Horses, wellness and community support will come together June 6 during a fundraiser aimed at helping at-risk youth access equine-assisted therapy and mentorship programs.
Heart of the Horse Ranch and Friday Pilates will host “Ponies & Pilates” at 6:30 p.m. June 6 at the ranch. The event will raise money for the Ride Like Darne Scholarship, a program that helps provide equine-assisted therapy, riding opportunities and vocational experiences for youth in Tucson.
The event sold out quickly, according to Heart of the Horse founder and owner David Lavin, who said the idea came from one of the ranch’s riders who also operates a Pilates studio.
“She took it upon herself, along with one of the other staff members, to create a fundraiser for this scholarship program,” Lavin said.
“People who are in that world of Pilates and wellness can do a class here in the pasture with the horses and the proceeds go to the scholarship program.”
Every ticket purchased includes entry into a raffle for a free riding lesson at the ranch.
Heart of the Horse Ranch focuses on equine-assisted therapy programs for people experiencing trauma, addiction, mental health challenges and survivors of human trafficking and sex trafficking. Lavin, a licensed clinician, said the ranch’s mission is “connecting to ourselves and others through horses.”
Unlike traditional counseling settings, Lavin said horses help participants become more emotionally present and self-aware.
“The horse essentially is a very accurate descriptor and mind reader, a kind of reflector of your internal state,” Lavin said.
“People step into what’s uncomfortable, and the horse reinforces that through connection and presence.”
The scholarship program was established in 2017 to help provide affordable access to therapy and riding programs for community members who otherwise may not be able to afford them. One of the first scholarship recipients was Darne Jackson, who joined Heart of the Horse in 2019.
Lavin said Jackson struggled with drugs, gangs and behavioral issues before finding purpose and growth through the ranch’s programs and horses.
“Over the course of a couple of years, he really turned it around, and he became an example of what I hoped the scholarship would represent,” Lavin said.
Jackson was killed in 2022 in what Lavin described as a senseless act of gun violence. Following his death, the ranch established the Ride Like Darne Scholarship in his honor.
The scholarship now supports at-risk youth through horseback riding, equine-assisted therapy and opportunities to learn vocational skills such as woodworking, welding and ranch work.
“I think it’s the spirit of all that he represented that we carry on,” Lavin said. “He represents the kind of ethics, the way you treat people and the belief that change is possible.”
The ranch also raises scholarship funds through the sale of custom woodworking creations made from locally sourced mesquite. Items include dining tables, benches, bowls, cutting boards and epoxy creations handcrafted by Lavin and members of the ranch community.
“When I realized I could build pretty nice things, I started selling my furniture and those funds go into the Darne scholarship,” Lavin said.
Lavin said community support has become increasingly important as demand for services grows and operating costs continue to rise.
“Over the past couple of years, it’s become increasingly more difficult to provide those services to the number of people who want and need them,” Lavin said. “We’re looking at outside-the-box ways to continue helping folks.”
For Lavin, the ranch is about more than therapy sessions.
Some scholarship recipients gain work experience caring for horses, operating equipment or assisting with woodworking projects — skills Lavin said often help build confidence and stability outside the ranch.
“Some of the best progress I’ve seen is with some of the young people I’ve given jobs to here,” Lavin said. “Over time, some of those kids became pretty good at what they do.”
Lavin hopes events like Ponies & Pilates help raise awareness that alternatives to traditional therapy exist and can make a meaningful difference.
“I just want folks to know there are other options besides sitting in an office,” Lavin said. “The type of therapy here is therapy, but it’s unorthodox and provides some pretty remarkable results.”