What does it mean to sponsor a horse at Rhythms of Grace?
Horse sponsorship at Rhythms of Grace helps fund care for the herd behind our equine-assisted services in Dallas Center, Iowa. Feed, bedding, hoof care, and veterinary care are part of that ongoing responsibility. Each sponsorship provides one year of care for a horse, and sponsors are recognized with permanent signage at their horse’s gate.
When the last session wraps up, there are still horses to feed and care for. Those needs continue on days without scheduled programs.
Rhythms of Grace is a volunteer-driven nonprofit offering equine-assisted services for children and adults with disabilities and special needs in Dallas Center, Iowa. Sponsoring a horse supports the care of the herd that takes part in this work, while giving you a chance to get to know an individual horse.
At this year’s gala, supporters funded annual care sponsorship for every horse partner, making 2026 the first year all of our horses have been funded. That is a commitment worth celebrating. This article explains what those gifts support and how you can be part of the wider work through current program needs, rider access, or a future sponsorship conversation.
What does horse sponsorship help pay for?
Horse sponsorship helps with feed, bedding, hoof care, veterinary care, tack, and supplements. Those everyday needs continue through every season, whether or not a session is on the calendar.
Daily care is a continuing responsibility
A sponsorship helps support the care behind a horse’s participation in the program. Some needs are easy to see, such as feed and bedding. Others become clearer when you consider the professional attention and planning involved over time. The relevant question is how the organization provides for the horse throughout the sponsorship period, including between scheduled sessions.
Horse care also needs to account for the individual animal. The American Association of Equine Practitioners, or AAEP, emphasizes individual needs in its guidance on caring for older horses. Age, nutrition, care, and appropriate activity all belong in that conversation. This is general veterinary guidance, rather than a description of a particular Rhythms of Grace horse’s care plan.
Veterinary attention includes needs you may not see in a photo
Dental health is one example. AAEP’s resource on recognizing equine dental problems explains why early attention matters and why a change in behavior can warrant veterinary evaluation. For a supporter, it is a reminder that caring for a horse involves observation and professional judgment as well as feeding and grooming.
Unexpected needs deserve attention, too. AAEP’s equine health emergency resource emphasizes the importance of preparation. Donors can ask how an organization plans for unanticipated care expenses and whether a sponsorship contribution supports a shared care fund, a particular horse, or another defined purpose.
These resources offer background for understanding horse care. Rhythms of Grace’s team can explain which expenses its current sponsorship program covers and how decisions about the herd’s care are made.
If you’re considering sponsoring a horse, our team can walk you through the cost, what’s included, and the options for the year you have in mind.
We want you to feel comfortable with your decision. Ask us how the funds are used, which care expenses they support, and when sponsorship opportunities will be available.
Get to know the horse you sponsor
Our horses differ in size, personality, experience, and the work they are suited to do. The team considers the horse as well as the participant when planning services.
The horse profiles on our website introduce members of the herd. Our team can answer questions about a horse’s role and daily care.
This September, we’re introducing the people who sponsor our horses, too. We’re looking forward to sharing what drew them to Rhythms of Grace and why they chose to give.
A relationship with the mission
A relationship with Rhythms of Grace may begin with one horse. A sponsor notices an individual personality, learns what that horse needs, and gets to know the people responsible for their care. The connection grows as the sponsor sees how that care supports a program with a purpose: serving the people who come here.
That connection is part of what we hope these introductions offer. The horse’s story opens the door; learning about the care and services gives you a reason to stay involved. You can enjoy meeting the herd while also asking practical questions about what your support helps fund.
Arrange a visit with the team
Did we meet you at the gala? If you’d like to visit the ranch, we’d love to hear from you. Contact our team so we can talk through the options and find a time that fits the program schedule.
We arrange sponsor visits and photos ahead of time to give everyone a good experience while respecting our horses, participants, and their schedules.
How can a business get involved?
A business partnership can begin with a visit to the barn. Meet the people behind the work, learn about current priorities, and tell us what matters to your company. Together, we can identify a purpose for your support, such as rider scholarships, program delivery, a facility need, or future horse sponsorship.
The relationship should be clear from the beginning. We’ll discuss the purpose of the gift, appropriate participation, communication, and how we will share what the support made possible. Contribution amounts, timing, recognition, and responsibilities should be agreed together so your team knows what to expect.
Employee involvement can deepen that connection. Depending on current needs and capacity, a company might pair financial support with a planned volunteer project, professional expertise, materials, an employer matching-gift program, or an event partnership. We’ll match the activity to useful work and provide the relevant orientation. Each opportunity should be arranged with our team.
What should I ask before sponsoring a horse?
Start with the scope of the gift. Ask which care expenses are included, what period the sponsorship covers, and how the funds will be used. If your intention is to support a particular horse, ask how that designation works and what happens if the horse’s program role or care needs change.
Next, ask about the commitment. Confirm the contribution amount, payment options, renewal process, and the priority given to existing sponsors. Those details should come from the current program information, rather than an older event flyer or a previous year’s sponsorship package.
Finally, ask how the partnership will be cared for after the gift. Agree on useful updates, a point of contact, appropriate visits or employee participation, and when to review the relationship. Recognition should reflect the arrangement you have made. A clear follow-up conversation gives both sides a chance to discuss results, learn, and consider renewal.
You are welcome to ask for time to consider the answers. A good fit means understanding the mission and feeling comfortable with the commitment you are making.
Can I support the work without a horse sponsorship?
Yes. Our horse partners’ annual care received sponsorship at the gala, and the wider mission continues. New gifts can help sustain programs and everyday operations. You can also talk with our team about current rider scholarship or facility priorities. A monthly gift offers a practical way to keep supporting the work throughout the year.
For a family, that might mean a gift that fits the household budget. For a business, it might begin with a conversation about current funding needs. The important next step is to choose a giving option you understand and want to support. Explore giving to Rhythms of Grace or contact our team to talk through the possibilities.
How can I ask about future horse sponsorship?
To our 2026 horse sponsors: thank you for helping fund the herd’s care.
Current sponsors have the first right to consider renewing their horse’s sponsorship for the following calendar year. Our team will talk with them about the next sponsorship period. New supporters can arrange a visit, learn about the herd and programs, and explore a current funding need or future horse sponsorship. We’ll listen to your priorities, match them with a defined purpose, agree on the next steps, and keep the conversation going after the gift.
If getting to know the herd has made you curious about supporting a horse, take the next step: ask Rhythms of Grace about future sponsorship.
