If you turn onto Winkler Road in Owensboro, Kentucky and enter gate #3 at the county fairgrounds, you’ll find yourself at Dream Riders of Kentucky.
Every week, something extraordinary happens. Children and adults of all ages and abilities climb into a saddle—not just to ride, but to heal, grow and discover what’s possible.
At Dream Riders of Kentucky, horseback riding is just the beginning. This non-profit equine-assisted activities and therapies program serves individuals with physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioral challenges from Daviess County and surrounding communities. Here, therapeutic horsemanship is a pathway to greater confidence, independence and joy.
“It’s more than just riding a horse,” shared Beth Wilkerson, a volunteer who spends several days a week of her retirement working with horses and participants. “You might not be able to speak. You might be having trouble knowing what is left or right. But by golly, you can ride a horse.”
A Program That Builds Skills and Spirit
From counting exercises and letter games to emotional regulation and decision-making, each lesson with one of the organization’s 12 horses is intentionally designed to support individual growth. Riders learn to follow multi-step directions, practice social interaction and build physical strength—all while forming a powerful bond with their horse.
"These horses can teach a child to count, make decisions and learn to follow directions—one step at a time. One of the greatest things they learn here is confidence.”
The horses themselves are an essential part of the magic. Carefully selected for their temperament and movement, each one is more than a therapy tool—they’re a trusted partner.
“Tom, our big Thoroughbred, once turned his head around and basically hugged a child who was having a hard day. These horses read you better than most people can.”
Meet Lady
Among Dream Riders’ equine partners is Lady, a gentle, 22-year-old flea-bitten grey mare whose calm and steady presence makes her a fan-favorite among program participants.
Thanks to support through Farm Credit Mid-America’s community investment program, Lady continues to make an impact in the lives of children and adults alike.
“Lady lives up to her name,” Beth shared. “One day I watched a little girl who participates in our program leading Lady, a thousand-pound animal, with complete confidence.”
Reaching Beyond the Arena
Through new outreach initiatives, Dream Riders is expanding its reach beyond the barn. From visiting nursing homes and libraries to launching mental health partnerships with local first responders, the program is finding new ways to bring healing into the local community.
“We’re starting to go out into the community to bring a little bit of what we do to people who can’t come to us,” explained Dream Riders of Kentucky’s Executive Director, Lisa Reeves.
Powered by Passion and People
Dream Riders is run primarily by the work of volunteers and funded entirely by donations. Their dedicated team is also developing a youth volunteer program, helping young people engage with something meaningful, impactful and healing.
“We recently had some teenagers from River Valley Behavioral Health help us lay stall mats,” Lisa shared. “At the end of the day, they were so proud when they were done—they knew they’d done something meaningful.”
Farm Credit Mid-America’s support of Dream Riders is one way they live out their purpose to secure the future of rural communities and agriculture. By investing in programs that nurture well-being, resilience and growth, the cooperative is proud to support meaningful change in the communities their customers and team members call home.
