Courageous Connections was founded in 2017 by two cousins who shared a deep love of horses and a desire to share the healing, joy, and personal growth that horses had brought to their own lives. Our very first session took place in June 2018, thanks to the generosity of our local community and the 4H chapter, who donated the horses, arena space, instructor time, and much of the needed equipment.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, our focus changed to primarily serving youth and adults facing emotional and behavioral health challenges. In 2023, with the support of a grant from the Dan Thompson Fund and Washington State Taxpayers, we were able to purchase and renovate our farm in Lake Stevens.

Today, we offer weekly classes and group workshops for individuals with a wide range of needs. Our participants include individuals with autism and anxiety, survivors of domestic abuse, youth involved in foster care or the juvenile justice system, hospice patients, and families navigating a cancer diagnosis. In partnership with our horses, we create a supportive, welcoming environment where every person feels seen, valued, and safe. In this space, our participants build confidence, form meaningful relationships with both horses and humans, and discover their inner strength and resilience.

Our volunteers are the heart of Courageous Connections. They are the people who walk alongside our participants through Equine Assisted Programs, offering a calm presence and a steady hand. They are the ones who weed garden beds in the heat of summer and muck stalls in the middle of winter, who offer their experience and skill to help us with our newsletters, social media accounts, and fundraising events and we couldn’t exist without them.

This spring, we expanded our offerings to include goats and chickens for those who feel more comfortable working with smaller animals. We are also developing an ADA-accessible garden where individuals in wheelchairs or walkers can participate in planting and harvesting, and where adults with special needs can volunteer with purpose and pride. Through our partnership with the Lake Stevens Food Bank, we are now able to donate our fresh produce—another meaningful way we can give back to the community that supports us.

Courageous Connection Annual Fundraiser

Our Premier Fundraiser Supporting Courageous Connections

Team Members