Southern Reins :: Our March Nonprofit of the Month {2026}
Southern Reins provides life-changing equine-assisted services for children and adults living with disabilities and hardship throughout the Mid-South. Our work is guided by a commitment to thoughtful, individualized care and a belief that every person deserves to be supported with dignity and purpose.
Founded in 2015, Southern Reins has grown into a trusted and valued resource for families and community organizations seeking meaningful, life-enriching services. Since our inception, we have served 1,776 individuals throughout the greater Memphis area, including 143 veterans, and awarded 373 program scholarships to ensure financial barriers never prevent participation. Participants range in age from 2 to 93 years and represent over 29 different diagnoses, reflecting the wide range of individuals who benefit from our programs.
In 2025 alone, Southern Reins supported 231 individuals through onsite programming and 274 individuals when including community outreach through Pony Pals visits. That same year, participants engaged in more than 2,668 lessons and 1,970 hours of equine-assisted services.
Our programs are carefully developed to reflect each individual’s strengths and needs, creating an environment where people feel welcomed, respected, and encouraged to grow. Our therapy horses are central to this process. Southern Reins’ programs are structured, purposeful experiences guided by PATH Intl. Certified Instructors and licensed therapists and are supported by trained volunteers and our trusted therapy horses. Individuals engage in activities such as grooming, leading, groundwork, learning riding skills, and supported riding that are tailored to personal goals and abilities.
Horses naturally respond to human movement, emotion, and communication. This unique partnership allows individuals to practice balance, coordination, strength, focus, and emotional regulation in real time. Simple actions such as steering a horse, maintaining posture, or building trust through touch often become moments of independence and self-belief.
Our programs are never one-size-fits-all. Each lesson and session is intentionally designed to support the whole person physically, emotionally, and socially while creating a sense of success that carries into everyday life.
The bond between a person and a horse creates a unique space for growth, confidence, and discovery. Horses respond naturally to movement, emotion, and intention, offering a gentle partnership that meets each individual exactly where they are. Through guided interaction with our therapy horses, participants experience meaningful connection and purposeful movement that support both physical development and emotional well-being.
Horses provide honest, immediate feedback without judgment. This allows individuals to practice focus, communication, and emotional regulation in a way that feels safe and encouraging. In this partnership, many participants uncover strengths they did not know they had and begin to see themselves in new and empowering ways.
Set on our peaceful 30-acre farm in Collierville, Tennessee, our programs offer a welcoming, non-clinical environment where healing feels natural and joy is part of the journey. Our work is powered by an average of 15 therapy horses and ponies and more than 200 active volunteers who contributed 9,360 hours of service in 2025 alone. More than an activity, the horse-human connection fosters belonging, builds confidence, and creates moments of success that carry into everyday life. It is this connection that makes lasting change possible.
For more information, visit www.southernreins.org.
The Memphis Moms features a nonprofit organization every month. If you know of a nonprofit that is making a difference here in Memphis, we want to know about it! Let us know by nominating them here.
