forward to visiting every weekend like its his first time.

The Program Leadership is fantastic, the volunteers are engaging and wonderful with the kids (many of them being kids themselves), and the horses are wonderful, calm, and peaceful creatures. There is no rush, there is no stress, and all the kids love it. My son spends time patting and giving treats to all the horses after each session and he loves his favorite horses and helpers.

Though we only have a 5 minute drive, we would drive miles and miles to keep bringing Kai to Spirit. We hope this program continues for many years to come.

I started working with spirit about a year ago and I have already made great connections with the team and horses but also the riders. I have learned so many things and life skills. I am so blessed to have been able to make new friends and to be able to work with the horses and riders.

As an EAL at Spirit I am grateful to get to experience such a great community. I enjoy working in the therapeutic riding program and build relationships with the students.

This program has been a second home to me and many others over the years

I have been a part of spirit for almost 4 years. It has been an amazing experience and it has taught me what it is like to be a part of a community. I am so thankful for the confidence and pride that being a part of an organization like this has given me and I can not imagine my life without it.

I have been at spirt for around 5 years now. They have been a big part of my journey, and the spirit family and horses are all amazing.

I started at spirit in beginner lessons and as soon as I could I joined the EAL program. This program has taught me so many things including interaction with people, confidence, and loyalty. I have not only made so many friends through the EAL program but also through the therapy program. I enjoy getting to connect with people and horses everyday at Spirit. Spirit is a amazing family that I am proud to be apart of.

There is nothing more rewarding than the breakthrough moments of healing with horses. My volunteer experience for the past 6+ years has been transformational in many ways. People of all ages and ability will surely benefit from active or passive participation in this program.

I have been volunteering with the Spirit Open Equestrian Program for several years. It is a wonderful program that serves the community in with therapeutic riding lessons for children and adults. I have witnessed these classes make such a difference in these students lives. It brings them such joy, a sense of real accomplishment, physical work out, as well as the camaraderie with other students, staff, and volunteers. I've witnessed some students work to over come disabilities or physical limitations on these marvelous horses that are truly amazing. To top it off this group give their "recycled" horses a job and a purpose, and even the horses know their role and enjoy their work. A great group to volunteer with and great organization to support, which I do at every opportunity. - K. W.

Spirit is very volunteer friendly. They have frequent trainings for all volunteers to be competent. They have specific roles for each volunteer every week whether working with the riders or doing farm work. They are very flexible with everyone’s schedule. It has been a pleasure volunteering with them! They are very friendly and knowledgeable. They make sure everyone has a good experience: riders, parents, and volunteers.

Spirit runs a wonderful program for anyone interested in being around horses! It’s atmosphere is friendly and inviting. There are not enough good things to say about the volunteers, employees, and students!

My introduction to SPIRIT began in 2014. Years later and countless stories of sharing, caring, personal growth, service to the community, life lessons and lots of love still abound! This is such a unique program with much to offer for anyone needing to benefit from the lessons we can all learn from our 2 legged participants and volunteers and our 4 legged friends and members of the herd.

I have been a Spirit volunteer for at least the last 10 years. Although I'm no longer able to ride, I thoroughly enjoy being around horses! I started out mucking out stalls and cleaning the paddock. What i noticed on those cold/wet/freezing or hot/humid/wet days was the dedication of the young volunteers. There was an experienced volunteer assigned to each "team" of groomers, feeders, general caregivers of each horse. Not once in the years that I have been volunteering have i ever heard one of the young volunteers complain about being too cold or too hot. It's apparent that they enjoy what they are doing and building lasting friendships. Spirit is grooming and building the leaders of tomorrow. Spirit is all-welcoming to everyone! Ddda has set a wonderful example for Spirit volunteers to follow!

I look forward to helping out where I'm physically able. I thoroughly enjoy meeting, the fellowship and working with the many volunteers Spirit has.

The comments that I have heard from parents regarding the benefits that their child(ren) receive have all been positive. Spirit is a major asset to the community.

I plan on being an active volunteer as long s I'm physically able to participate.

My teenage daughter has worked as a volunteer at SPIRIT for the last six years and has experienced tremendous personal growth (maturity, empathy, and a sense of responsibility) through these experiences. She has developed a strong sense of service to the community and has also learned leadership skills as she has matured from one of the youngest volunteers to now being one of the older leaders/teachers. We are so grateful to have SPIRIT in our neighborhood for both the services provided to clients as well as the community service opportunities provided for young volunteers!

SPIRIT Open Equestrian Program embraces the principles of community, inclusivity and equality. SPIRIT values the uniqueness of all individuals and we are committed to the ongoing practices of listening, learning and growing. We will continue providing a welcoming and safe experience for everyone. SPIRIT wants to continue being an active part of the work that creates the compassionate society we envision.

Our Mission is to foster healing and to teach life skills through interactions between humans and horses.

https://www.spiritequestrian.org/

While I am skeptical about the "magical" properties of horses, I cannot deny the good that this program does to everyone it touches. I don't know much about the experience of the riders, though I know that every one of them comes out more whole than they came in. What I do know is that the program also has a profound effect on the volunteers. Learning to interact with the horses and the riders teaches life skills and provides a place of zen that is much needed these days. All in all, this is a magical program that does great things for everyone that it touches.

I am heavily involved in this organization. During the daily programming, when a student works with a horse, you can see faces light up like never before! SPIRIT offers both mounted and unmounted lessons, as well as horsemanship workshops, psychotherapy, and volunteer trainings. They have an excellent community relationship with schools, local businesses, Parks, and scout groups. Kudos to a job well done by SPIRIT and all its students and volunteers!

My little sister works as an EAL for this program and she has loved it so much. She dedicates her time 6 days a week because she loves the program that much. As helpful as it is for the kids in it, it is just as important for the kids that are helping to run it.

I love coming out to Spirit to help with the therapeutic riding sessions. Watching kids light up, and seeing them become more and more independent over time, is inspiring. This organization puts helping others first.

Everything about SPIRIT truly comes from the heart -- the people, the horses, the programs.
Seeing the smiles of the riders as they enjoy their time with the horses each week is simply one of the best experiences.

Spirit is a wonderful place where Horses meet People.
I have been with Spirit for nearly a year.  I enjoy working with horses and helping with the day to day office operations.
The volunteers and staff are friendly and will do everything to help and make you feel welcome.

The Spirit Open Equestrian Program has brought our family closer within the community we have lived in for years. The mission of the program was started to serve special needs children/students through equine assisted therapies. To be applauded, the vast majority of the therapy horses have been rescued, primarily from kill-pens. The program offers so much more. Community teens can volunteer to earn required school service hours. They receive the benefit of learning horsemanship, experiences with those in the programs, and the joy of being outside. Our family has volunteered for many years now. We have found this to be so much more. Summer weekly camp programs are also offered through Fairfax County Parktakes. The program also serves our Veterans. Spirit Open Equestrian Program’s mission is amazing and benefits our entire urban community.

Spirit is a wonderful program that is a great asset to our local community. Spirit provides a safe and an inclusive environment for their students, their families and volunteers. I am very proud to be a part of this organization and to continue to watch their growth and development within the community.

Our daughter began volunteering as an Equine Assisted Learner seven years ago. At first it was wonderful to observe how much joy and maturity she experienced from helping the therapeutic riding students. Over time, however, it became clear that not only was she benefitting from assisting those less fortunate than herself, but also the SPIRIT Open Equestrian Program became her own personal therapy. It has been her "go to" outlet for relieving emotional stress and pent up physical energy. Therefore, she has grown with the SPIRIT program beyond our expectations. She and we, her family, have been blessed by SPIRIT on multiple levels. For this, we are truly grateful.

I can't say enough about SPIRIT . Dada and her volunteers put their hearts and souls into this program. SPIRIT has changed the lives of so many in such a positive way. The staff are trained professionals with great compassion and a genuine love for what they do. While the program begins to expand and reach out into other communities, the volunteers never lose sight of the children under their care. SPIRIT is a win-win for everyone (the children, the horses, the volunteers and the community)!

I am immensely proud of SPIRIT and our community. This is the only organization I’ve seen where every participant - 2-legged or 4-legged - leaves with more than they came.

Our riders are amazing - they grow every day, both in their riding capabilities and horsemanship as well as their maturity and independence.

Our team and volunteers show up to give, every single day. For a group built mostly on people donating their time, we have mature processes to keep everyone safe and engaged, while being good stewards of our resources and keeping our operating costs to a minimum. As a volunteer, myself, I feel like I get more from this program than the riders do!

To top it off, 12 of our 14 horses are rescues. Watching them work with our therapeutic riders and psychotherapy clients is awe inspiring, and demonstrates the gift that these creatures have. When our herd isn’t working, they typically have free reign between their open stalls and the pasture.

Please - come check us out and see for yourself!

SPIRIT is a wonderful program, all the way around! The staff and volunteers are very welcoming and supportive and always happy and eager to help the participants learn and HAVE FUN! The EAL students are simply remarkable, instant friends to everyone they meet, no matter age or ability - when I participated, these teens taught me so much! You can see how much each participant LOVES to be at SPIRIT and how wonderful they feel when they are achieving their goals. And then there are the horses....so many of them were saved by SPIRIT from what would have been truly horrible fates. You would never know it, each has it's own wonderful personality and is gentle and peaceful. You have to see it for yourselves, when all this comes together, SPIRIT is truly a slice of Heaven on Earth!

I have a great experience so far (current volunteer). There is a great mission here to connect the bond between human and horse. I really enjoy giving back to my community and this place has allowed me to use my skill sets just the way I wanted.

Wonderful program which gives kids with special needs an experience that really makes them happy. Wonderful volunteer staff and gentle horses really make this place at Frying Pan Park a great one.

The Spirit Open Equestrian program adds immeasurable value to our community and we are so fortunate to have been able to benefit from the opportunities to both receive the services provided by this program as well as to give back through volunteering there as well. Part of the beauty of the program is the way giving and receiving are all interwoven throughout the program and all are beneficiaries of the remarkable good that this program does for mind, body, and spirit on an individual as well as on a community level. Our young adolescent son, who was struggling with multiple physical challenges and related social/emotional struggles, started out as a client and over the years has participated in every aspect of the program , from Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, to Therapeutic Riding, and the Equine Assisted Learning Program. The experiences were life-changing for him, as he transitioned from hardly being able to get up off the couch into a young man who walked tall, with a sense of purpose, and felt a remarkable sense of calm, confidence, and purpose though his work at the barn amongst the Spirit Herd and the supportive "family" created by the director, Davorka Suvak. No longer in need of services, today he is a volunteer who feels confident and self-assured, and also knows that he always has a home at Spirit. Spirit is a rare gem in the midst of the hustle and bustle of this fast-paced area that allows people of all ages and abilities to slow down, enjoy nature, gain skills and a sense of well-being, whether on the giving or the receiving end of the activities offered amongst the beautiful Spirit Herd. I can't say enough good things about this organization.

It is so rewarding to watch the growth of this program which emphasizes a focus on ability rather than disability. Volunteers, clients, the Board of Directors and committee members, friends in the community and the Program Director work side by side to ensure a safe and enriching life experience. Take the time to investigate SPIRIT Open Equestrian Program for yourself or your loved ones. It provides life changing opportunities for all ages.

Truly an amazing non-profit that puts the needs of its clients and therapy animals first and foremost. The staff, BoD and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure the success of current programs while at the same time, working towards a brighter future to serve more of the needs of the community.

I started volunteering with Spirit Open Equestrian Program in middle school, nine years ago. As an aspiring veterinarian, I am incredibly lucky to have gotten the opportunity to work with horses and people of all different ages and backgrounds. The skills learned and the friendships I have made as a volunteer have followed me ever since. Coming in to Spirit, I was really excited to work with horses and help disabled riders benefit from hippotherapy, but I did not expect to grow so much myself. I am truly thankful for the opportunity to have worked with such kind hearted, inspiring people, who have dedicated their lives to improving the lives of others (both four legged and two). Davorka Suvak has transformed too many lives to count with her program, and I am so incredibly grateful to have been a part of it growing up. Seeing children bond with horses and overcome their personal challenges is one of the most beautiful things anyone can see in this world and I feel truly honored to have been able to see so many grow in the saddle. Thank you Dada, for everything!

The people at Spirit are wonderful and full of compassion and energy. They serve a huge range of people, old and young, with all levels of ability, and all of them are taken care of in a supportive and nurturing environment that fosters growth and healing.

They do a great deal of incredible and selfless work and don't receive nearly the amount of recognition they deserve. Truly a hidden gem of the area that I'm sure will grow to shine even brighter to a wider audience in the times ahead.

My daughters are competitive riders. In Middle School for the National Honor Society they had a service hour requirement. Marrying their love of horses to their need for service is how we became involved at Spirit.My girls lead and side walk, groom, muck, ride, smile and laugh and come home renewed and joyful. Spirit is as healing for my overly busy, overly competitive, stressed out teens as it is for any of the clients it serves. It is an invitation to be fully in the moment with the horses, the other volunteers and clients. It is a rejeuvenating time filled with sharing and working along without worring about performance. Spirit has been a wonderful, grounding addition to our lives.

My 13 year old has benefitted from all of the programs offered by SPIRIT for a truly holostic approach to mental health issues (anxiety, depression, social isolation) and related physical problems (chronic pain). We have seen a complete turnaround in our young teen's mood, confidence, and ability to fully participate in and enjoy life again. Through therapeutic riding, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, and Equine Assisted Learning, he has found a safe and loving community among the horses and the peers and adults who share his love for them.

My 13 year-old daughter has been a part of the SPIRIT Open Equestrian Program for about three months now and I already see a difference in her. She is part of the Equine-Assisted Learning Program. Before joining SPIRIT, she was making very poor choices in the people she chose to associate with, was very disrespectful to her father and I, and was very quick to have her anger escalate into a full-on tantrum like you would see from a two year old. She held the family hostage as we would never know if we would get the kind, sweet soul we knew she could be, or the sullen, disrespectful teen she was becoming. She had a very low self-esteem despite all of the love and opportunities and support we gave her at home.
When I first met with Dada to talk about the program to see if it might be a good fit for my daughter, I could tell she truly cared. She sat with me and listened to my struggles and I could tell she really cared. She helped come up with a way to bring this program up with my daughter. You see, my daughter refuses therapy. After talk-therapy failed multiple times, I tried art therapy because she always has pencils and artist markers in her hands. However, because the word 'therapy' was involved, she refused to talk to the therapist and it became an epic battle. Dada encouraged me to not use the work 'therapy' when it came to talking about SPIRIT. I brought it up in a way that it appeared to be my daughter's idea and she loved it! This was through Dada's guidance! I would have brought it up wrong and ruined any chance of success!!
Well, my daughter LOVES to come to SPIRIT and comes as often as possible. She has been less argumentative with me and her father. She chooses SPIRIT over hanging out with the kids we prefer her not to hang out with. She is learning how to handle herself better by helping the adults help the special needs students. She is gaining confidence in her abilities as she learns to care for horses. She is learning to push through her own medical condition which can cause chronic fatigue, stomach pains, body pains, etc.
This program has been such a blessing to us. We are seeing parts of our daughter that we feared were gone. These teen years are not going to be easy, but I strongly feel that, with the help of SPIRIT, we might just make it through!

Spirit resonates with you from the moment you meet one of the horses, volunteers, clients, or any other member of the family. A tremendous amount of work and love go in to the program, delivering tangible results. I have experienced personal growth, and witnessed the growth of others. Kudos to Spirit!

Excellent therapeutic riding program. Staff and volunteers are dedicated and very caring. Results are phenomenal. View their videos!

As Churchill said, "There's something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man."
This summer the team at SPIRIT Open Equestrian Program is providing over 100 individual session hours each week. And THAT is a whole lot of good!

Spirit provides training for volunteers of a wide range of ages. The organization helps special needs kids and adults through various equine activities. Not all the activities are mounted. It is gratifying to watch the improvement in various physical and mental challenges of clients.

SPIRIT is amazing in how they serve the community. There are trained instructors with lots of highly trained volunteers. The Program Director Dada is so very compassionate and posses an incredible knowledge of therapeutic riding. She brings many years of experience from Europe and the United States to this extraordinary program. I highly recommend SPIRIT as it is a top notch program with an abundance of expertise!

Spirit is an amazing organization that helps not only people with disabilities but also their families! The sense of accomplishment the participants take from connecting to and partnering with the horses is what the Spirit Open Equestrian Program is all about! The smiles on the faces of the children says it all! Spirit's instructors, volunteers, horses and participants are one big happy family who support each other every day in every way possible!

I've been volunteering at the Spirit Open Equestrian Program for a little over a year now, and it has been truly amazing to see the time, energy, love, passion, and dedication to excellence that is exhibited every day.

My teenage daughters volunteer in this program. It started out as a "I need summer service hours" commitment and has evolved into one of the best things they do all week! They come home after their time at Spirit relaxed and happy, having spent 3 hours outdoors, unplugged and working collaboratively to help someone else! It's been a really great experience for our family. Spirit is well run and transparent, the horses well cared for and well loved and the community is better for having access to this program.

This is highly transparent non profit with dedicated Team