For those who know Slate, you already know he is a gentle giant with a heart of gold.

Slate has been a steady, safe, loving presence in my life since 2011, and for countless others along the way. From young children learning to ride for the first time to adults learning what it feels like to be in a truly connected relationship, Slate has always shown up with patience, kindness, and quiet strength.

Today, Slate serves as a therapy horse at Cross Keys Equine Therapy, offering his calm spirit, gentle nature, and strong, steady body to clients working through trauma and attachment wounds. He has carried so many stories on his back, held space for so many tears, and helped so many nervous systems find safety again.

But before he was a therapy horse, he was, and will always be, my heart horse.

I met Slate in 2011 while leasing him from Houghton University (then Houghton College). I was recovering physically and emotionally from a serious fall off another horse and had lost much of my trust and confidence. I wasn’t ready to give up on riding or my dream of Eventing, but I was scared.

The day I met Slate was incredibly windy. The arena had no fence and was surrounded by tall grasses that would have sent my previous horse into a frenzy. Slate stood quietly. He didn’t care about the wind. He didn’t care about the movement. He cared about me.

His calm presence and willingness were everything I needed. From that day on, we were partners in crime. We competed, rode bareback through the woods, jumped anything we pointed him at, and shared quiet moments that shaped who I am today.

After graduating in 2013, I moved to Virginia to continue working at Cross Keys Equine Therapy. I purchased Slate and brought him with me. We moved through different barns during our competitive years, and now I’m proud that he is back where he belongs, serving others at CKET with the same steady heart he has always given me.

Slate has faced his share of challenges. A fractured hip that I was told might mean he would never be ridden again. A fractured neck after a fall on a rock. A chest injury that required stitches. And yet, every single time, he came back. He is resilient in a way that humbles me.

At 25 years old, Slate still has the spark of his younger self, just with a little more wisdom in his eyes. He still has so much love to give.

Right now, Slate needs dental surgery to remove a cracked molar, at least one additional molar, and his two front incisors. The estimated cost of the procedure is $5,500.

This surgery will relieve his pain, protect his long-term health, and allow him to continue doing the work he was born to do, whether that’s carrying a client in session or simply enjoying his days comfortably and safely. While he serves in the program, he isn’t owned by the nonprofit. His medical care has always been my responsibility.

If Slate has ever touched your life, or if you believe in the healing power of horses, we would be deeply grateful for any support. Every donation, every share, and every prayer helps.

He has carried so many of us. Now it’s our turn to carry him.

Any amount above the $5,500 will go towards additional costs and then donated to Cross Keys Equine Therapy for ongoing care for Slate as well as our other 13 horses.