Soulful Horse

Soulful Horse is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2020 in Pequot Lakes. From the very beginning, co-founders Stephanie Kirkham, Abbie Schramm, and Steffanie Arneson shared one simple vision: to create a place where children could experience the healing, grounding, and life-changing lessons that horses so naturally offer.

Our students don’t just learn horse anatomy, care, and safe leading and handling—they learn about communication, leadership, boundaries, self-awareness, trust, and so much more. These lessons strengthen the partnership between each child and their equine teacher, but they also reach far beyond the arena. For many kids, these moments become powerful turning points in confidence, emotional growth, and connection.

From day one, our goal has been to offer Soulful Horse as a completely free program, ensuring that no child misses out on the TLC of a horse because of financial barriers. While each lesson is valued at about $50 when factoring in standard lesson fees, facility costs, and insurance, every single session is provided at no cost to the families we serve.

Since opening our doors in 2020, our mentors and volunteers have delivered over 350 lessons—free of charge—to local youth who simply needed something different, something gentle, something healing.

Our hope is to raise the support needed to launch more fundraisers, expand our outreach, and bring greater awareness to the work we’re doing. We also carry a long-held dream of sustainably rescuing horses—rehabbing them, loving them, and ultimately placing them in forever homes where they can continue to shine their light.

Soulful Horse began with heart, hope, and a belief in the magic between kids and horses. With your support, that magic can continue to grow.