‘Peace and hope’ Horses with Hope founder receives American Red Cross recognition
Anne Davis, executive director for Horses with Hope, was honored during the 2025 American Red Cross Power of Red Celebration of Heroes event in June at the Heinz History Center for her work in equine therapy with the special needs community.
Davis said she was surprised by the recognition from the American Red Cross.
“There’s so many deserving nonprofits in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is a pretty special place for how diverse the communities are and all of the different nonprofits that are out there. There’s a lot of people doing a lot of good. I never really look at Horses with Hope as being considered in that league, so when I heard we were awarded, it was very humbling,” Davis said.
Horses with Hope aims to help improve the quality of life for individuals with challenges through its therapeutic riding program as well as its equine assisted learning program, veteran and small animal programs.
“We are all so proud of Anne. She knows every individual, every family who attends our programs. It is an immense honor to see her achieve this award,” said board member Raymond Perr.
“The work we do is very special. We get to see little miracles each and every day,” Davis said. Benefits of therapeutic riding can lead to improvement in speech, trunk control, fine and gross motor skills and improvement in speech.
“Therapeutic reading is immeasurably unique in that it is the horse who gives therapy to the individual. One visit to the farm changes your life. It is a nurturing environment, an environment of peace and hope,” said Davis.
Davis made the shift from the airline industry to therapeutic riding when she found out through amniocentesis during her pregnancy at age 40 that her daughter Jamie would be born with Down syndrome.
“When I was doing the research about what Down syndrome was, I came across therapeutic riding and that’s when I knew that God had a different path for my life,” said Davis.
Davis had experience with horses from her teenage years. “I have a strong love for the animal myself and when I came across therapeutic riding and put special needs and horses together, I knew instantly that this was my new calling.”
She and her husband, Joel, began Horses with Hope, a 501c3 nonprofit, nearly 20 years ago.
Jamie came along with her mom to riding sessions. “She’s a really special kid; she never cried…she didn’t have many very diverse needs and it gave me the freedom to start the program and bring her with me,” said Davis. Jamie later became a rider.
“My mom brings me j-o-y!” said Jamie, who often helps with the lessons and the activities for kids.
To expand their riding program and accommodate families on a waiting list, Horses with Hope recently moved their mounted program to Empress Farms in Venetia.
Nearly 50 special needs individuals a week participate in the riding therapy program, with four, six- to eight-week sessions a year, amounting to 250 people a yearly.
“But I have 80 families on a waiting list,” said Anne Davis. “The demand is extremely high for the services that we offer.”
“Empress welcomed us, and we should be able to address a portion of the wait list as we add horses and instructors,” said Davis. Horses with Hope has six horses for its therapeutic riding program, administered by certified professionals along with dedicated volunteers.
Additionally, it will offer an interactive small animal program at Gilfillan Farm, and at Knauss Farm in Bethel Park continue to offer its two equine assisted learning programs, one for veterans and one for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Another six horses, four mini horses, four goats and a donkey are housed on the Knauss Farm.
“I think human interaction with animals is a huge need and it helps with anxiety and helps with confidence and all kinds of things,” said Davis.
“She has created an amazing community asset, not just for the client, but for community members to volunteer and create relationships,” said Anne Wagner of Upper St. Clair, board member and president of Horses with Hope. “We are entering a new chapter now. We have multiple locations. We now have sheep as the foundation of a small animal program we are developing. We are in a very exciting time.”
“We are able to do it because of how many volunteers dedicate their time. We have so many volunteers that will donate 20 to 30 hours a week, some for 20 years,” Davis said.
“Most of the volunteers will tell you they came for the horses or came for the kids and they find out later on they were changed by the experience. It touches everyone who gets involved,”
Davis said.
To donate or volunteer, go to www.horseswithhope.org.