Mission, Vision and History
Our Mission
To serve individuals with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities and hardship by providing equine assisted activities and therapies to empower, inspire, nurture and succeed.
Our Vision
Our vision is to provide transformative experiences through equine assisted activities and therapies to serve the growing needs of the Mid-South community.
KAITLYN AND REBEL
The meaningful moments that happen every day at Southern Reins drive and define us to follow our mission.
Life Happens Here
KAITLYN AND REBEL
"The first time I got to ride was the first time - in a long time - that I felt free of everything that holds me back. I almost forgot I had Cerebral Palsy. "
Diversity and Inclusion Declaration
Southern Reins is committed in policy, principle, and practice to celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion for all. We know that diversity drives innovation, equality enhances our corporate culture, and inclusion promotes authenticity. We affirm our commitment to inclusivity in all we do, and embrace the diversity of humankind with ethical responsibility, acceptance, and respect.
History
Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy was founded in July of 2015 to serve people with disabilities and hardship in Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas. Operations originated in Nesbit, MS where the organization held a partial lease to begin its programming to serve the Mid-South.
Our program has experienced tremendous growth quickly, and we realized that it was necessary to locate land or an existing equestrian facility to continue growing to meet the need of the families we serve. Southern Reins found the ideal property located in Collierville TN and closed on a beautiful 28-acre facility in January of 2018.
Our facility today sits on 35 acres that includes a 12-stall barn, attached covered riding arena, Crosstie Pavilion, 6 turnout pastures. Learning Center, and administrative building.
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The miracles we see on the backs of our horses and ponies are simply incredible, and disability disappears in the saddle at Southern Reins.
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Southern Reins is a charitable non-profit organization, EIN #47-4647784
Community Impact
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In the greater Memphis area, there are 322,690 residents with disabilities age 5-64 who have the opportunity to benefit from equine assisted activities and therapies offered by Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy.
We have adapted the traditional approaches of working with and learning about horses so that our participants can feel the wonder of the connection between horse and human. Horses are highly reactive and mimic human emotions - requiring calm and centered communications that promote emotional awareness, emotion regulation, self-control, and impulse modulation. Working with horses in a therapeutic setting offers instant and constant feedback to participants, and is highly motivational – making an exceptionally effective rehabilitation environment.
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Southern Reins is committed to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities through our recreational and therapeutic programs that provide access and inclusion, foster compassion and caring, and encourage goal achievement and personal growth.
Southern Reins is a place where small victories are pivotal achievements.
The positive change we see in and out of the arena drives our passion to celebrate the ABILITY of each of our participants. Working with our horses, children and adults are able to turn struggle into success as they build strength, develop confidence, and achieve more than they ever dreamed possible.
