“Create a Smile, Grow Confidence & Change a Life.”
It’s more than just a motto at Horses with Hearts—it’s the story of Michael.
Michael began riding in 2019. At the time, he couldn’t smile—literally—due to a lack of facial nerves. But you don’t need to see a smile to know joy when it’s there. Because when Michael’s on a horse, you can hear it. That deep, contagious laugh? It fills the arena.
In the beginning, he was hesitant. He didn’t even want to touch the horse. But week after week, ride after ride, something started to shift. Now? Now, he wraps his arms around Urkel during feeding time, calm and connected. In the arena, he lets go of the saddle, holds the reins with intention, and even looks up and away from his horse—riding independently with a quiet, growing confidence that says, I’ve got this.
But perhaps the most beautiful transformation has happened off the horse.
Michael used to be a boy who kept to himself, who only did what he thought was expected of him, unsure if anyone truly cared. Today, he’s stepping forward. Greeting strangers with warmth. Making his own choices. Becoming a young man who knows he has value—and that he belongs.
That’s the power of this place.
At Horses with Hearts, we don’t just teach riding. We help kids find their voice, their confidence, and their joy—no matter how it shows up. And in Michael’s case, it sounds like pure laughter.
— With love, Michael’s Family