Thistle’s Promise

07/15/2026

Another fun day with Ruben and Elizabeth! Ruben even got to ride Thistle for the first time today. And OF COURSE, a lot of hugs were given to the horses 🧡.

07/01/2026

Today was filled with LOTS of hugs from Elizabeth and her brother, Ruben 🧡. The goal for today was for Elizabeth to work on focusing solely on the task in-front of her. To do that, we had a lot of little activities planned, we made and gave the horses yummy mash, we worked on how to lead a horse, gave Thistle a rinse to help cool him down, AND got to spend time with Mosby giving him a big groom followed by painting his “nails”!

Another day of Elizabeth enjoying her time with the horses.

06/19/2026

A busy week for us at Thistle’s Promise, this must mean it’s officially SUMMER time! We are so happy that both Raffieu and Elizabeth will be joining us (separately), all summer while they’re out of school. Watching their growth throughout this journey is going to be a beautiful thing.

06/15/2026

We are so excited to have Elizabeth start her journey with us here at Thistle’s Promise 🧡.

05/16/2026

Session 2 for Raffieu and his younger brother. Today the boys spent the first part of their time with us painting horse shaped sun catchers and then they both got to ride Thistle. During their riding time, we worked on following directions while balancing on the horse. Torin (Michaela’s niece) was there to show them what to do such as, hand on head, touch the horse, etc. By the end of Raffieu’s ride, he was saying “head” and “neck” and touching his head on his own without needing any physical assistance. We just love seeing the positive impact this is having on them both already.

Thank you to Debrah Barnes Foley for your donation of the sun catchers they were a hit!

05/06/2026

We officially have a website!!! Check it out 🧡🧡

Thistle’s Promise is a calm, one-on-one equine-assisted program. Helping children build confidence, connection, and emotional well-being in a supportive, low-pressure environment.

04/26/2026

The highlight of our weekend was spending time with Reign and Raffieu. All of the horses were on their best behavior and the kids really seemed to thrive around them. Thank you Ameire Martin for trusting us with your boys, you’ve done an incredible job with them both.

04/25/2026

Such a beautiful morning at Thistle’s Promise with Raffieu and Reign. Raffieu was quite nervous when he first got on Thistle but as soon as he started walking, you could instantly see the calmness come over him and his smile start to show. Yes, there were a few tears shed. THIS is why we started this program. Moments like this 🧡.

04/22/2026

Ollie is a 7-year-old Quarter Horse with a sensitive heart and a very bright future.

Favorite thing to do: follow his “mini human” everywhere.

Favorite treat: Molasses treats

Ollie is the newest addition to our family, making the journey all the way from Ohio. He’s a sensitive soul who is learning that the world doesn’t always have to feel fast or overwhelming.

Ollie is incredibly talented and eager to please, especially under saddle—where he truly shines as a well-behaved and responsive partner for both his adult mom and mini mom.

While he isn’t part of the program just yet, Ollie is an important piece of its future. After experiencing a lot of intense training and a big move, he’s spending the next few months decompressing, we’re giving him the time he needs to build trust, feel secure, and understand that humans can be gentle and safe. And when he’s ready, we have no doubt he will become one of the most incredible partners in our program.

🤎 Why He Matters:
He reminds us that growth doesn’t have to be rushed—and that sometimes, the most important work happens in the quiet moments.

04/18/2026

Meet The Horse: Jack is a 7-year-old Draft horse with a soft heart, a steady mind, and a love for all things cozy and calm.

Favorite thing to do: get scratches behind his ears.

Favorites treat: carrots and apples.

Jack joined our family almost a year ago and quickly filled a space we didn’t even realize was missing. He was one of the most green out of our horses but with lots of consistency and training he has now become the go-to horse when you need dependable calmness and trust.

Out of all our horses, he might just be the most affectionate—always seeking out attention and never turning down a chance to be close to his people.

Why He Matters:
His gentle, snuggly nature and willingness to connect make him such a special part of our program. He reminds us that growth takes time—but with patience and care, something truly wonderful can emerge.