2025 Buddy Derby
What a year 2025 has been! From strengthening our therapeutic riding program, to expanding our mental health and Silver Saddles offerings, to discussions about much-needed new facilities, this has been one of our busiest—and most meaningful—years yet.
Here are a few highlights from our programs:
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Our therapeutic riding program continues to be the heartbeat of Horse & Buddy. This year, we served an average of 115 riders each week and were able to offer make-up rides due to cold or heat cancellations for the first time. Our families have been so grateful for this flexibility.
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Our mental health programs—Equine-Partnered Play Therapy and Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy— grew by approximately 42% in 2025, serving 36 active clients. The demand for these services continues to rise, and we feel fortunate to offer these programs to our community.
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This year, 125 residents from 15 facilities enjoyed time at the barn through our Silver Saddles program. Finn, our beloved Goodwill Ambassador, spent many hours bringing joy to seniors across the Triangle through her visits to retirement communities. Silver Saddles also expanded to serve individuals experiencing cognitive decline—participants like Lucilla and Sarah, whose stories appear at the bottom of this page. Their connection with our horses, staff, and volunteers has created moments of joy, confidence, and dignity that their families describe as nothing short of miraculous.
As we look back on this remarkable year, we’re thrilled to invite you to participate in our annual Buddy Derby! This fun and meaningful event is your chance to support Horse and Buddy in honor of someone special—a rider, volunteer, staff member, favorite horse, or anyone close to your heart. Our goal this year is $80,000, and we're all geared up for a spirited fundraising race to see whose pony can raise the most funds for our program.
To join in and contribute, simply type in the name of the person you wish to honor (or leave it blank) and click the Buddy Derby button. Want to make an even bigger impact? Consider becoming a Horse and Buddy Hero by selecting the Become a Hero button, and then the “Make this a monthly donation” option. Recurring gifts provide steady support for our daily operations, ensuring we can continue to serve our participants year-round. You can see all of our racing participants by clicking this link.
We are truly grateful for your dedication and support of the Horse and Buddy community. Your generosity makes a difference in the lives of our riders and their families. To see the incredible impact you helped us achieve in 2024, please click here. Thank you for being such an essential part of our programs!
Remember to select the "Make this a monthly donation" checkbox!
We invite you to learn more about Sarah and Lucilla—two Silver Saddles participants whose stories reflect both joy and courage as they navigate cognitive decline. We are profoundly grateful to Daniel and Mark for opening their hearts and sharing their journeys with us. As Mark says: “What happens at Horse and Buddy isn’t just therapy. For families like ours, it is hope. It is connection. It is a way of preserving quality of life while facing a disease that can so easily isolate and diminish.”
Click on each photo to read their story.
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