Horse and Buddy

06/13/2026

☀️ Whew, it's a hot one out there!

Drew and his team had the right idea this week—cooling off under the mister with big smiles and thumbs up! 😎💦

As temperatures climb, we're making sure both our horses and humans stay safe, hydrated, and as comfortable as possible. Whether you're spending time at the barn, at the pool, or in the air conditioning, we hope you're staying as cool as Drew today!

Drop a 🧊 in the comments if you are trying to stay cool in this summer heat!

06/12/2026

On Monday, we welcomed TowerCo's IT Department for an equine-assisted team building experience.

Through a series of horse-centered challenges, team members practiced communication, collaboration, and problem-solving while working toward shared goals. The activities encouraged participants to learn more about one another, recognize team strengths, and identify practical takeaways they can apply back in the workplace.

There was plenty of laughter along the way as the team worked through challenges together and reflected on what helped them be successful. The horses really enjoyed their time too! Thank you to TowerCo for spending the morning with us and for fully engaging in the experience.

06/11/2026

“They’re here to rally for you; they understand what your challenges are, but also so many joys that we have,” Hudson added. “These folks are our tribe, they’re our peeps… You’re fully included and accepted here always.”- Becky Hudson, parent of a Horse & Buddy rider.

Abbey is an absolute joy to her team at Horse & Buddy-check out her story now. Thank you CBS 17 for this amazing coverage and Maggie Newland for her reporting and spending the day with us!

Riders with disabilities connect with horses at a nonprofit in New Hill.

06/09/2026

What a sweet way to spend a Sunday! 🍦

Our first-ever Participant Social was filled with smiles, laughter, and friendship. Participants enjoyed ice cream, played water games to beat the heat, and made frozen treats for our horses to enjoy this week. And Dillon has already enjoyed his stall frozen treat!

One of the greatest benefits of Horse & Buddy is the opportunity to connect with others. It was wonderful to see participants building friendships, sharing experiences, and enjoying time together outside of their regular lessons.

Thank you to everyone who joined us—we can't wait for the next one!

06/07/2026

🍔 No need to wonder what's for dinner on June 18th—we've got you covered!

Join Horse & Buddy at Red Robin in Apex for a delicious way to support our mission. Whether you're craving a juicy burger, a fresh salad, or those famous bottomless fries, 20% of your food purchase will be donated back to Horse & Buddy ALL DAY LONG!

Bring your family, invite your friends, and make it a fun night out. Who knows... you might even run into a fellow Horse & Buddy friend and end up sharing a french fry or two! 🍟

Just mention or show the flyer when you order and enjoy a meal that makes a difference for our programs.

📅 Thursday, June 18
📍 Red Robin – Apex @ Beaver Creek Commons
⏰ All Day

We can't wait to see you there!

06/07/2026

Today we're giving a special shoutout to Mary Bowles for her continued commitment to the health and well-being of our incredible herd. 🐴

Recently, Mary helped fit saddles for our newest horses, ensuring they have the best possible fit and comfort as they begin their journey at Horse & Buddy. We believe our horses deserve the same level of care and support that they provide to our participants every day, which is why we rely on the expertise of a certified saddle fitter to help keep them comfortable, healthy, and happy.

Thank you, Mary, for sharing your knowledge, expertise, and dedication to our horses. We are grateful for all you do to help our herd feel their best! ❤️

06/05/2026

Happy Fun Friday from Horse & Buddy!

We're wrapping up another wonderful quarterly Treat Week thanks to the amazing young women and families of the National Charity League, Carolina Lily Chapter! Throughout the week, they kept our volunteers smiling with delicious homemade baked goods as a sweet way to thank them for their time, dedication, and hard work.

Our volunteers are the heart of what we do, and we are so grateful to NCL Carolina Lily for helping us celebrate them. Thank you for not only supporting our volunteers, but also for inspiring the next generation of community leaders through service and giving back.

We appreciate you all! 💙🐴

06/04/2026

🎉 Volunteer Raffle Winner Announcement! 🎉

Our monthly volunteer raffle drawing for May came with a bittersweet moment this month. Jackson took a quick pause during his lesson to draw our lucky winner—and we're so grateful he did!

This was a special ride for Jackson, as he will be heading off to college and will no longer be riding with us. While we'll miss seeing his smiling face around the barn, we're excited for all the adventures that await him and wish him the very best in this next chapter.

And now for the big reveal... congratulations to our volunteer raffle winner, Katie C.! 🥳 Thank you for sharing your time, talents, and heart with Horse & Buddy. Volunteers like you make our mission possible every day.

Join us in wishing Jackson well and congratulating Katie!

06/02/2026

What a wonderful way to wrap up our Spring Silver Saddles season! ❤️

On Monday, we welcomed a fun and enthusiastic group from UNC Rex Rehab & Nursing Center of Apex. Participants enjoyed meaningful interactions with our mini horses, grooming and decorating members of the herd, cheering during the horse parade, and sharing treats.

Some guests shared heartfelt stories of horses that had touched their lives, bringing smiles, laughter, and even a few tears. Others had little or no horse experience at all—but they quickly discovered just how special time with horses can be! A few participants were so smitten they started planning how to get a horse onto their van before heading home.

Horses have a special way of helping us live in the moment, and this group embraced every moment of their visit. We can't wait to see everyone again this fall for more Silver Saddles fun!

06/01/2026

What a wonderful Sunday afternoon at our Mental Health Open House!

We were so busy meeting new friends, sharing information about our programs, and connecting with our community that we completely forgot to take photos of the refreshments, handouts, fun games, and raffle prizes! Fortunately, we did capture a glimpse of the mock demonstrations in our two peaceful mental health spaces in the woods: The Pines and Eagles' Pass.

We also had some unexpected visitors stop by to learn about their equine-partnered play therapy neighbors—a group of baby raccoons nestled in a downed tree nearby! We're happy to report that Mom returned for her little ones, and the family has safely moved on from our space.

A heartfelt thank you to the staff and volunteers who helped plan and host this event, and to everyone who joined us to learn more about the meaningful work our mental health team does in these special places in the woods. We loved sharing our programs with you!