WNC Bridge staff recently visited Heart of Horse Sense, a 2025 IMPACT Grant recipient providing trauma-informed, equine-assisted therapy in Western North Carolina. Their IMPACT grant supports the expansion of services at no cost for first responders, children, and community members impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Heart of Horse Sense centers its work on rebuilding connection to self, others, and the natural world. Anxiety, depression, trauma, and PTSD often share a common challenge: disconnection from one’s body, community, or sense of safety. Through a unique therapeutic team that includes a licensed mental health professional, a horse professional, and one or more horses, participants are supported in both self-regulation and healthier patterns of thinking.

During the visit, staff saw firsthand how this approach creates space for healing, resilience, and lasting change. We’re grateful to partner with organizations like Heart of Horse Sense that are meeting urgent community needs with compassion and innovation.