What Began with Horses Became Something Much Bigger.

Leg Up for Cleveland’s Kids (LUCK) was founded in 2016 during a period of growing social unrest in Cleveland and across the nation. As communities struggled with division, distrust, and the lasting effects of trauma, we asked a different question: 

What if healing began with relationships?

Our founders had seen firsthand the remarkable impact horses could have on children experiencing anxiety and emotional distress. Time with horses helped them slow down, build confidence, regulate their emotions, and develop trusting relationships.

But there was a problem.

The children who benefited from those experiences were the children who already had access to horses. Many of the young people carrying the greatest burdens in Cleveland did not.

The children we hoped to serve were often living with the cumulative effects of adverse childhood experiences. Community violence, food insecurity, housing instability, under-resourced schools, chronic stress, social isolation, and limited access to safe, enriching opportunities can profoundly shape a child’s development, relationships, and sense of possibility. Yet many of these young people did not qualify for the few equine programs that existed because they were not living with diagnosed physical or developmental disabilities.

Even when programs were available, they were typically located outside the city, creating transportation and financial barriers for the very families who could benefit most.

We believed something different was needed.