This Isn't Our 1st Rodeo

ABOUT US

No, this isn't our first rodeo—and around here that line is not just a wink and a smile. It is the truth.

Helping Thru Horses was founded in 2017 and was not built by people who suddenly discovered horses on a weekend retreat and decided to make a website about them. Troy Freeman has been a horse lover for much of his life. He knows the work, the care, the discipline, the patience, the trouble, the joy, and the deep bond that grows between horses and the people who take them seriously.

Originally based in a small rural ranch in Malibu, California just up the coast from Los Angeles, Troy ministered to and helped heal the most desperate of cases, both of horses and people. "There's nothing better in life than to help save a life, with the guidance and instruction of God." is Troy's moto. Troy and Debbie made their move to Tennessee four years ago and changed the outreach of their clientele. Lonely seniors, high stress and anxiety , PTSD, high functioning Autism and Aspbergers Syndrome, berievment and just plain having fun are the issues that Helping Thru Horses now concentrates on.

Helping Thru Horses is not a flashy commercial attraction. It is not a machine built to spit out profit. It is a labor of love and their ministry . It grew out of the conviction of helping others and that horses can help rescue, rehabilitate, and restore a person's life . Some people come here carrying anxiety and stress Some carry grief. Some carry loneliness. Some deal with the mental challenges of Autism and Asbergers , and some simply need a place where they can step out from under the burden of stressful life for a while. There is so much more to horses than getting on their backs. Horses can help get certain troubles and personal challenges off your back—or at least make them lighter to carry and give you skills to use in your daily life..

Debbie brings her own gifts and spirit to the ranch with her masterful artwork and together Troy and Debbie have built a place where horses are cared for with respect and clients are received with warmth. Their mission is simple, sturdy, and worth saying plainly: to create safe, meaningful horse-centered experiences that benefit people physically, emotionally, mentally, and socially while honoring the dignity and well-being of the horses themselves.

What a Visit Looks Like

Another common question is this: what actually happens when someone comes to Helping Thru Horses? Horse-centered work can mean different things in different places.

At Helping Thru Horses, the emphasis is on non riding ground guided interaction, care, observation, and connection. Visitors may arrive, get acquainted with the setting, meet the horses, learn basic safety and comfort guidelines, and then spend time grooming, brushing, walking beside, observing, training or assisting with simple routines. Sometimes the most meaningful moments are quiet ones. A hand on a horse's neck and a big hug. A brush moving steadily through a mane. A person who came in rattled suddenly breathing a little deeper. A horse stepping closer in calm recognition. A big horse neck hug.

There are options for individuals, small groups, seniors, and community or sponsored visits. An individual may need a quieter and more focused experience. . A small group may find value in cooperation, shared activity, and mutual encouragement. Seniors benefit from gentle movement, companionship, and a renewed sense of purpose.

No two visits have to look exactly the same, because no two people arrive with exactly the same needs. What matters is that the experience remains safe, welcoming, meaningful, and grounded in respect for both people and horses. All sessions are structured and documented with distinct purpose and goals. They are not hap hazard but specifically planned.