Kim Cochran sees the connection clearly.
The children who come to The Equine Journey for equine-assisted services don’t leave their school day behind when they arrive at the barn. The stress, the struggles, the gaps in resources – it all comes with them.
So when Cochran and her team at the local nonprofit decided to expand their mission beyond the pasture, they looked upstream. If supporting children means helping them thrive in all their environments, that includes the classroom. And if the classroom needs support, that means supporting teachers.
Through a partnership with Sauvé Collective, a local real estate agency, The Equine Journey has launched a teacher wish list program that delivers classroom supplies to educators in Polk County Schools as well as other nearby districts. Each month, teachers submit wish lists for items they need, and selected teachers receive those supplies directly – no fundraising required, no personal expense needed.
“Equine Journey typically serves children and families who are already navigating stressors — emotional, behavioral, economic or educational,” Cochran explained. “When you’re working closely with those kids, you get a very clear, ground-level view of what’s happening in their daily environments, especially school. It becomes obvious pretty quickly that many classroom teachers are under-resourced and often personally funding basic supplies.”
For Cochran, supporting teachers isn’t a departure from The Equine Journey’s core mission – it’s a natural extension of it.
“Supporting teachers is a logical upstream intervention,” she said. “If a child is regulated, supported, and engaged during the school day — with adequate materials, structure and a less stressed teacher — you see better outcomes across the board, including in therapeutic settings. In other words, it reinforces the work already being done at the barn.”
A mission rooted in connection
The Equine Journey began in 2014 with a focused mission: providing off-the-track thoroughbreds a soft landing after racing careers ended. Within a few years, the organization expanded to welcome horses of various breeds that needed safe, permanent homes.
In 2018, the staff gathered and asked an important question: What if these horses could have jobs? The answer transformed the organization into what it is today – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides both animals a secure forever home and youth in the community opportunities to experience equestrian life at reduced cost or, in some instances, no charge.
“We believe that horses provide a safe place for individuals to learn to develop a strong relationship, to experience working with others for a common goal and to develop a balanced safe way to move horses,” Cochran said.
The organization offers riding lessons for all ages and experience levels, from young children to adults, from complete beginners to experienced riders. But the lessons go far beyond horsemanship.
“We teach true horsemanship — how to read a horse’s body language, understand communication, build trust and develop balance and partnership,” Cochran explained. Students learn grooming, groundwork and riding skills in an environment that emphasizes safety, confidence and connection over competition.
Through purposeful interaction with horses, participants build trust, improve communication skills and develop resilience in a structured and supportive environment. The programs are designed to meet individuals where they are – whether they’re seeking confidence, coping skills or connection.
From horses to classrooms
The geographic focus of the teacher supply program reflects The Equine Journey’s commitment to the children it already serves. The organization chose Polk, Henderson, and Spartanburg counties because the majority of its riding students and program participants attend schools within these communities.
“By supporting these classrooms, we are directly investing in the daily environments of the children we serve,” Cochran said. “Through our classroom wish list initiative, we are extending our mission beyond the barn — helping create consistency, stability and opportunity for children both in and out of the classroom.”
The partnership with Sauvé Collective grew naturally from an existing relationship and shared values. The real estate company has been a longtime supporter of The Equine Journey and maintains a strong focus on supporting local teachers and community initiatives.
“Over time, it became clear that our values closely align — both organizations are dedicated to investing in people and creating meaningful, lasting impact,” Cochran said. “This partnership is a natural extension of that support, allowing us to work together to better serve the children, families, and communities connected to our programs.”
How it works
The teacher wish list program operates on a simple premise: Teachers know what their classrooms need. Each month, local teachers can submit wish lists via email to theequinejourney21@gmail.com, including their name, school and a brief explanation of how the items will enhance their classroom and impact students.
The Equine Journey and Sauvé Collective review submissions and select teachers to receive supplies, which are then delivered directly to classrooms. From essential classroom materials to specific wish list items, the resources go straight into the hands of educators who dedicate themselves daily to shaping young minds.
The initiative addresses a reality that many outside education may not fully understand: Teachers routinely spend their own money on classroom supplies. By removing that financial burden, even partially, the program allows teachers to focus their resources – both financial and emotional – on what matters most: their students.
A ripple effect
For The Equine Journey, the teacher supply program represents the same philosophy that guides their equine-assisted services: meaningful intervention creates ripple effects. A child who feels supported at school arrives at the barn in a better emotional state. A teacher who isn’t stressed about supplies can focus more fully on student needs. A classroom with adequate resources becomes a more effective learning environment.
“When we support our teachers, we strengthen our schools — and when we strengthen our schools, we strengthen our communities,” Cochran said, echoing the organization’s broader belief in the power of connection and support.
Just as The Equine Journey teaches riders that developing a relationship with 1,000- to 1,500-pound animals provides an experience that goes beyond speed or height or difficulty, the teacher supply program demonstrates that supporting educators goes beyond simply providing pencils and paper. It’s about recognizing the dedication teachers bring to their work and ensuring they have what they need to do that work well.
From the barn to the classroom, The Equine Journey continues to live its mission: using connection, support and purposeful intervention to help children and the adults who serve them thrive.
For more information about The Equine Journey’s programs or to learn how to submit a teacher wish list, visit theequinejourney.org or email theequinejourney21@gmail.com.
Top photo courtesy The Equine Journey
