A Decade of Healing

by Emma Dixon

On a recent Saturday, the tranquility of the rolling green pastures on Lazy Acres Lane in Longwood is suddenly interrupted by a loud knocking sound, a pause, and then increasingly insistent knocking. 

The source of the ruckus is Rhett, a mischievous 22-year-old gelding – the undisputed King of Crossroads Corral – who is banging his hooves against his stable door, demanding carrots and attention. 

“OK, OK,” laughs Julie Hester, board president and co-founder of the nonprofit Crossroads Corral. “I’m coming!” 

Rhett is living his best life as one of the much-loved therapy horses at Crossroads Corral, an equine-assisted psychotherapy and learning organization that opened its stable doors 10 years ago. 

Julie and Lindsay Brim, the organization’s other cofounder, have always known the incredible healing power of horses and felt a deep calling to share that gift with their community. 

“At the same time, we recognized a gap in accessible mental health services, especially for those facing trauma,” says Lindsay, the executive director. “That’s when Crossroads Corral was born – a place where people can heal, grow, and find hope through connection with horses.”

Round ‘Em Up

This summer, Crossroads Corral will mark its 10th anniversary with a fundraising gala on August 21 at the Citrus Club in Orlando. 

Beyond the Barn: Celebrating 10 Years of Hope & Healing will feature an evening of food, drinks, live music, raffles, and a silent auction. The guest speaker will be Stan Van Gundy, a Crossroads Corral supporter, sports analyst, and former Orlando Magic basketball coach.

“We’ve grown from a vision into a thriving nonprofit – all built with passion, persistence, and purpose,” says Lindsay. “We didn’t start this to make money; we started it to make a difference. And thanks to our amazing team, sponsors, and volunteers, we’ve helped keep this organization going and the horses cared for.”

Why therapy involving horses?

“Horses are incredibly intuitive,” says Lindsay. “They sense our emotions, even the ones we haven’t fully processed ourselves, and they respond without judgment. Horses offer real-time feedback purely through body language, making them natural mirrors for human behaviors. Clients don’t have to talk unless they want to; they engage directly with the horses and therapy team, learning powerful lessons that tend to stick in deeper, more lasting ways.” 

Crossroads Corral aims to help veterans, active military, first responders, survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence, foster youth, and those suffering from trauma, anxiety, or depression.

“We’re really here for anyone who needs us,” says Julie. “We’re fortunate to partner with licensed mental health professionals who helped bring our vision to life and turned this into a safe space for transformation.” 

Clients don’t need to be referred by a physician, and the intake process is straightforward. The intake coordinator, who is a licensed therapist, will work with the client to determine whether Crossroads Corral is the right program for them.

A Transformative Experience

A block of sessions typically lasts six to eight weeks. Although clients interact with the horses, they don’t actually ride them. During the sessions, clients work with a licensed mental health therapist as well as a certified equine specialist. 

“Our equine specialist is there to ensure the safety of the horse and client and watch the horse’s body language during the session,” says Julie. “The therapist helps the participant going through the exercises. For example, the client can select a horse they’re drawn to and go out into the field and try to put a halter on the horse. There’s a great deal of information to be gathered by the therapists, as the horse will mirror any anxieties the client might have.” 

Two of the dedicated volunteers at Crossroads Corral are Patria Slaughter, a first-grade teacher at Wilson Elementary School, and her 18-year-old daughter Aubrey. They’ve spent the past four years volunteering at the farm – mucking out stables and feeding, watering, and caring for the 10 horses that live there. 

“I can come here and mentally clear my head,” says Aubrey, who will attend Daytona State College in the fall. “I can be in the moment because horses are very present animals.” 

Patria agrees, adding, “Equine therapy is incredibly important for the community – it’s such a unique process for people to work through whatever might be troubling them. It’s vital that this wonderful resource remains in Central Florida for years to come.”

To learn more, visit CrossroadsCorral.org.