Meet Our Staff

Maria Hogge

Executive Director and Equine Specialist.
Maria built her business expertise as a landscape designer. However, after seeing a program on the nightly news about using horses to help veterans with PTSD, she decided to trade in her drawing pencils for pitchforks. She began volunteering at “Bit of Hope Ranch” in Gastonia, NC., and then went on to get her EAGALA Certification and Natural Lifemanship Training as an Equine Specialist (ES).

Eagala trained Equine Specialist (2022)
Natural Lifemanship Trained as an Equine Specialist (ES)
OK Corral series certified

Mending Hearts,
One Stride at a Time

Mending Strides Ranch is the premier equine-assisted psychotherapy establishment in the Charlotte Metro area, committed to creating a sanctuary for individuals facing the impacts of trauma, abuse, and emotional obstacles. Our approach involves guided experiences with equine-assisted therapies that are specifically tailored to enhance mental well-being, build confidence, and find more joy in life.

Our Programs

6 Benefits of Equine-Assistance Therapy

Improved Confidence

Successfully navigating the tasks involved with Equine-Assisted Therapy helps instill a sense of resilience and achievement among participants, which boosts their confidence.

Better Communication Skills

Working with horses encourages non-verbal communication, such as body language and subtle emotional cues, that improves communication skills with others.

Trust

Participants learn to build a bond with the horses based on trust and mutual respect, which carries over to other areas of their life.

Connection

Building a relationship with a horse requires trust, patience, and mutual respect. Through these interactions, individuals can develop skills for building and maintaining healthy connections with others in their life.

Growth

Through regular interactions with horses and the therapeutic process, individuals may gain insights into their strengths, values, and personal identity to help them grow as a person.

Self-Acceptance

Interacting with horses in a therapeutic setting creates a safe and supportive environment where individuals can feel accepted and valued for who they are.