The stables at Palmer Home for Children are home to 12 horses, who receive love and attention from our children on a daily basis.

Grooming our horses takes time, but it's a favorite activity of our children. With our largest horse measuring a massive 16 hands tall and our smallest coming in at just 8 hands, there's room for even the smallest of our residents to participate in this fun bonding activity.

Every week, 42 Palmer Home children participate in our Hope Reigns program, offering them a chance to learn valuable life skills, bond with the horses, and boost their self-esteem.

Each student involved in Hope Reins spends a minimum of 60 minutes per week taking lessons and learning to care for our horses. Many students choose to spend their free time volunteering at the stables because they enjoy it so much.

Our horseback riding team can travel as far as 100 miles away for competitions and shows where they have the opportunity to demonstrate all the skills they're developing and learn from other equestrians.

This represents the average cost for one child to attend and participate in a horse show. We have quite a few students who are accomplished enough to travel to various shows. It's a wonderful opportunity for them to gain experience and even potentially secure scholarships for their future.