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Our Mission is to promote and enhance the physical and emotional growth of people of all ages and unique abilities through the use of therapeutic, outdoor experiences including interactions with horses and other domesticated animals.
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The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and freedom.
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- Sharon Ralls Lemon -
Courageous Connections Equine Therapy
Proudly serving Snohomish County, Washington!
These different programs offer participants, of all ages and abilities, a safe and unique opportunity to partner with horses while working from the ground. Check out each of our programs below!
What we hear from our volunteers:
'This is a life-changing experience'
We need your help!
In addition to arena help, we also need help with a variety of other activities such as Newsletters, Social Media, Marketing, Fundraising, and Event Planning. If you are a senior who is willing to share your time and experience, please contact us!
We couldn't exist without our Donors. Your donations provide scholarships to participants in need and help us care for our beautiful horses. Every dollar helps!
Message from the Board:
By 2019, we were offering Workshops at Kathy’s barn, giving participants the chance to connect with and learn from our horses. Both the animals and our team thrived in this work. When the pandemic hit, we were fortunate to reopen early as an “Essential Service,” continuing to provide mental health support through our programs.
“If You Build It, They Will Come”
What began in 2018 as a hopeful dream—with borrowed horses, a borrowed arena, and donated tack and helmets—has grown into something extraordinary. Courageous Connections held its first Therapeutic Riding class that year, guided by a shared vision and the unwavering support of our community. Though we had no budget, we had everything we needed to begin.
In 2022, our growth accelerated thanks to a partnership with Helping Our Miniature Equines HOME), who agreed to lease us our first covered arena and miniature horses. This expansion allowed us to double the number of participants we served.
Generous support from the Tulalip Tribe, School’s Out Washington, and the Dan Thompson Memorial Fund—along with other public and private grants—allowed us to fund scholarships, pay our staff wages, and bring to life the original vision Kathy and I had: a permanent home for Courageous Connections.
That dream is now a reality. Our farm is home to four horses, two goats, and five chickens—and more importantly, to a community of healing, learning, and connection. Our ADA accessible bathroom and other projects are complete and just last week, we welcomed 23 representatives from state, county, and local school organizations to share our work and future plans: a therapeutic garden which will donate it’s vegetables to the Lake Stevens Food Bank, expanded Equine Encounters classes, new workshops, and inclusive programs that bring our community together.
To celebrate, we’re inviting everyone to join us for a free “Fun at the Farm” event on June 29. We hope to see familiar faces—past volunteers, participants, and supporters—as well as new friends who want to learn more about what we do.
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Together—with our donors, staff, volunteers, partners, and of course, our animals—we have built something special. Now, we look forward to welcoming everyone who comes to experience it.