Southern Reins History

 

Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy was founded in July 2015 to provide equine-assisted services for children and adults living with disabilities and hardships throughout the Mid-South. Our journey began in Nesbit, Mississippi, where we launched our adaptive horseback riding program at a partially leased facility. In our inaugural year, we became a PATH Intl. Member Center and proudly served 19 individuals with special needs, addressing 10 unique diagnoses.

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By the end of our second year, our impact had grown significantly. We served 75 children and adults through three core programs: adaptive horseback riding, Occupational Therapy incorporating Hippotherapy, and unmounted activities. In 2017, we furthered our mission by introducing our PATH Intl. Equine Services for Heroes program, offering no-cost services to active, reserve, and retired military personnel in gratitude for their service. That same year, the growing demand for our programs led us to begin the search for a permanent home.  

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In 2018, Southern Reins made a pivotal advancement by acquiring our facility in Collierville, Tennessee, where we continue to operate and thrive. This milestone enabled us to broaden our services, including initiatives to support senior and assisted living facilities and the launch of our Making Strides Recreational Therapy program, which integrates recreational therapy and equine-assisted learning.

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In 2020, we introduced HorsePOWER Work-Based Learning, equipping teens and adults living with disabilities with essential job skills to prepare for meaningful employment. We also launched our TEACH Program, a groundbreaking initiative incorporating equine-faciliated learning to enhance literacy and learning readiness for children in Memphis city schools.

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In 2021, Southern Reins earned the distinction as a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center. We are the only Premier Accredited Center in the greater Memphis area and one of three in Tennessee, reflecting our commitment to the highest industry standards for safety, program quality, and facility operations. Our impact was further recognized in March 2022 when the Collierville Chamber of Commerce named Southern Reins its Nonprofit of the Year, acknowledging the positive difference we continue to make throughout the Mid-South.​

 

Since our inception, Southern Reins has profoundly impacted the lives of over 1,600 children and adults with disabilities and hardships, supporting a wide range of 50 different diagnoses through our program services.

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Southern Reins is a charitable non-profit organization, EIN #47-4647784