High Lonesome Therapeutic Equestrian Center

09/30/2026

🙌 Four years of growing our Special Olympics Equestrian Team looks good on us! 🐴❤️🥇🥈🥉

09/30/2026

09/30/2026

🐴🎯 Riding takes a LOT of focus and concentration!

Every movement a rider makes is communicating with the horse in some way. Horses can feel the smallest movements—even a fly landing on them! They feel shifts in balance, changes in pressure, leg cues, rein cues, and so much more.

Look at this guy’s focus as he carefully maneuvers through these obstacles! 👏❤️

So much is happening between the rider and horse in every moment. It takes concentration, coordination, balance, communication, and teamwork to successfully navigate the course.

This is equine partnership in action!🐴❤️

09/29/2026

🐴❤️ THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE LESSONS ❤️🐴

Our horse leaders and side walkers play an essential role in making lessons and classes at shows run smoothly, safely, and efficiently!

🐴 Horse Leaders assist in providing our equine partners with consistent handling and clear, direct commands. Their communication and consistency are essential to creating a safe and supportive environment for our riders, volunteers, and horses.

❤️ Side Walkers assist participants with grooming and tacking and walk alongside the rider during the mounted portion of the lesson, providing physical and/or emotional support when needed.

These roles may look simple from the outside, but they are incredibly important! Together, our volunteers help create a safe environment, support our riders, and allow our horses and participants to have the best experience possible.

We are so thankful for every volunteer who gives their time, energy, and heart to our program!! 🐴❤️

09/29/2026

🍽️ COMMUNITY NIGHT! 🐴❤️

Come out to Vincent’s in Blairsville for a delicious meal while supporting High Lonesome Therapeutic Equestrian Center!

Enjoy some great food, bring your family and friends, and help support our riders, horses, and programs. Every meal and every bit of community support helps us continue our mission of empowering abilities through equine partnership. 🐴❤️

We’d love to see you there! Come eat, have some fun, and support a great cause!

09/29/2026

A few more photos from all the fun, excitement, and special moments from this weekend’s Special Olympics Southeast US Regional Equestrian Invitational! 🐴❤️🏆

There were so many smiles, accomplishments, new experiences, and memories made. We are so proud of all our athletes and our amazing equine partners!

What an incredible weekend with an incredible team! ❤️🐴

Special Olympics Cherokee County NC
Special Olympics Clay County

09/28/2026

How cool is this?! 🤩🐴❤️

Liz Jennings and her equine partner, Waylon, were featured on one of the jumps in the Grand Prix ring during the Saturday Night Lights Grand Prix Series at Tryon! ✨

Liz was proudly representing Special Olympics North Carolina, and we couldn’t be more excited to see her and Waylon featured in such a special way!

What an incredible experience and such a cool moment for Liz! We are so proud of you! ❤️🐴👏

Special Olympics Cherokee County NC Special Olympics Clay County
Tryon International

09/28/2026

Yesterday was full of dressage and equitation! 🐴❤️

Our athletes and horses did absolutely wonderful! We are so proud of the hard work, dedication, and teamwork they all put in—not just this weekend, but throughout the entire season.

It was amazing to watch our riders show off everything they’ve learned and see the partnerships they have built with their equine partners. So many smiles, proud moments, and accomplishments! 🥰🏆

We couldn’t be prouder of our athletes, our horses, and everyone who helped make this weekend so special!
Special Olympics Clay County Special Olympics Cherokee County NC

09/28/2026

🏆🐴 MEET OUR 2026 HORSE OF THE YEAR — LITTLE BOB! 🐴🏆

Just look at that face! 🥰

Little Bob has such an important job at High Lonesome, and he does it with the biggest heart. He is kind, lovable, patient, forgiving, and an incredible teacher for our riders.

Our horses give so much to our program, but Little Bob has a special way of meeting each rider where they are and helping them feel successful.

We are so proud to call him one of our equine partners, and we are thrilled to celebrate him as our Horse of the Year! 💚🐴

Congratulations, Little Bob! You deserve all the love and treats! 🏆❤️🌾

09/28/2026

🐴💚 Our equine partners are truly amazing. 💚🐴

They have such a special job here at High Lonesome. They teach, they encourage, they forgive, they build confidence, and they form incredible partnerships with our athletes.

And there is one very special guy who deserves a HUGE shoutout. 🥰

Little Bob is kind-hearted, lovable, patient, forgiving, and one heck of a teacher. He has a way of taking care of his riders and helping them learn and grow.

This year, Little Bob was honored as our Horse of the Year! 🏆🐴❤️

We are so incredibly lucky to have him as part of our herd. Congratulations, Little Bob! You are very loved and very deserving of this honor! 💚