Reins of Life - Therapeutic horseback riding

09/04/2026

Honored to be a Work-Based Learning Opportunities Partner for Michigan City Area Schools helping youth to connect, explore and expand their skills. Thank you to all of the educators, community members, students and partners working hard to make this program possible! See the full MCAS September Newsletter here: https://app.smore.com/n/erf4t
Economic Development Corporation Michigan City, Indiana
Michigan City Chamber

09/04/2026

We are excited to intoduce everyone to our new friend Jelly Bean!

Jelly Bean is a 9 year old Haflinger/Friesian mare who has recently joined our team. She comes with a background in both riding and driving and has a friendly and engaging personality that will also make her a great fit to join our interactive vaulting program in the future, after receiving some training for that discipline.

She has been enjoying making friends around the barn so feel free to say "Hello" to her if you see her at the barn and watch for her to join in on some lessons soon.

09/02/2026

We are grateful for the ongoing support that the Porter County Community Foundation continues to provide not only to Reins of Life, but to many local organizations!

09/01/2026

“ …getting to come out here, you're integrated back into society. You get to work with people, you get to know people, you get new resources that people connect with in your life." -Reins of Life’s South Bend Community Re-Entry Center Volunteer, Keith.

Thank you WSBT-TV for sharing with our community the hearts that share with us 🫶

08/28/2026

Huge thanks to Kabelin Ace Hardware Michigan City West and Kabelin Ace Hardware Michigan City East as well as our local community members who shop with them!

During the month of July they "Rounded up for Reins" at the cash register and we were presented with a donation of $1,154 today.

Your generosity makes a difference!

08/25/2026

Custard is out charming the wildlife and making friends with the local birds! If you didn't notice it at first look again at his back. We have seen this several times over the last couple of weeks and it has us wondering if Custard might be a Disney princess, or at least a Prince Charming, in disguise. ;)

08/21/2026

We are incredibly grateful to Notre Dame Federal Credit Union for visiting our facility and for their generous donation of tablets that will help enhance our programming and better support our riders and participants.
These tablets will provide valuable tools for conducting professional assessments of individual needs, including sensory assessments that can yield quantifiable data to help us better understand and support some of our participants. They will also give us access to helpful apps and communication tools for our nonverbal participants, creating more opportunities for engagement, expression, and connection.
Thank you, Notre Dame Federal Credit Union, for your time, generosity, and commitment to making a meaningful difference in our community. We are excited to put these wonderful resources to work!

08/19/2026

NOW OPEN the ROL Apparel Shop! Visit www.reinsoflife.org and click the “ROL Apparel Shop” button to explore and snag your swag! *Link in Bio*

08/19/2026

Seeing people and potential is what we do. We couldn’t ask for better people and support offered from our trusted South Bend Community Re-Entry Center. Our “Re-Entry. Enter Guys” have helped push our mission further and fuller through hard-work, compassion, and caring hearts. Thank you South Bend Tribune for highlighting such an important part of our team!

South Bend Community Re-Entry Center residents have their choice of 24 volunteer organizations. Reins of Life is "life-changing," volunteers say. See link below ⬇️

📸 Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune

08/13/2026

Our hearts are full and gratitude overflowing! Thank you Porter County Community Foundation and our community members for making these strides possible at Reins of Life!

AT EASE
Sarah participated in therapeutic riding lessons at Reins of Life for years. She loved being at the barn and around the horses, but lessons on horseback were a struggle because of her fear of heights. She required additional support and encouragement to get through each lesson.

Reins of Life improves the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities through equine-assisted therapy. Since 1978, the organization has provided a safe and enriching environment for individuals with a wide variety of diagnoses to participate in fun, educational, and therapeutic programs.

“During lessons, participants work with their equine partners, building horsemanship and practical skills for living and leading healthy lives,” said Dorota Janik, Executive Director. “Carriage driving gives our students a riding alternative, which opens up the world of horses to those who may be unable to ride.”

Sarah became the first to participate in the therapeutic carriage driving program when Reins of Life introduced it after years of preparation and training. Her experience transformed when she transitioned to carriage driving, where she was much more at ease. While instructors had previously negotiated with her to ride a little further, the opposite became true when Sarah drove a carriage, asking for more time at the end of the lessons.

Your philanthropy has helped Reins of Life expand and strengthen its therapeutic carriage driving program by supporting the purchase of a four-wheeled carriage. Thank you for being a part of this life-changing work.

Pictured: Dorota Janik