Making a Difference: Healing Reins reflects on 2025, looks ahead to an exciting 2026
TUMALO, Ore. (KTVZ) -- For this month's 'Making a Difference', we’re spotlighting Healing Reins, where lives are transformed through the power of horse therapy.
KTVZ News spoke with Executive Director Polly Cohen about what 2025 looked like at the nonprofit and what the team is looking forward to most in 2026.
"These animals are incredible to talk to. Whether it's the goats, the chickens, even the miniature cow or the horses themselves, people would rather be outside and interacting with them,” Polly said.
At Healing Reins in Tumalo, people of all ages come to receive a special type of support.
"It's just a great opportunity to have that talk therapy or those other therapy services in an outdoor setting that encourages people to interact in a safe manner,” Polly said.
The nonprofit serves around 1,000 individuals with various needs per month.
"On a weekly basis, we're right about 250, and that's like a little bit of a steady climb as we're adding more services that people want to come out here for," Polly said. "You know, occupational therapy, physical therapy, mental health services."
This year, Healing Reins is especially grateful for its donors.
"It's been an adventure with funding," Polly said. "We're thankful for all the support from all the donors. I mean, that's a big deal... Grant funding was a lot less this year, but the community stepped up and able to provide. Because these horses are expensive."
It’s not just monetary donations that make their mission possible.
"Our horses go through 70 to 90 tons of hay a year, which just is an enormous amount. And so hay to us is basically gold, for our industry. And so we're very appreciative for all the hay donors who have given us hay this last year,” Polly said.
Healing Reins is looking forward to another year of making a difference in Central Oregon.
“2026 is the year of the horse, which I think is spectacular toward what we do here on a daily basis. This next year is just kind of a grounding year for us," Polly said. "Next year is continuing to settle into this beautiful site. We actually have a new mission, vision, and tagline that we're excited to share with the community in January. And so, we're just looking forward to that kind of new growth for us."
Here's another fun way to help out Healing Reins: you can donate your Christmas tree to the goats! They’re full of vitamins and a natural de-wormer.
You can learn more about donating, volunteering, and its services by clicking here.
