“I keep coming to Giant Steps
because I love the people
and the animals,
and the great affection
I witness between both.”
-A Giant Steps Team Member
“I keep coming to Giant Steps
because I love the people
and the animals,
and the great affection
I witness between both.”
-A Giant Steps Team Member
Every year, hundreds of people come to Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center, wanting to break down barriers that may keep them from reaching their full potential. We serve people representing a wide a range of ages, disabilities, and needs. Through our equine therapy programs, we assist them in achieving their physical, mental, and social goals to lead richer, more independent lives.
As a nonprofit, we rely on our generous donors and dedicated team of volunteers to create a safe space and provide enriching and enjoyable programs. Joining Giant Steps is ultimately about joining an inclusive community, where different people connect and champion for each other’s success.
Giant Steps is dedicated to enriching lives through the power of horses, team and community. Through the excellence of our equine assisted programs, people of all ages, means, and challenges experience the extraordinary benefits of therapeutic riding and activities.
Giant Steps strives to create a culture of belonging by fostering an inclusive, safe, and affirming community for the people we serve and for our horses. Our commitment to equity and inclusion cuts across ability, race, gender, and backgrounds, ensuring a rich diversity of voices that are respected and fully represented. By bringing together people of different abilities and life experiences, we grow, learn, and make our program and our community stronger.
At Giant Steps, we strongly believe that all people can break down barriers to lead richer, more independent lives, regardless of the disabilities or challenges they may face. We have harnessed the therapeutic power of horses since 1998 to help people of all ages overcome their physical, emotional, behavioral, cognitive and developmental challenges. Since then, the clients we’ve served have represented more than 60 distinct disabilities and challenges as well as members of our military.
At times, people come to Giant Steps for more than therapy. They also want an enjoyable, social activity and a place to connect with others. Programs we offer range from mounted therapeutic riding classes to ground equine facilitated learning lessons that help clients improve their physical strength and also enhance their emotional and social capabilities. Over the years we have experienced many stories of transformation, seen our clients become physically stronger, more socially engaged, and emotionally aware. This is what drives us.
Beyond our quality programming, Giant Steps is also about community. We work to create a safe space where people can come and share their experiences with other families. It’s a place where, regardless of the disabilities or challenges people may be experiencing, they have the opportunity to bond with our horses, our dedicated instructors and volunteers, and other like-minded people who are all championing for their success. Here, one person’s success is a success for the entire Giant Steps community.
We are proud to be accredited as a Premier Accredited Center by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International, aka PATH International. Being accredited by PATH International means that we go above and beyond to hold ourselves to a higher standard of care. We work tirelessly to maintain our accreditation so that our clients feel assured they are getting the possible treatment.
What PATH accreditation ensures:
Ali (short for Aldente) was born in 1997 and joined Giant Steps in Summer 2019. An Oldenburg and a retired dressage superstar, she is loving her new life as a therapeutic riding horse. Ali is on lease to us from her owner Patricia Hart through her trainer Tracey Hill. Ali is unflappable and eager to bring along our riders. She has a ton of training and teaches how to use every aid with precision. Ali teaches determination.
Belle, a Belgian cross, was born in 2004 and joined Giant Steps in 2017. She came to us from the family of one of our previous riders, and loves the attention of the busy Giant Steps Mabie Barn. She is the biggest mare in the barn (and has the biggest hooves!), but is a gentle giant. Belle’s stature can be intimidating, but those who ride her find that she is willing and kind, giving them a sense of confidence. Belle teaches growth.
A Morgan, Corky was born in 1993, and joined Giant Steps at the age of 17. They say opposites attract; unlike his best friend Darren, Corky likes to stir things up in the herd, and enjoys bossing the other horses around. He does especially well with riders who need to work on balance, and thrives with an audience. Corky teaches strength.
Ellie, a Connemara pony, was born in 2005, and joined Giant Steps in 2018. Ellie may be the smallest horse in the barn, but she is strong and very eager to please. She has a background in dressage, but she willingly does whatever is asked of her. She loves being groomed, and it can take a while with the thick mane and tail that she has. Her favorite treat is peppermint Tums. Ellie teaches loyalty.
A Zangershiede, Excel was born in 1995, and joined Giant Steps at the age of 17. He was awarded the Region 11 PATH Horse of the Year in 2016, and is one of our steadiest horses. His easy-going nature appeals to a variety of riders, and he stands out as being a friendly "therapist" who creates a special bond with many of our students. Excel teaches communication.
Nicker was born in 2001 and joined Giant Steps in late spring 2018. He was a working ranch horse for many years and then a western show horse. Despite his rugged upbringing, he is the sweetest horse you will ever meet. He loves to snuggle and adores both human and equine companionship. He really does nicker when a friend comes or goes from the barn. Nicker teaches kindness.
Pierre came to Giant Steps from a family with a long history of supporting Giant Steps. His human “grandpa” volunteered with our program when Giant Steps was just turning 10 years old. His owner started volunteering at Giant Steps as soon as she was old enough, and her parents are loyal supporters. So when Pierre’s jumping career was coming to an end it was the natural choice for him to become a therapy horse, and luckily he is perfectly suited for the job. This Selle Francais is an unassuming Frenchman. He loves people and aims to please. Pierre is a true professional. Beautifully trained, he willingly complies with his rider’s instructions, even when they are not quite clear. Just like his human family, Pierre teaches generosity.
In January 2020, Beautiful Soul, aka “Souly” came to uQs from the US Park Police where he patrolled the Presidio, Marin Headlands and Golden Gate Recreation Area. Souly is a Thoroughbred who started life as a racehorse. After he was retired from racing he jumped for a few years before joining the US Park Police. Souly’s diverse history has prepared him for his current career as a therapy horse. He acclimated to life at Giant Steps quickly and is trusting and sweet with everyone he works with. Souly teaches diversity.
Born at Giant Steps in 2001, Scarlet is a Tennessee Walker, and the Grand Dame of the barn. Scarlet is a benevolent leader and she carefully protects her rider as one of her own. Scarlet teaches confidence.
Tiki is an Arabian, born in 2002, who came to Giant Steps in Summer 2017 from Tamber Bey Vineyards. Tiki was an endurance horse for many years and has covered a lot of miles on a lot of trails. He easily transitioned to arena riding, and does everything with flare and elegance. All of our riders have different strengths and ways of doing things, and Tiki teaches everyone how to do it all with style.
Toni Forsberg, Chair
Global Director of Human Resources; Medtronic
Dean McCauley, Treasurer
Retired Partner; Ernst & Young LLP
Debra Beresini, Secretary
Co-Owner; Black Dog Ranch
CEO; invencor, inc.
Abra Annes Sills
Founder; Generosity Auctions
Julie Atwood
Director; HALTER Project
Ben Karpilow
Attorney; Meechan, Rosenthal & Karpilow, PC
Cindi Pérez
Chief Operating Officer: Stifel Investment Services
Christina Wang
Occupational Medicine; The Permanente Medical Group
The geometric horse in Giant Steps’ logo is a representation of the multi-faceted nature of Giant Steps program – in the types of programming we offer, the range of individuals we serve, the mix of people who make the program possible, and the variety of horses in our barn. The horse has been dubbed “Hero” because each of our clients, horses, and volunteers is a hero. The name has the added benefit of being easy to pronounce, which is a factor for many of our clients.
Robert Pope and Lee Justice were enjoying their retirement after moving from the Bay Area to Montana, where they raised Tennessee Walkers. One day a friend told them about the benefits of horseback riding for children with physical and mental disabilities. Robert and Lee realized they had the time and resources to create a therapeutic riding center, an idea that felt right to them.
In 1996, they sold their ranch and brought their 12 horses to Petaluma. They spent the next two years building three barns, a riding arena and a training arena on 23 acres. They moved their offices into a small home on the property, got their nonprofit status approved, and looked for a staff. “One day, someone — I’ll never know who — put a blurb in a cerebral palsy support group newsletter, and the phone started ringing off the hook,” said Pope.
The program began with 10 riders and 19 volunteers, and today has grown to accommodate over 130 riders per week and now offers programs for veterans and active service member families. For their work with Giant Steps, Bob and Lee were awarded the prestigious “Jefferson Award for Public Service” from the Institute of Nonprofit Leadership in Washington D.C. in 2006. A year later, they received the “Real Heroes” award from the American Red Cross. Robert and Lee remained supportive of the program until their deaths in 2014.