Your Donations Save Lives!
PonyUp4Kids rescues horses and transforms them into partners in healing, providing children, teens, and adults—including those with special needs, survivors of abuse, veterans and their families, and underserved communities—life-changing equine-assisted programs that restore hope, build strength, and foster connection. With your support, we save lives on both ends of the rein.
The HEALING Equine Connection
Equine Assisted Activities, Wellness & Healing
At PonyUp4Kids Foundation Inc., we believe in the healing power of horses to transform lives. Through inclusive, equine-assisted activities and equine facilitated wellness programs, we empower children, teens, and adults—including those navigating emotional, behavioral, intellectual, or physical challenges—to build confidence, resilience, and purpose. Our hands-on experiences are tailored for individuals with special needs, survivors of abuse, veterans and their families, and underserved communities. Whether connecting with a rescue pony or embracing cowboy values in our Confidence Corral, participants discover life-changing skills in a safe, nurturing, and judgment-free environment. Guided by compassionate professionals and supported by our gentle equine partners, every session fosters growth, healing, and hope. Learn how to PARTICIPATE.
Check out our Holiday Events and seasonal class specials.
Make a Difference—Donate Now
Your donation to PonyUp4Kids Foundation is 100% tax-deductible and goes directly toward funding life-changing programs that support both people and horses. Every dollar helps us provide equine-assisted learning, humane education, and hands-on healing experiences for youth, veterans’ families, and rescued horses. Together, we can create a powerful impact—one hoofbeat, one heart at a time. DONATE NOW
Private or Group Sessions
PonyUp4Kids provides equine-assisted activities, mounted and unmounted, to children, adults, and families in Dutchess County, New York and the surrounding areas.
Our inclusive programs are designed to support veterans, survivors of abuse and trauma, individuals in recovery, people on the autism spectrum, and those with special needs or diverse needs. We also serve underserved communities, offering a safe and welcoming space where participants can build confidence, resilience, and healing through meaningful connections with horses.
Discover the Healing of Horsepower
Strength in the Saddle
S.A.F.E.R. Horsemanship
S.A.F.E.R. Horsemanship
Coming home isn’t always easy. Veterans often carry invisible wounds—post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and the struggle to adjust to civilian life. Horses 4 Heroes was created to stand beside them, offering a place where healing happens through the powerful connection between horse and rider.
At the heart of our program is the S.A.F.E.R. Horsemanship method—Safe, Achievable, Fun, Effective, Respectful. This approach builds trust, confidence, and resilience while teaching clear communication and calm connection with horses. Every ride, every moment in the arena, is designed to restore balance, foster empowerment, and remind veterans they are never alone.
Here, veterans and their families find more than a program—they find a community. Together, we rebuild strength, discover peace, and take steps toward a brighter future.
S.A.F.E.R. Horsemanship
S.A.F.E.R. Horsemanship
S.A.F.E.R. Horsemanship
At PonyUp4Kids, we welcome children, teens, and adults to experience the life-changing benefits of guided horseback experiences. Our inclusive programs are designed to support individuals navigating emotional, behavioral, intellectual, or physical challenges—including those on the autism spectrum, survivors of abuse, veterans and their families, and members of underserved communities.
Through our signature S.A.F.E.R. Horsemanship method—Safely Achieving Fellowship, Empowerment, and Resilience—participants build trust, confidence, and essential life skills in a safe, judgment-free environment. These hands-on experiences help enhance mobility, balance, posture, coordination, language skills, behavior regulation, and focus, offering meaningful physical and emotional growth.
Whether you're connecting with a rescued horse or embracing cowboy values in our Confidence Corral, PonyUp4Kids is more than a riding program—it’s a place where healing begins, friendships form, and every hoofbeat leads to empowerment.
Harness the HORSEPOWER to Your Success
Transforming lives through the healing power of horses
For many, the sterile environment of a traditional therapy office can feel limiting, making it difficult to truly open up and heal. PonyUp4Kids Foundation is redefining the therapeutic experience by harnessing the transformative power of horses. Through equine assisted activities and equine facilitated wellness programs, they offer a dynamic, nature-based approach that fosters emotional growth, resilience, and connection. By stepping out of the office and into the arena, participants engage in meaningful interactions that unlock deeper healing and lasting change.
PonyUp4Kids Is Changing Lives in Dutchess County
Trailblazers in Equine Healing
Nestled in the heart of Union Vale, NY, PonyUp4Kids Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives through equine-assisted activities, mounted and unmounted. Our mission is to empower children, veterans, and individuals with special needs by connecting them with horses in a safe, nurturing environment.
Led by a powerhouse team of visionary women, our foundation blends science, horsemanship, and heart to create life-changing experiences. From equine-assisted activities, horseback riding and rescue horse rehabilitation, our programs are designed to build confidence, resilience, and connection.
Whether you're here to participate, volunteer, or support our mission, we invite you to explore the magic of what happens when horses and humans come together.
Join us. Support us. Share our story.
Together, we can change lives—one hoofbeat at a time.
Equine Wellness for Self-Direction
Horsepower for the Soul
Looking for a unique way to support personal growth, confidence, and emotional wellness? PonyUp4Kids Foundation offers equine-assisted activities and equine-facilitated wellness experiences that can be included in your OPWDD Self-Direction budget. Our sessions—held at our beautiful year-round facility in Union Vale, NY—are designed to help individuals build social skills, regulate emotions, and connect with others through meaningful interactions with horses. We work closely with families, brokers, and care managers to ensure services are aligned with OPWDD guidelines and properly documented in your Life Plan. If you or someone you love is enrolled in Self-Direction, reach out today to learn how horses can become part of your journey! CONTACT US TODAY
Contact us to get started.
Our Impact in Numbers
💬 95% of parents and caregivers say the program helped reduce stress at home
💬 95% of parents and caregivers say the program helped reduce stress at home
💬 95% of parents and caregivers say the program helped reduce stress at home
“I learned to trust again because Waverly never judged me.” – Youth Participant, Age 12
🎓 30 youth explored future careers in the equine or care industry
💬 95% of parents and caregivers say the program helped reduce stress at home
💬 95% of parents and caregivers say the program helped reduce stress at home
"I am going to be an equine veterinarian so I can help horses." - Youth Participant, Age 8
🧒 175+ youth, teens & adults served through equine-assisted learning
💬 95% of parents and caregivers say the program helped reduce stress at home
🧒 175+ youth, teens & adults served through equine-assisted learning
🐴 45 rescued horses rehabilitated, loved, and given new purpose
Contact Us
Make Your Donation In Person!
We love to welcome visitors, potential donors & sponsors to see how the PonyUp4Kids Foundation is continuing to make a positive impact. Please just make an appointment.
PonyUp4Kids Foundation Inc.
Office: (845) 724-7128
Our Partners
CHANGING LIVES IN DUTCHESS COUNTY
Fall Into Fitness with a Method Celebrities Swear By!
This isn’t just another workout — it’s a movement. Learn the Body Mantra Method directly from its founder, Dr. Christine Grimaldi, the neuroscientist behind the technique that’s taken Hollywood by storm.
As seen on Amazon Prime & Gaia TV. Endorsed by celebrities. Loved by thousands.