An important part of the Ride To Pride equine-assisted program are the horses. There are fifteen horses available to the program at all times, most of which have been donated or rescued. The rescue horses are particularly useful with youth who have been abused and/or neglected, since most of them have been through similar circumstances. Rescue horses provide invaluable opportunities to mirror what abuse and neglect actually look like without personalizing. Clients are given a first hand opportunity to become a part of the rehabilitation process with the horses. This provides for a therapeutic process that not only heals and rehabilitates the horse, but can be healing and rehabilitating for the client as well. Orphan foals provide magical opportunities for youth who are in state custody or have lost their parents or caregivers. Horses with habitual behaviors are valuable to show clients what addiction looks like and the effects on the physical, emotional and mental health of horses and humans. Horse herds show what peer groups and family systems can look like. Horses are great teachers of various behaviors and skills, both positive and negative, such as leadership, teambuilding, bullying, shyness, boldness, love, patience, aggressiveness, etc.

In short, horses can teach humans how to be better humans.