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Julie Baker – Healing Heroes with Horses
Julie Baker, founder of Horses & Heroes, Inc., pairs traumatized rescue horses with military veterans, active-duty service members, first responders, and their families for mutual healing through equine-assisted psychotherapy[1][2]. Each horse in the program has its own story of abuse or neglect, and their journey to overcome trauma becomes a powerful metaphor for the people they help. By bringing together “discarded and traumatized” horses with individuals grappling with PTSD, anxiety, depression or loss of purpose, Baker has created a safe space where both humans and animals can rebuild trust, regain confidence, and find new purpose in life[3][4].
Early Inspiration and Finding Her “Why”
Julie Baker’s mission began with a 12-year-old girl and a wounded horse. Growing up, Julie was a passionate horse lover who rescued her first traumatized horse at just twelve years old[2]. The animal, a large dark thoroughbred named Jehdan, had been found starving and scarred in a vacant lot – “deprived of food and water” and so frightened he trembled around people[5]. Young Julie intuitively provided the basics – gentle care, food, shelter – and most importantly, patience and love. Over time, Jehdan learned to trust again. This profound experience of watching a broken horse heal “laid part of the foundation of Horses & Heroes”, showing Julie how trauma recovery requires safety, patience, and trust – the very same ingredients humans need to heal[6][7].
Years later, Julie became a Marine Corps spouse and mother of two Marines, giving her an insider’s perspective on the struggles military families face during and after service[1]. She saw friends and loved ones grapple with combat trauma, anxiety, depression, and the loss of identity that can accompany civilian transition, sometimes “suffering in silence”[8]. In 2010, tragedy struck closer to home when Julie’s stepmother – who had hidden her own anxiety and depression – died by suicide, underscoring the urgent need for better emotional support in her community[9]. Julie was working a corporate job at the time, feeling unfulfilled. A business coach challenged her to discover her deeper purpose – her “why” – the calling that truly ignited her passion[10]. Julie’s mind kept wandering back to that 12-year-old girl and her rescued horse, and she sensed a connection between healing horses and helping people.
In October 2014, following an impulsive Google search for “equine therapy,” Julie experienced an epiphany. She discovered a worldwide organization (EAGALA) teaching equine-assisted psychotherapy, and “within an hour, everything clicked”[11]. Overcome with emotion, she scribbled the name “Horses & Heroes” on a napkin and knew this had to be a nonprofit so that military families could access services at no cost[12]. Remarkably, that date – October 13, 2014 – coincided with her first daughter’s birthday and the anniversary of her stepmom’s passing[9]. Julie took it as a sign. In that moment, Horses & Heroes, Inc. was born as an idea, fueled by Julie’s conviction that her “why” in life was to rescue horses and people together. As she later observed, “when individuals uncover their ‘why,’ they tap into a powerful source of motivation” that can drive a transformative mission[10][4]. For Julie, this powerful vision became “a beacon of hope” – a way to reach others who felt adrift, by cultivating a haven where traumatized humans and horses could forge connections, rebuild trust, and heal**[4].
Founding Horses & Heroes
By early 2015, Julie had formally launched Horses & Heroes (H&H) in the Kansas City area[13]. Starting a veteran-serving nonprofit from scratch was no small feat – especially in a field (equine therapy) that was then “largely unknown and misunderstood”[14]. She was stepping into a predominantly male arena of veteran service organizations, but her unique approach quickly attracted like-minded supporters. H&H’s mission has remained clear and steadfast: “to provide the healing and learning benefits of equine-assisted therapies to military, first responders & their families,” with a focus on trauma recovery[15]. All services are offered free of charge to those they serve, since Julie knew many military families couldn’t afford out-of-pocket therapy[16]. As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, H&H relies on grants and community donations to cover program costs so that every veteran or first responder who needs help can access it[16][17].
From the beginning, Horses & Heroes distinguished itself from more traditional equine programs. It is not recreational riding or basic horsemanship lessons – it is clinical therapy guided by professionals, done entirely on the ground. Each session is a team effort, typically involving the client (or clients), one or more horses, a licensed mental health practitioner, and a certified equine specialist who understands horse behavior[18]. Clients do not ride the horses at H&H; instead, they might groom them, lead them through exercises, or simply interact in a paddock or arena. This ground-based, experiential approach allows the person to engage with the horse as an equal, observing and learning from the animal’s responses[19]. “The whole point is to study the horse for your own healing,” explains Julie’s daughter Nicole, a former Marine who now works with H&H[18]. The concept is that horses serve as living mirrors – responding to human emotions and energy – and thus can reveal things about our feelings and behaviors that talk therapy alone might not[20]. Because horses are highly intuitive, social herd animals with keen emotional intelligence, they often sense a client’s inner turmoil or calmness and react in ways that spark insight[20][19]. For example, if a person is anxious or angry upon entering the corral, the horse may become skittish or distant; as the person learns to relax and trust, the horse might come closer or show gentle curiosity. These interactions become metaphors in therapy – teaching clients about boundaries, communication, trust, and emotional regulation in real time.
Crucially, all therapy horses at H&H are rescues themselves. Julie purposely rescues horses that have been “abused, neglected, injured, or unable to work”, giving them a second chance and a new job as healers[21][22]. She noticed early on a “very strong correlation between how horses deal with trauma…and how people deal with trauma”[23]. A horse that has been beaten or starved may become distrustful, “jumpy” or shut-down – much like a person who has experienced abuse or combat trauma[23]. Bringing these two populations together – traumatized horses and traumatized humans – creates a unique synergy. As Nicole Lavine puts it, Julie “realized that [the horses] needed the same things our people need” to heal: time, patience, safety, and a chance to rebuild trust at their own pace[6][23]. Horses & Heroes was founded on this parallel: “Rescued Horses Healing Heroes.” Now in its second decade, the organization has refined a trauma-informed methodology that blends evidence-based mental health practices with the intuitive wisdom of horses[16][24].
How Equine Therapy Heals Trauma
In practice, an equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) session at Horses & Heroes might look very different from a typical counseling office visit. Rather than sitting on a couch, clients find themselves in a barn or pasture, interacting with horses under the guidance of the therapy team. Why horses? As prey animals, horses are extremely attuned to nonverbal cues and emotional states – their survival in the wild depends on sensing predators and maintaining group harmony. This makes them highly sensitive to human moods and energy, a trait which therapists can harness for healing. Research has shown that being around horses can have measurable calming effects on people: for instance, a horse’s larger heart emits a magnetic field that can help regulate a human’s heart rate and stress responses, inducing calm[20]. Clients often report that the presence of a 1,000-pound animal requires them to be mindful and grounded in the moment, reducing dissociation or anxious racing thoughts. Additionally, horses provide instant, honest feedback – they don’t judge by past labels or stigma, but they react to how a person is right now. If a client is tense or aggressive, a horse may balk or back away; if the client becomes centered and empathetic, the horse is likely to approach and connect. This feedback helps individuals recognize and modulate their own emotions and behaviors in real time.
Another healing element is the bond of trust and connection that develops. Many clients who come to H&H feel isolated, distrustful, or emotionally numb due to trauma. Building a relationship with a horse – an animal that doesn’t speak, but communicates volumes through behavior – can break through emotional walls. Clients often see themselves in the horse’s story. “We realized they need the same things our people need…they heal on their own timeline”, Julie says of the rescue horses, noting that you cannot rush the healing process for either species[6]. This understanding fosters patience and self-compassion in clients: as they nurture the horses, they learn to nurture themselves. The H&H team uses structured exercises and metaphors during sessions as well. For example, a veteran struggling with hypervigilance might work on guiding a horse through an obstacle course – an activity that requires focus, calm leadership, and trust, thereby addressing control issues and anxiety in a symbolic way. A family reeling from a first responder’s trauma might jointly groom a horse, learning to communicate and cooperate nonverbally. With skilled facilitation, these encounters lead to “profound emotional insights, renewed hope, and authentic healing” for the participants[19]. Clients regularly discover personal breakthroughs – recognizing unspoken feelings, mourning losses, or rebuilding trust – all evoked by the horse’s presence and feedback.
Over the years, Horses & Heroes has gathered compelling outcome data to validate its approach. Using pre- and post-program mental health assessments, they have documented “clinically significant improvements” after just 8 weeks of equine therapy – with many clients reporting reduced PTSD symptoms, less debilitating anxiety and depression, and even a “significant decline in suicidal thoughts”[24]. These numbers echo the heartfelt testimonials H&H receives. Participants describe not only feeling better, but becoming “better versions of themselves”, with improved relationships and coping skills[24]. One police officer who attended an H&H session admitted he had been “voluntold” to go by his department and arrived extremely skeptical. Yet by the end of the workshop, he was in tears, hugging a horse that had chosen to stand by him. “I don’t know what kind of voodoo this is,” he said emotionally, “but something shifted inside me today.” Such stories, while anecdotal, are common at Horses & Heroes – even the most resistant individuals often form a meaningful connection with the animals and experience a therapeutic breakthrough. The horses, it seems, have a way of “standing quietly with you and letting you express your emotions…not leaving you”, which for many trauma survivors is a profound and novel experience of comfort and acceptance.
Serving Those Who Serve – Impact on Veterans and First Responders
The “heroes” in Horses & Heroes are the men and women who have sacrificed for their community or country and now seek healing for themselves. H&H specifically targets military veterans, active-duty personnel, law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, and their immediate family members – populations that experience high rates of chronic stress and trauma. Many have been through combat, violent emergencies, or cumulative workplace trauma (sometimes termed “Repeated Exposure Trauma”) and as a result may face PTSD, depression, substance abuse, family breakdown, or other fallout[25][26]. Traditional talk therapy or medication alone doesn’t work for everyone. What Horses & Heroes offers is an alternative path to recovery, one that can re-engage those who are “stuck” or distrustful of conventional therapy. The program’s culture is very welcoming to those from military and first responder backgrounds – many of H&H’s staff and volunteers are veterans or family members themselves, and even the horses are given honorary ranks as “battle buddies” in the healing process.
A typical client might be a veteran who hasn’t felt truly calm or safe since returning from deployment, or a firefighter’s spouse coping with secondhand trauma. These individuals often carry invisible wounds. At H&H, they find a judgment-free refuge. Some start with a structured 8-week therapy program (usually one session per week), while others first attend a short introductory workshop or group retreat. Horses & Heroes even invites any veteran to simply come out and spend time with the horses by appointment, recognizing the innate therapeutic benefit of bonding with the animals in a low-stress setting[27]. Whether in a group or one-on-one setting, clients frequently remark on how the horses make them feel surprisingly peaceful and present, allowing them to open up about painful memories or feelings that they’d buried. The nonverbal nature of the experience is key – a horse doesn’t ask you to talk about your trauma, yet brushing a horse’s coat or walking quietly side by side often lowers a person’s guard. As trust grows – both trusting the horse and the therapy team – clients may find the courage to confront their issues. Family members have participated too, with H&H offering sessions for couples, children, or whole families to heal together. These sessions can rebuild communication and empathy at home, influenced by what the horses reveal in the family dynamics.
One first responder described his time at Horses & Heroes as the first time he felt “completely present and at peace” since a horrible incident years prior – because the horse demanded his presence in the moment, quelling his hyper-alert mind. Another veteran shared that after his equine sessions, his nightmares lessened and he found himself “better able to interact with my family in a positive way”, crediting the horses for teaching him patience and emotional awareness[28]. Such outcomes underscore why programs like H&H are so valuable for the veteran/first responder community. They fill a gap by addressing the physiological and relational aspects of trauma, not just the cognitive aspects[29]. Julie, who earned a Master’s degree in Neuroscience & Trauma to deepen her understanding, emphasizes educating clients about how trauma affects the nervous system and the body[30]. H&H’s workshops and materials teach that post-traumatic stress is not “all in your head” – it’s a natural response of brain and body to overwhelming events, and healing must involve the body (through movement, breath, and yes, interaction with animals) as much as the mind[31]. This holistic perspective resonates strongly with people who have felt misunderstood by traditional approaches.
Beyond individual therapy, Horses & Heroes has become a trusted resource for various agencies in the Kansas City region. Julie and her team frequently partner with peer support units from police and fire departments, offering debriefing sessions after critical incidents and resilience workshops to prevent burnout. They have provided training for the trainers, helping first responder peer counselors experience equine therapy themselves so they can encourage their colleagues to try it. Word-of-mouth referrals are growing – it’s not uncommon for one firefighter to attend, then send five of his buddies after telling them how much it helped. As one testimonial noted, “They have given me multiple tools to get past whatever I’m dealing with… and it’s helped me drastically”[28]. In a field where skepticism of counseling runs high, Horses & Heroes has found a way to reach those who might otherwise never seek help, by meeting them outside the clinic and alongside a horse.
Challenges, Growth, and the Road Ahead
While the impacts have been inspiring, running a trauma-focused nonprofit with 1,200-pound therapy animals is inherently challenging. Julie Baker often jokes that if she had known how hard it would be, she might have hesitated – but passion and purpose carried her through many obstacles. In the early years, she continued working a full-time corporate job to pay her bills and quietly fund H&H’s start-up expenses[32]. Equine therapy required special training and insurance; horses needed care and feed; facilities had to be secured. Every step required creative problem-solving. Initially, H&H operated out of a large public boarding stable where Julie kept her own horses (including a rescued mare Mama and her foal Baby)[33]. However, doing private therapy sessions in a busy boarding barn proved difficult – confidentiality was hard to maintain with boarders coming and going[33]. Sensing the need for a more secluded setting, Julie prayed for a solution. Amazingly, a local landowner reached out to offer a vacant 12-acre horse farm in Shawnee, KS free of charge for H&H’s use[34]. This generous act allowed Horses & Heroes to establish a dedicated home where the program could grow.
That Shawnee farm became H&H’s base for about six years, and it provided the peace and privacy they needed – but it was far from luxurious. The facility was rustic and bare-bones, lacking indoor plumbing, running hot water, or heated spaces for winter[34]. In fact, the team made do with a portable toilet that “would tip over in a stiff wind”, and they braved the Midwest summers and winters without climate control[35]. “It was very rustic – that’s being generous,” Julie laughs. Yet, despite these hardships, the vision never wavered. Staff and volunteers bundled up in coats or powered through mud and muck, keeping the focus on the healing happening between horses and clients. “The programs flourished, reflecting the resilience of the horses and those involved,” Julie recounts of those early days[33][36]. By 2021, however, their gracious host needed to sell the Shawnee property, and H&H once again faced uncertainty and potential homelessness[37]. Julie and her husband Rob made a pivotal decision: to purchase a property themselves to ensure the nonprofit’s future. In late 2022, they invested in a 10-acre farm in Leavenworth County, KS, which is now the permanent home of Horses & Heroes[37]. After a year of hard work building facilities, H&H finally has what Julie calls “a space that offers shelter for the horses, warm areas for people, and – perhaps most importantly – two bathrooms that won’t blow over!”[38]. This marked a new chapter of stability for the organization.
With a reliable home and an ever-growing reputation, Horses & Heroes is poised for the future – but sustainability remains a constant concern. Providing top-quality, no-cost therapy with professional staff and well-cared-for horses is expensive. “People are coming from across Kansas and Missouri to seek help, and it costs H&H more than $2,000 per person for their sessions,” Julie explains[17]. The nonprofit must raise those funds through grants, fundraisers and donations. Government funding for such programs is limited, and insurance generally does not reimburse equine therapy, so H&H relies on the generosity of the community and private foundations. The need is only increasing: every week, new applications come in from veterans or first responders seeking help. Horses & Heroes humbly encourages supporters to contribute small regular donations – even $20 a month – to help cover the mounting costs of licensed therapists, equine specialists, and horse care[17]. As Julie puts it, “this ever-increasing need for financial support is deeply felt”[17]. They have also begun offering fee-based group workshops for organizations (such as corporate team-building or specialized retreats for departments) as a way to generate revenue that in turn subsidizes the free services for their core demographic[39].
Another ongoing challenge is simply awareness and understanding. Even today, some people initially dismiss the idea of therapy with horses as “fluffy” or strange. H&H tackles this by collecting data, sharing success stories, and sometimes just inviting skeptics to come meet the horses. Seeing is believing, and one can’t help but be moved watching a formerly withdrawn veteran laughing as a curious horse nuzzles his shoulder, or a teenager with a trauma history gently leading a mini horse around and grinning for the first time in months. One of H&H’s beloved miniature horses, Henry, has become a local celebrity of sorts – a “traveling ambassador” who eagerly visits nursing homes, shelters, and hospitals, even riding elevators to bring joy to those who can’t visit the farm[40]. Dressed in funny costumes for holidays, Henry the mini therapy horse never fails to draw smiles and shine a spotlight on the healing power of human-animal connection. By touching lives outside the ranch, Henry and the H&H team are helping more people understand and accept equine therapy’s value.
How to Get Involved and Support the Mission
Julie Baker’s ultimate vision is to expand Horses & Heroes’ “haven for healing and restoration” to as many who need it as possible[4]. As H&H looks to the future, there are several ways the community can get involved:
Military/Veteran/First Responder Families in Need: If you or someone you know could benefit from Horses & Heroes, reach out! The H&H website (horsesandheroes.org) has an easy online application for services[41][42]. There is typically a waitlist due to high demand, but new clients are enrolled as funding permits. No one is turned away for inability to pay, and all information is kept confidential. H&H also partners with various veteran organizations and departments – so leaders in those communities can refer colleagues and employees to the program.
Donations: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Horses & Heroes depends on charitable contributions. Donations go directly toward sponsoring a hero’s therapy sessions or caring for the therapy horses (feed, veterinary bills, facility upkeep). It costs about $2,000 to put one participant through the core 8-session program, so individuals or businesses can “sponsor a hero” by covering that cost[17]. Even smaller donations are valuable – H&H encourages monthly giving, noting that a broad base of supporters giving $10–$50 a month provides a steady lifeline for the program[43]. There are also opportunities to sponsor a specific horse (many of which have touching backstories) or contribute to capital improvements (like building new paddocks or an indoor arena for year-round sessions).
Volunteering: H&H welcomes volunteers for a range of roles. If you love horses or just want to support veterans, you can help with horse care, barn chores, facility maintenance, fundraising events, or administrative tasks. Experienced horse handlers can train to assist in therapy sessions as side-walkers or equine buddies. There are also periodic “work days” where groups help with painting fences, mowing, or construction projects – a great way for civic groups or companies to give back. Volunteers are crucial to keeping the operation running, and they get the reward of seeing lives changed up close.
Community Partnerships: Julie believes in collaboration with other nonprofits and agencies. She often notes that Kansas City has many great organizations and that working together yields the best outcomes[44]. Horses & Heroes seeks partnerships with traditional therapy providers, hospitals, veteran service organizations, and even schools to create a continuum of care. Local businesses and civic leaders can also step up by providing grants, in-kind support (for example, hay donations or building materials), or by inviting H&H to speak at events. Raising awareness is key – the more people hear about the successes of equine therapy, the more H&H can grow its impact.
As Horses & Heroes enters its 12th year, Julie Baker’s journey from a little girl saving a horse to a woman saving countless heroes has come full circle. She has proven that when you follow your “why” and persevere, you can transform not only your own life but the lives of others. The organization she built embodies her core lessons: healing is a process that cannot be rushed, trust is earned through patience and compassion, and sometimes the most profound therapists have four legs and a tail. In Julie’s words, “our efforts and dedicated services are creating transformative, life-changing impacts for those we serve,” even though the path has not been easy[24][32]. Standing in a barn in Kansas, watching veterans and first responders find new hope alongside rescued horses, one can’t help but feel that Horses & Heroes is something truly special – a testament to the resilience of the human (and equine) spirit.
Through the vision of Julie Baker and the silent strength of her horses, “Rescued Horses Healing Heroes” is no longer just a catchphrase – it’s a daily reality for many who have found peace and purpose thanks to Horses & Heroes[4]. Every day, as another hero walks into the arena with pain in their heart and walks out with a bit more light in their eyes, Julie’s early question of “what is my purpose?” is answered. It’s answered in the nickers of the horses, the tears and hugs of the clients, and the newfound calm on a once-troubled face. It turns out, her purpose was waiting in the barn all along.
Sources
Kansas! Magazine – “Horses and Heroes” (2019) – Cecilia Harris[1][18]
VoyageKC Magazine – “Daily Inspiration: Meet Julie Baker” (Nov 17, 2025)[2][11][17][24]
Horses & Heroes – BetterUnite Profile (Organization info and team)[25][40]
[1] [3] [18] [20] [23] [27] Horses and Heroes | KANSAS! Magazine
https://www.travelks.com/kansas-magazine/articles/post/horses-and-heroes/
[2] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [14] [16] [17] [19] [24] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [43] Daily Inspiration: Meet Julie Baker - VoyageKC Magazine
https://voyagekc.com/interview/daily-inspiration-meet-julie-baker/
[13] [25] [26] [40] [42] Horses and Heroes Inc | BetterUnite
https://app.betterunite.com/horsesandheroesinc-alwayson
[15] [21] [22] About | Www.HorsesandHeroes.org
https://www.horsesandheroes.org/about
[28] [39] Horse Therapy | Www.HorsesandHeroes.org
https://www.horsesandheroes.org/
[41] [44] closed_caption.txt
file://file_000000008c1871f585cdab1fe29f334a
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