Help Us Build Something Transformative 

At Valdosta State’s Equine-Assisted Learning program, we are creating more than a facility—we are building a living, breathing learning environment where students, horses, and community come together in powerful ways. 

If something here sparks your interest, we invite you to step in, partner with us, and help bring this vision to life. 

Reach out to Dr. Kate Warner at kwarner@valdosta.edu or Dr. Gwen Scott Ruttencutter at gwescott@valdosta.edu to begin the conversation—your next step toward something meaningful might be closer than you think. 

Our STRIDES course offers students a powerful, hands-on learning experience at the barn. 

We are seeking donors to underwrite the cost of “barn days,” approximately $3,000 per class, ensuring that all students—regardless of financial background—can participate. 

Your support makes it possible for students to: 

  • Step outside the traditional classroom  
  • Engage in experiential, embodied learning  
  • Discover new ways of thinking, leading, and relating  

Sponsor a class—and open the gate to transformative learning.

We are working to expand both equine-assisted learning and equine-assisted therapy into our clinical preparation programs—creating innovative pathways for students in fields such as social work, marriage and family therapy, counseling, and nursing. 

With your support, we can develop certificate programs and specialized training tracks that integrate these approaches into clinical education and practice. 

This initiative will: 

  • Prepare graduate students to incorporate equine-assisted therapy into their professional practice  
  • Develop certificate and credentialing pathways that expand career opportunities  
  • Provide hands-on, supervised experiences that build competence and confidence  
  • Strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration across health and human services fields  

At the same time, we are committed to using equine-assisted learning as a powerful tool for clinician development—supporting the growth of the noncognitive and relational capacities that shape effective practice. Through guided experiences with horses, students have the opportunity to: 

  • Deepen self-awareness and emotional insight  
  • Explore presence, boundaries, and authenticity in real time  
  • Strengthen observation, attunement, and nonverbal communication  
  • Reflect on how their own responses influence and shape clinical relationships  

These experiences cultivate clinicians who are not only technically skilled, but also reflective, grounded, and responsive—able to navigate complexity with awareness, adaptability, and intention. 

Equine-assisted therapy expands the ways future clinicians can support clients. Equine-assisted learning strengthens the clinician themselves—developing the habits of mind, presence, and relational awareness that underpin meaningful change. Together, they create a more holistic, human-centered approach to care. 

Your investment helps us prepare professionals who are not only well-trained, but deeply attuned to the individuals and communities they serve. 

Help us shape the future of clinical training—where learning is experiential, relationships are central, and new possibilities for growth and healing can emerge.

Empower Our Equestrian Team & Club 

Our equestrian students are dedicated, hardworking, and passionate—and they represent VSU with pride. 

We are seeking support to help cover: 

  • Travel to competitions (including ~5 overnight trips per year for 15 riders)  
  • Riding lessons and training time  
  • Safety equipment, including helmets  
  • Intercollegiate team fees and competition costs  

Your investment ensures that financial barriers don’t stand in the way of student participation and success. 

Stand behind our riders as they step forward and compete. 

Every meaningful moment in equine-assisted learning begins with a safe, well-designed space—for both horses and humans. 

We are seeking support to establish a fully functional barn that will serve as the heart of our program. This includes: 

  • Stalls and shelter for 6–9 horses  
  • An arena for learning and engagement  
  • Safe turnout areas for horse wellbeing  
  • Essential infrastructure for daily care and operations  

Beyond the physical space, this vision includes the people and resources that sustain it: 

  • A dedicated barn manager  
  • Horse caretakers and student workers  
  • Feed, bedding, veterinary care, and ongoing maintenance  

With your help, this barn will grow into a self-sustaining program over the next 5–10 years—creating a lasting impact for generations of students. 

Be part of building the place where it all begins. 

Our horses are not just part of the program—they are our partners in teaching, growth, and discovery. 

We are working to develop a “string” of 6–9 well-suited horses who can safely and effectively support equine-assisted learning. Support in this area helps us: 

  • Acquire and train appropriate horses  
  • Provide lifelong, high-quality care  
  • Match horses thoughtfully to learning experiences  

Each horse becomes a teacher in its own right—helping students build awareness, confidence, and connection in ways that can’t be replicated in a classroom. 

Help us bring these incredible teachers into the program. 

To fully realize our program’s potential, we need the ability to travel, connect, and grow beyond a single location. 

Key needs include: 

  • A reliable truck capable of towing horses  
  • A horse trailer for safe transport  
  • Essential barn and care equipment, including:  
  • Halters and lead ropes  
  • Feed buckets and water pails  
  • Wheelbarrows and manure forks  
  • Tack and training equipment  

These tools allow us to care for our horses responsibly and expand access to equine-assisted learning experiences. 

Help us move this vision forward—literally and figuratively.

Our STRIDES course offers students a powerful, hands-on learning experience at the barn. 

We are seeking donors to underwrite the cost of “barn days,” approximately $3,000 per class, ensuring that all students—regardless of financial background—can participate. 

Your support makes it possible for students to: 

  • Step outside the traditional classroom  
  • Engage in experiential, embodied learning  
  • Discover new ways of thinking, leading, and relating  

Sponsor a class—and open the gate to transformative learning.

We are working to expand both equine-assisted learning and equine-assisted therapy into our clinical preparation programs—creating innovative pathways for students in fields such as social work, marriage and family therapy, counseling, and nursing. 

With your support, we can develop certificate programs and specialized training tracks that integrate these approaches into clinical education and practice. 

This initiative will: 

  • Prepare graduate students to incorporate equine-assisted therapy into their professional practice  
  • Develop certificate and credentialing pathways that expand career opportunities  
  • Provide hands-on, supervised experiences that build competence and confidence  
  • Strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration across health and human services fields  

At the same time, we are committed to using equine-assisted learning as a powerful tool for clinician development—supporting the growth of the noncognitive and relational capacities that shape effective practice. Through guided experiences with horses, students have the opportunity to: 

  • Deepen self-awareness and emotional insight  
  • Explore presence, boundaries, and authenticity in real time  
  • Strengthen observation, attunement, and nonverbal communication  
  • Reflect on how their own responses influence and shape clinical relationships  

These experiences cultivate clinicians who are not only technically skilled, but also reflective, grounded, and responsive—able to navigate complexity with awareness, adaptability, and intention. 

Equine-assisted therapy expands the ways future clinicians can support clients. Equine-assisted learning strengthens the clinician themselves—developing the habits of mind, presence, and relational awareness that underpin meaningful change. Together, they create a more holistic, human-centered approach to care. 

Your investment helps us prepare professionals who are not only well-trained, but deeply attuned to the individuals and communities they serve. 

Help us shape the future of clinical training—where learning is experiential, relationships are central, and new possibilities for growth and healing can emerge.

Empower Our Equestrian Team & Club 

Our equestrian students are dedicated, hardworking, and passionate—and they represent VSU with pride. 

We are seeking support to help cover: 

  • Travel to competitions (including ~5 overnight trips per year for 15 riders)  
  • Riding lessons and training time  
  • Safety equipment, including helmets  
  • Intercollegiate team fees and competition costs  

Your investment ensures that financial barriers don’t stand in the way of student participation and success. 

Stand behind our riders as they step forward and compete. 

Every meaningful moment in equine-assisted learning begins with a safe, well-designed space—for both horses and humans. 

We are seeking support to establish a fully functional barn that will serve as the heart of our program. This includes: 

  • Stalls and shelter for 6–9 horses  
  • An arena for learning and engagement  
  • Safe turnout areas for horse wellbeing  
  • Essential infrastructure for daily care and operations  

Beyond the physical space, this vision includes the people and resources that sustain it: 

  • A dedicated barn manager  
  • Horse caretakers and student workers  
  • Feed, bedding, veterinary care, and ongoing maintenance  

With your help, this barn will grow into a self-sustaining program over the next 5–10 years—creating a lasting impact for generations of students. 

Be part of building the place where it all begins. 

Our horses are not just part of the program—they are our partners in teaching, growth, and discovery. 

We are working to develop a “string” of 6–9 well-suited horses who can safely and effectively support equine-assisted learning. Support in this area helps us: 

  • Acquire and train appropriate horses  
  • Provide lifelong, high-quality care  
  • Match horses thoughtfully to learning experiences  

Each horse becomes a teacher in its own right—helping students build awareness, confidence, and connection in ways that can’t be replicated in a classroom. 

Help us bring these incredible teachers into the program. 

To fully realize our program’s potential, we need the ability to travel, connect, and grow beyond a single location. 

Key needs include: 

  • A reliable truck capable of towing horses  
  • A horse trailer for safe transport  
  • Essential barn and care equipment, including:  
  • Halters and lead ropes  
  • Feed buckets and water pails  
  • Wheelbarrows and manure forks  
  • Tack and training equipment  

These tools allow us to care for our horses responsibly and expand access to equine-assisted learning experiences. 

Help us move this vision forward—literally and figuratively.