Our Mission

We strive to build confidence, self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment for individuals with physical, cognitive and emotional needs by utilizing equine-assisted activities and therapies. We have  been providing these services to residents of the Eastern Shore since 1981. 

Our Management Team

OUR STAFF
​Kim Hopkins, Executive Director
Ashley Hopkins, Equine Manager "Vendor"
Mike Jordan, Bookkeeper "Vendor"
​Merry Skirka, Volunteer Coordinator
​Karen Weber-Millstein, Marketing / Webmaster "Volunteer"

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
David Moore, President
Meg Stein, Vice President
Tracy Detrich, Secretary
​Mary Cottingham

LeeAnn Hutchison
Ridgely Ochs
​Sandy Wellford King, Founder
Jessie Browne, Founder, Emeritus Director

The Hooves Behind the Healing

You can make a difference.

Sponsor A Horse

Our horses are the single most important part of our therapy programs.  They work hard every day to help our riders achieve their goals. We are a member of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH) and adhere to their high standards for horse care. Between our staff and board members, we have several decades of horsemanship experience. 

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Clacky

Sister's Wine Bar & Gift Shop - Bronze Sponsor
Clacky is tall, dark and handsome! He came to us from our equine dentist whose daughter rode Clacky on trail rides when she was only seven years old. He has been used in other therapeutic riding programs and has great experience with riders who need extra care and patience. 

Ben

I need a sponsor.
Ben is a Quarter Horse who came to us from a local friend. He is in his late teens.
Originally, Ben was a ranch trail horse. He’s earned the nickname “Gentle Ben”.

Mandi

Cheri Stambaugh - Silver Sponsor
Mandi is a Solid Paint-bred mare born in 2008. She came to us from a from a local farm where Mandi was used as a brood mare.
She has also been a trail horse, and a family horse.

Pumpkin

Becker Family - Bronze Sponsor
Pumpkin is as sweet as pumpkin pie with a dollop of whip cream on top! He's a Quarter Horse in his early twenties. He came to us from a family where he was a guest horse for fox hunting. Pumpkin is very comfortable to ride and has a great personality.
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Rudy - Retired 6/15/2025

Ocean City Downs - Gold Sponsor
​​Rudy is a Positive Strides' program favorite. He's a Quarter Horse born in 2002. In his younger years, he competed in barrel races and rode a lot of trails, including on the Gettysburg Battlefields. Rudy's definitely a lover, not a fighter.
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Skipper

Susan Benson/Debbie McKay - Silver Sponsor
​Skipper is a quarter horse that is one of our program rock stars. He came from a large riding stable near Washington, DC and semi retired to the Eastern Shore to help our riders gain self confidence and independence! We are so pleased to have him in our farm family!

Our Partners

Positive Strides partners with many great organizations on the Eastern Shore who provide services, financial support, expertise, materials and more. Thank you to all of our partners!

Accounting Strategies Group
Akridge Foundation
American Legion Post 29
ARC of the Central Chesapeake Region
Atlantic Tractor
Bartlett Tree Experts
Bay Pediatric Center
Benedictine School
Best Western Easton Inn & Suites
BJ's Club 322
Blue Heron Catering
Blue Heron Financial
Bountiful Interiors
Bridges Land Management
Caloris Engineering
Campbell's Boat Yards
Caper Lea Inc
Carrion Home Repairs
​CBIZ
Chesapeake Center
​Chesapeake College
Chesapeake Culinary Center
Choptank Electric Cooperative
Choptank Partners, Inc.
Choptank Transport
Christ Church, St. Michaels
Christine M Dayton Architect
Cianci Chiropractic Center
CloudCity Communications
Community Animal Hospital
Composite Yacht, LLC
CVS Corporation
​Delmarva Community Services
Dental Choice
Denton Dames Team
Dock Street Foundation
Dobson's Dogs
Eastern Shore Title
Eastern Springs Water Company
Easton Cycle & Sport
Easton Dermatology
​Easton Utilities Commission
​Endless Summer Tanning Salon
Fellows, Helfenbien & Newman
Fitness RX
Food Lion, Denton
Food Lion, Frederalsburg
Fred Frederick Family Foundation
Gaiteri Enterprises
Giant Food, Easton
​Gloria Gibson
Goetze Candy
Granville Fund
Graul's, St. Michaels
Healing Hands Animal Hospital
Hetrick Farms
Hill's Drug Store
Higgins & Spencer Inc.
​Jennie Roman

KC King
​Knights of Columbus
Lars Hanson
Latitude 38
Ledo's Pizza, Easton
Lewis Auto Body
Liandaff Family Foundation
Longshot Stables
Lowes
Nagel Farm Services
​Martin Haley
Midshore Veterinary Services
Out of Gears Team
​Pepsi, Salisbury
Piazza of Easton, LLC
Pixel Print & Post
PNC Bank
Preston Auto Group
Queenstown Bank
Reliable Pest Control
Retirement Community of Easton
Ridgely Car Show Foundation
Road ID
Sea Watch International
Shore Orthopedics
Shore United Bank
Sisk Fulfillment Services
​Solid Tops
St. Martin's Ministries
​Sue Shortall
​Sweetly Made
Talbot County Children's Advocacy Center
Target
Teddy Bear Fresh
The Star Democrat
THP
​Tidewater Physical Therapy
Timber Grove Farm
Total Home Performance
Town & Country Liquor
Tricrown Inn for Pets
Tricycle & Run
Tri Gas & Oil
Tuckahoe Sail & Canvas
Two Old Mares Blanket Services
​United Fund of Talbot County
United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore
​Vincent & Nancy Radosta Foundation
Walgreen's
WAWA Foundation
Weis Foods
West Wing Salon & Spa
Wilderness Voyageurs
Women's Club of Caroline County Fund
Wye Financial & Trust
​YMCA of the Chesapeake
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Every effort has been made to accurately acknowledge the organizations in our community who have invested in our events, programs and operations. We apologize for any omissions or errors. If we need to make corrections to your listing, please call or email us.