What courses are available in The Academy?

Essentials : includes everything needed to launch or strengthen an equine mentorship program Healing-Based Horsemanship 1 : our unique philosophy and approach to helping humans heal with horses

How much do Academy courses cost?

Our goal is to provide high-value content at a low price point to enable as many participants as possible to enroll. Courses are priced at $300 per course. With the purchase of a course, learners receive their first year of Academy membership for free. Please note that the registration fee is not considered a tax-deductible donation.

Why should I join The Academy? How would I benefit?

The Academy Membership is a one-year subscription included free with the purchase of your first course. Membership renews annually after the first year. Member Benefits : Opportunities for gaining clarity and direction for your calling to this work Exclusive access to courses and resources Ongoing support and community connection Expanded content and special events Online support and onboarding

Contact us at TheAcademy@hopereins.org.

Hope Reins' Academy

We train others to bring hope and healing to their communities through The Academy, an online learning community. The Academy provides valuable knowledge, tools, and resources Hope Reins has amassed for more than 15 years as a leading nonprofit ranch ministry.

We’re so happy you’re here!

I’M READY TO REGISTER

The Academy Offers Two Courses:

Essentials: everything needed to launch or strengthen your equine mentorship program—so more kids can heal in your community.
Healing-Based Horsemanship: our unique philosophy and approach to helping humans heal with horses – empowering you to bring hope to your community.

The Essentials Course:
Healing-Based Horsemanship:

The Essentials Course:

Essentials: Build and Strengthen Your Nonprofit Ranch Ministry

Essentials is structured around three foundational areas: Business, Leadership, and Operations—each of the 21 modules crafted to cover key concepts for beginners and best practices for enhancing an existing program. Plus, Essentials includes book recommendations, articles, and additional training resources, along with exclusive BONUS videos and resources from our strategic partner, Mission Triangle.

Course Topics

Healing-Based Horsemanship:

Healing-Based Horsemanship 1: You and the Horse

Healing-Based Horsemanship, teaches you our specialized approach to training horses as partners in the healing process for trauma recovery, through five core topics: Framework, Fundamentals, Trust, Boundaries, Communication, and Leadership. Each of the 20 modules is designed to build necessary mindsets and skills, helping you and your horse connect deeply and relationally—making this approach unique from other natural horsemanship philosophies.

Course Topics

Who Should Enroll in The Academy?

You are dreaming about starting a program similar to Hope Reins.

You want to learn how to better connect with your own horse.

You would like to strengthen your similar ministry program that is already open.

You want to help humans heal with horses.

Why Join Hope Reins Academy?

Clarity and Direction for Your Calling

Discern if God is calling you to this important work and build a personalized roadmap for the journey ahead, with guidance from seasoned mentors. Gain confidence in your direction!

Exclusive Course Access & Resources

Enjoy a full year of access to your purchased course(s) and all accompanying materials—helping you revisit and deepen your understanding as you grow. Feel empowered and equipped with increased knowledge, skills, and tools.

Ongoing Support & Community Connection

Connect directly with the Hope Reins team and Academy community, where you can exchange ideas, brainstorm, and gain valuable insights with fellow learners.

Expanded Content & Special Events

Get access to bonus resources, exclusive virtual events, and new content from The Academy—continued support you on your journey.

Dedicated Online Support & Onboarding

Enjoy the convenience and flexibility of the online learning format. Experience seamless onboarding and receive technical support when you need it, so nothing stands between you and your mission.

Read the Academy FAQ

Clarity and Direction for Your Calling
Exclusive Course Access & Resources
Ongoing Support & Community Connection
Expanded Content & Special Events
Dedicated Online Support & Onboarding

Read the Academy FAQ

Cost: $300 per course

Unlock Your First Year of Academy Membership—FREE with Course Purchase!

(Purchase one or both courses, and enjoy complimentary Academy membership for a full year! After that, renew for only $50 annually.)

Yes! I’m ready to register for The Academy.

Questions? TheAcademy@hopereins.org

The Academy is an online learning community that contains valuable knowledge, tools, and resources that Hope Reins has developed over 15 years as a leading nonprofit ranch ministry. The Academy’s mission is to train others to bring hope and healing to their communities, which is an extension of Hope Reins’ vision to provide true hope and real healing for every child.

We want to support people launching their own ranch ministries to make a larger impact on the mental health crisis among kids. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened an already severe global mental health crisis for children and teens, creating an urgent need for programs like Hope Reins. To date, children from 16 counties in North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina have benefited from Hope Reins’ services.

As the nation’s leading provider of faith-based equine mentorship, Hope Reins has a proven, replicable model for helping children heal from trauma. Inspired by the awareness generated by the bestselling book Joey, we’ve received inquiries from across the country and around the world about starting similar programs.

In 2019, we launched an introductory training class that has been impactful but only begins to address the growing need. Feeling a clear calling from God, our board and leadership team are committed to providing a comprehensive training program to equip others.

Essentials: includes everything needed to launch or strengthen an equine mentorship program
Healing-Based Horsemanship 1: our unique philosophy and approach to helping humans heal with horses

Our goal is to provide high-value content at a low price point to enable as many participants as possible to enroll.

Courses are priced at $300 per course.
With the purchase of a course, learners receive their first year of Academy membership for free.
Please note that the registration fee is not considered a tax-deductible donation.

Essentials will equip you to start or strengthen a nonprofit ranch ministry like Hope Reins. The course covers three key areas—Business, Leadership, and Operations—with modules designed for beginners and those enhancing existing programs. Through 21 videos, you’ll gain strategic insights, actionable steps, book recommendations, articles, and additional resources. Essentials also includes bonus content from our partner, Mission Triangle.

Course Modules:
Business Essentials

1. Setting Your Strategic Vision
2. Be a Legitimate Nonprofit
3. Board Development
4. Business Planning: Why Plan?
5. Business Planning: How to Plan
6. Technical Infrastructure
7. Fundraising Fundamentals
8. Engaging & Growing Champions
9. Marketing & Communications

Leadership Essentials

10. Calling
11. Competency
12. Communication
13. Character

Operations Essentials

14. Property: Development & Setup
15. Horses: Finding & Selecting
16. Horses: Care & Training Basics
17. Volunteers: Culture & Structure
18. Volunteers: Finding, Training & Managing
19. Programs: Developing a Trauma Mindset
20. Client Selection & Management
21. Planning a Great Session

Healing-Based Horsemanship 1 invites you to explore the transformative connection between horses and humans. In this course, you’ll discover our specialized approach to training horses as partners in trauma recovery. With 20 modules across six core topics—Framework, Fundamentals, Trust, Boundaries, Communication, and Leadership—you’ll develop essential mindsets and skills to build deep, relational connections with your horse. This unique relational approach sets Healing-Based Horsemanship apart from traditional horsemanship philosophies.

Course Modules:

Framework

1. Mindset Over Method
2. Why Horses Help Us Heal
3. What is Your Horse’s Job?
4. Our Healing-Based Horsemanship Story
5. The Four Truths

Fundamentals

6. Terms & Tools
7. Mechanics
8. The Right Horse for the Job

Trust

9. Two-Way Trust
10. Your Horse’s Story Matters
11. The Relationship-Ready Horse

Communication

12. Inviting a Conversation
13. Listening to Understand
14. Bringing Your Voice

Boundaries

15. Defining Boundaries with Horses
16. Practicing Boundaries with Clarity & Connection

Leadership

17. The Four Questions
18. Connection, Not Control
19. Putting It All Together
20. Reflection

The Academy Membership is a one-year subscription included free with the purchase of your first course. Membership renews annually after the first year.

Member Benefits:

Opportunities for gaining clarity and direction for your calling to this work
Exclusive access to courses and resources
Ongoing support and community connection
Expanded content and special events
Online support and onboarding

Academy courses are 100% online with no in-person requirements.

The $300 course fee includes access to the course content, an online community of learners, and additional resources for one-year. Continued course access can be purchased through an Academy membership priced at $50/year.

Anyone who wants to bring hope and healing to their community will benefit. These courses are targeted and most useful to ministries who share Hope Reins’ approach: faith-based mentorship programs partnering with horses to serve kids and youth recovering from trauma.

Each course has about 20 videos plus additional resources. At a pace of a few hours per week, with dedicated and intentional homework/thoughtwork, each course should take 6–9 months to complete.

Yes, a downloadable PDF workbook is included with each course.

Access lasts as long as your Academy membership is active.The first year is included in the purchase of your first course, and renews annually thereafter.

Yes, there are no deadlines.

Yes, a computer or phone with internet is required.

No, we do not offer refunds.