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The Stable Scoop: Stories From Stable Friendships
Your Monthly Dose of Healing, Hope, and Horses
Stable Friendships Foundation
March 31, 2026 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes
✨Making Wishes Come True | Meet Melissa
Stable Smiles: Incase you Missed it!
In case you missed it, our paddock went red.
In honor of National Wear Red Day, Stable Friendships Foundation stood alongside our co-founder, Jessica, to help raise awareness for Marfan syndrome and the importance of early detection of aortic aneurysms.
As part of this, we shared a powerful video from the American Heart Association—because education and awareness are how change begins.
This cause is deeply personal, and it was meaningful to see our community come together in support.
🎥 If you didn’t catch it, take a moment to watch the video below and join us in spreading awareness.
Our News
✨ A Wish Come True
Earlier this month, we had the honor of partnering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help bring one very special vision to life.
Madeline’s wish was to have her Quinceañera photos taken with horses—something she had dreamed of, down to the details. Her vision included not only being surrounded by the horses, but stepping into the moment fully… even getting on her horse in her beautiful gown.
And thanks to the care, collaboration, and heart of our team, that vision became a reality.
It was more than just a photoshoot. It was a day filled with presence, joy, and the kind of moments that stay with you.
Abby Jones, Philanthropy Director, shared this with us after the experience:
“Truly grateful. You brought Madeline’s vision to life, creating a day that will shine through any difficulties. I love that she wants to stay connected and volunteer. It speaks volumes about your experience. What a special team and community you have.”
We couldn’t be more honored to have been part of Madeline’s story—and to have shared the paddock with her in such a meaningful way.
📸 Stay tuned… we can’t wait to share the final photos, done by our amazing volunteer @kristen_vallejo_photography
Stay tuned to see the final photos!!
❓ Trivia Time ❓
Old farmers used to say horses “know spring is coming before we do.” What are they actually responding to?
A. Warmer temperatures
B. Changes in daylight
C. Spring rain
D. Fresh grass growing
↓ Scroll to the very bottom for the answer ↓
🐴 Meet Melissa
What inspired you to become a physical therapist?
I’ve always been drawn to helping people, in a lot of different ways. But honestly, I became a PT a bit by accident. I was in school to be an LPN and passed out while trying to put an IV in a patient. The instructor sent me down to the PT department to lie down… and I never wanted to go back upstairs.
How did horses become part of your work?
That part didn’t come from a plan. I had heard of hippotherapy, but it wasn’t until graduate school—during an internship at Special Strides in Monroe, NJ—that everything clicked. Once I experienced it, I never looked back.
What led you to create Stable Friendships Foundation?
Since 2005, I’ve felt the tension of trying to merge a true medical model into the equestrian world. It hasn’t always been easy to find a space where those two could fully align. After meeting Jessica and Laura, it became clear that we needed to build something of our own—something that reflected our shared vision and honored the depth of this work. Stable Friendships Foundation grew from that place.
What would you want someone new to know before coming to the farm?
You don’t need experience with horses. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just have to be willing to show up.
Ways to Support Us
Spread the Word: Help us raise awareness about the healing power of horsemanship by sharing our mission with your friends, family, and social media networks. GUESS WHAT?! You can use the icons at the top of this email to seamlessly share our content via email, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook. Together, let’s amplify our message and make a lasting difference!
Volunteer with us : We are always looking for dedicated volunteers to join our team. Whether you have experience with horses or prefer to support us in other ways, there are positions available for everyone
Online Donations: Your financial support helps us maintain our programs and reach more individuals in need. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a significant impact.
Saddle Up with Our Merchandise : We’re thrilled to offer Stable Friendships Foundation merchandise through Bonfire! Each purchase supports our mission, with proceeds going directly back to our program. Shop now and wear you support with pride!
Answer: B — Changes in daylight ☀️
Horses actually shed based on daylight, not temperature. As the days get longer, their bodies receive signals to start shedding—spring weather just happens to show up around the same time.
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