Y E A R I N R E V I E W
O U R M I S S I O N
A Letter from Gateway HorseWorks’ Executive Director
Dear Friends,
By the Numbers
In 2025, Gateway HorseWorks was a place of steady connection, meaningful work, and moments of real transformation! Across sessions, community-based programs, school partnerships, and on-farm gatherings, participants engaged in experiential work that encouraged reflection, emotional awareness, and growth often discovering new ways to relate to themselves and others in their lives. The year was marked not only by the depth of the work happening in the pasture, but also by the sense of community that extended beyond sessions, as supporters, volunteers, and partners came together to sustain and strengthen this shared mission Together, these moments quiet and powerful alike reflected the impact of incorporating horses for the mental health treatment of people and the collective care that makes this work possible.
As we step into 2026, we are focused on building capacity within our operational team and mental health treatment teams in order to meet the increasing demand for our services We have a clear financial and strategic vision to sustain our current programs, strengthen the infrastructure of the organization and scale our impact. With your support, we know we can make the incorporation of horses for the mental health treatment of people accessible to everyone. Thank you for being a part of this journey!
Warmly,
Kristen de Marco Exeutive Director
O U R M I S S I O N
By the Numbers
By the Numbers
Since 2015, our gates have been open, welcoming children and adults in search of innovative mental health treatment. Each day, our staff and herd of horses meet our clients exactly where they are, and facilitate sessions which provide the space for each person to uncover their own best solutions.
While numbers only tell a fraction of the story about the clients that we serve, they create a window into ways in which Gateway HorseWorks continues to prioritize access for people who are too often under-resourced in their mental health treatment.
2025 Program Highlights
3 5 %
INDIVIDUAL& FAMILYCLIENTS RECEIVEDA REDUCEDRATE
48% OF INDIIVIDUAL CLIENTSSERVED WERECHILDREN ANDYOUTH
62% OFCLIENTS SERVEDHAVE HADAN EXPERIENCE WITH INCARCERATION
8 7 %
OFCLIENTSSERVED HAVEAFAMILYINCOME BELOW$50KOR OTHERWISEDONOT KNOWTHEIRINCOME
PRograms Provided
GALLOPINGHOME (VETERANS) 3%
LEADINGTHEWAY SCHOOLDIST OF PHILA 18 5%
BREAKING FREE (RECOVERY, CHESCO DRUG & ALCOHOL) 15%
BEYONDTHEBARN (DEPENDENT&JUSTICEINVOLVEDYOUTH) 13%
INDIVIDUALS & FAMILIES (SELF-REFERRED) 21% STABLEPATHWAYS (JUSTICE-INVOLVED ADULTS) 28%
C L I N I C A L D I R E C T O R
Gateway HorseWorks Secures Largest-Ever Grant from the van Ameringen Foundation
Gateway HorseWorks has been awarded a three-year grant totaling $225,000 from the van Ameringen Foundation the largest grant in the organization’s history! This transformative investment of $75,000 per year will fund the creation of Gateway HorseWorks’ first-ever Clinical Director position, a critical milestone in our growth and long-term sustainability.
The van Ameringen Foundation has a long legacy of supporting innovative, practical mental health solutions that expand access to care, prioritize early intervention, and serve communities that have historically faced barriers to treatment particularly in the Philadelphia region. Its mission aligns closely with Gateway HorseWorks’ commitment to ensuring that effective, trauma-informed mental health care is accessible.
This investment will directly support: Quality treatment for hundreds of individuals each year
Strengthen Gateway HorseWorks’ treatment teams
Increase our capacity to meet growing community demand while maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of our work.
By building this foundational clinical infrastructure, Gateway HorseWorks may responsibly expand access to equineassisted psychotherapy, deepen community partnerships, and contribute meaningful data to the broader mental health field.
This grant represents a powerful vote of confidence in Gateway HorseWorks’ mission. We are deeply grateful to the van Ameringen Foundation for this partnership and for helping position Gateway HorseWorks as a leader in innovative, accessible mental health services.
Breaking Free: Strengthening Recovery
From 2024 to 2025, Gateway HorseWorks partnered with Gaudenzia West Chester, a residential recovery treatment provider, to integrate equine-assisted psychotherapy as an adjunct to clinical care. During this time, 82 clients participated across twelve six-week cohorts. The results demonstrate that incorporating horses for the mental health treatment of people meaningfully strengthens engagement and treatment retention.
Clients who participated in Gateway HorseWorks’ Breaking Free program completed treatment at significantly higher rates than the general program population (68.5% vs. 53.2%). Just as notably, the rate of clients leaving treatment Against Staff Advice was cut in half among Gateway participants (14.1% compared to 29.4%).
Outcomes for Participants in Recovery
These outcomes point to deeper therapeutic engagement, improved emotional regulation, and a stronger sense of connection critical factors for individuals navigating trauma, substance use disorders, and co-occurring mental health challenges.
These findings mirror broader research on equine-assisted psychotherapy and reinforce Gateway HorseWorks’ role as a powerful partner in strengthening outcomes, reducing premature discharge, and expanding access to innovative mental health services
P R O G R A M H I G H L I G H T
Leading the Way: Measurable Impact for Students and Schools
During the 2024–2025 school year, Gateway HorseWorks expanded Leading the Way, our social-emotional learning program for students receiving emotional support services, in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia, the Germeshausen Foundation, and the Foxwynd Foundation. The program was delivered across 12 schools, reaching 80 students through 72 experiential sessions at Fox Chase Farm.
Disciplinary referrals improved
85% of students improved their disciplinary referrals during the program
5 8 %
84% sustained that improvement one month later.
Suspensions dramatically decreased
Suspensions declined for 88% of students
80% continued to show improvement after the program ended The results were both immediate and lasting.
Attendance improved
7 6 %
PARTICIPATINGSTUDENTS IMPROVEDTHEIRSCHOOL ATTENDANCEDURINGTHE PROGRAM
These outcomes demonstrate the power of incorporating experiential, traumainformed approaches into school-based mental health and educational services. Leading the Way continues to position Gateway HorseWorks as a trusted partner in supporting student engagement, reducing disciplinary barriers, and expanding access to innovative mental health services for youth.
P R O G R A M H I G H L I G H T
Beyond the Barn: Supporting Stability and Positive Outcomes for Justice-Involved and System-Impacted Youth
Beyond the Barn is Gateway HorseWorks’ trauma-informed equine-assisted psychotherapy program serving justiceinvolved and system-impacted youth through partnerships with Children, Youth, and Family Services and Juvenile Probation Offices in Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties Designed for youth who have experienced significant adversity, the program provides an experiential, somatic alternative to traditional talk therapy meeting young people where they are and offering new pathways to regulation, accountability, and connection
Outcomes underscore the transformative impact of this work:
Ninety-two percent (92%) of participants successfully completed the program, demonstrating strong engagement and retention among a population often at high risk for dropout.
Even more striking, 100% of delinquent youth were not re-arrested six months after discharge, and
9 2 % 1 0 0 % 9 1 . 7 %
91 7% of participants were not placed out of home during that same period.
These results point to meaningful reductions in system involvement and disruptions to family and community life
Beyond the Barn exemplifies Gateway HorseWorks’ commitment to providing effective, trauma-responsive mental health treatment to youth with the greatest needs helping them build the skills, confidence, and emotional resilience necessary to move forward safely and successfully.
H
E L P I N G O U R H E R D
Our Horses
In 2025, the horses of Gateway HorseWorks continued to be our most powerful partners in healing and growth Participants regularly shared that time with the herd helped them open up, feel peace, and build trust in ways traditional therapy alone could not provide. events likeWinter Wonder-Farm which brought g quietly in turnout or engaging gently with ely to our mission, modeling calm presence and motional healing for all who come to the farm.
Fourth Annual Events
In 2025, Gateway HorseWorks’ events brought our community together in meaningful ways, strengthening connections between supporters, partners, and our mission. From on-farm gatherings that invited guests to experience the healing presence of our horses to community and fundraising events that expanded awareness of our work, each event played a vital role in sustaining our programs. These moments of connection not only generated critical support but also deepened understanding of the powerful impact of incorporating horses for the mental health treatment of people.
310+ Registrants
$100k+ Gross Funds Raised
30+ Event Sponsorships
Community of Volunteers 2025
Gateway HorseWorks’ volunteers generously share their time, skills, and compassion in support of our mission. From caring for our horses and maintaining the farm to supporting programs and special events, their dedication helps ensure a safe, welcoming, and healing environment for everyone who comes through our gates. Their commitment not only strengthens our daily operations but also makes it possible for us to expand access to mental health services that incorporate horses, creating a lasting impact on our community.
A special thank you to -
Sophie Gordon, new Board Member
Joel Vivian, new Board Member
Teva, Corporate Volunteer Day, Events
Vanguard, Corporate Volunteer Day
PECO, Corporate Volunteer Day
Methacton Girls Lacrosse Team
Weekly Volunteers
Volunteer Day Attendees
722
99 14 VOLUNTEER HOURS
TOTAL VOLUNTEERS WEEKLY VOLUNTEERS
Gateway HorseWorks receives support from a diverse network of donors, foundations, organizations, institutional partners and agencies In order to sustainably steward our mission, it is our goal to maintain a high program expense ratio while continuing our fiscal growth, development, well-being, and capacity of our team and herd
Public Support Percentage
Growing Our Team
