Getting a scholarship was a miracle for us.

Written by Maddie's Mother

To the amazing donors that made it possible for my daughter to experience Bridle Up Hope,

I want to personally thank all those who have donated to Bridle Up Hope. Without your huge contributions, my daughter would not have been able to experience a life-changing and healing opportunity.

I heard about Bridle Up Hope at one of the most stressful times of my and my family’s life. I had just filed for divorce, and we had just moved out of our family home and in with my parents. We moved to a new city, and my kids had to change schools and move away from all of their friends.

My daughter was really struggling. I saw a booth set up at an event I went to, and it had horses on it. My daughter has been obsessed with horses since she was 2 years old. So I went up to find out more, and it was Bridle Up Hope. I grabbed some pamphlets and took them home. I read it and knew my daughter had to do this. I went on the Bridle Up Hope website, and when I saw the full price of the program, I was heartbroken. There was no way I could afford it. I was a substitute teacher and already had massive debt from lawyer fees that were adding up every week. I knew my soon-to-be-ex would not pay for it.

My daughter has been through a lot of horrible experiences that are too personal to share, but because of them, she now suffers from anxiety, which has caused her to miss a lot of school and fun activities. I was trying everything I could think of to help her, but nothing was helping.

So I submitted an application to Bridle Up Hope and asked if there was any possible way she could get a major scholarship. I prayed so hard every day, and a week later, I heard back that my daughter had been accepted with a scholarship! I couldn’t believe it! I cried and knew this was a miracle and an answer to my prayers, and I knew my daughter was meant to go.

I saw a huge change in my daughter after every lesson at Bridle Up Hope. When I would pick her up, she would chat my ear off the entire way home, and she would be grinning from ear to ear. She loved her instructor Savannah. Savannah became my daughter’s confidant and friend. My daughter loved being around horses and loved grooming them and taking care of them, but especially loved riding them. She looked forward to each of her lessons and wished they could last all day.

My heart is overflowing with gratitude for this amazing program. It provided exactly what my daughter has needed at this very hard time in her life. This program provided what no one else was able to provide. My daughter has healed in many ways. She has gained her self-confidence back. She has found her smile again. She has been able to work through and manage her stress better. Bridle Up Hope gave her a place to let life’s problems disappear, and to help her relax and have fun.

I would like to personally thank the donors who made it possible for my daughter to go to Bridle Up Hope. I would like to personally thank Bridle Up Hope for their program to help girls, just like my daughter, through the hardest times of their lives. I would like to personally thank Savannah for helping my daughter to feel loved and important. Thank you for opening up your heart to my daughter and for being there for her. Thank you for teaching her some amazing and powerful life-changing lessons.

My daughter and I will forever be grateful to all of you.

Names changed to protect privacy