RISE 2026 Underway

Our second year of RISE welcomed veterans and first responders from the Missouri Department of Corrections (MO DOC) to the barn today for a different kind of experience, one centered on slowing down, reconnecting, and discovering what can happen when there is space to simply be.

RISE—Restore in Stillness and Equines—was created for those who spend their lives serving others. The program began as a pilot in 2025 as an extension of our Equine Services for Heroes program, after the MO DOC reached out to see how Ride On St. Louis could help. Through intentional time with horses, guided activities, and a setting removed from the demands of a stressful work life, participants are given the opportunity to pause, reconnect and restore.

Today was just the beginning of a three-day RISE experience. There were introductions, new experiences, horses to meet, and plenty of moments that didn't need to be filled with words. As participants began building the foundation for skills and interactions with their equine partners, we saw the first small signs of what this program was created to make possible: connection without pressure, reflection without expectation, and a little room to breathe in the beautiful surroundings of our Forever Home.

Day one won't tell the whole story. We're looking forward to seeing where these first steps lead. Please check our pages on Facebook and Instagram for more horse program moments!