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PATH Intl. and Purina are Proud to Announce the 2025 PATH Intl. Equine of the Year

For Immediate Release

DENVER, CO (November 25, 2025) ­— The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH Intl.) takes great pride in the exceptional equines and professionals who serve at PATH Intl. Member Centers across the country, ensuring high quality of services for the children and adults they partner with in equine-assisted services (EAS). PATH Intl. is pleased to announce the winner of the 2025 PATH Intl. Equine of the Year Award sponsored by Purina. Congratulations to Moses, nominated by PATH Intl. Member Center, Shepard Meadows Equestrian Center, Inc. in Bristol, Connecticut.

Moses and all the PATH Intl. Region award winners were recognized at the PATH Intl. Awards Luncheon held in Denver, Colorado, on November 8, 2025, at the PATH Intl. Conference. Moses is an equine whose calm strength and patience have made an indelible impact on all who know him. Though his size and presence can appear imposing at first, a glance into his warm, intelligent eyes reveals a gentleness that seems to reach into the hearts of those around him. His steadiness creates a space for peace, which is a rare gift for the many Veterans and first responders who find purpose in his company.

“Moses is a profound healer,” one individual shared. “Moses grounded me while I supported my father through his initial pancreatic cancer diagnosis and then helped bring me back to life. During that time, I often didn’t know who I was or what my place in the world was, but the gentle, affirming presence that is Moses was a lighthouse in the category five hurricane of my life.”

Purina is a generous and long-time gold level sponsor of PATH Intl. As a company that cares deeply about equine nutrition and quality of life, Purina proudly sponsors the PATH Intl. Equine of the Year award, recognizing PATH Intl. Member Center equines who give their all partnering to help the humans who need them most.

The PATH Intl. Equine of the Year is chosen out of all PATH Intl. Equine of the Year award winners from PATH Intl.’s 11 Regions. Congratulations to the 2025 PATH Intl. Region Equine of the Year Winners:

Region 1: Moses, Shepard Meadows Equestrian Center, Inc., Bristol, Connecticut

Region 2: Samson, Greystone Manor Therapeutic Riding Center, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Region 3: Hamilton, EQUI-KIDS Therapeutic Riding Program, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Region 4: Blue, Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center, Chagrin Falls, Ohio

Region 5: Honey, Whispering Manes Therapeutic Riding Center, Miami, Florida

Region 6: Little Bit of Honey (Sweetie), Equul Access, Inc., Hutchinson, Minnesota

Region 7: Power, BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center, Harvard, Illinois

Region 8: Bubba, Equestrian Zone- Riding for a Reason, Dardanelle, Arkansas

Region 9: Dusty, Forward Stride, Beaverton, Oregon

Region 10: Tammy, Temple Grandin Equine Center at Colorado State University Fort Collins, Fort Collins, Colorado

Region 11: Haidas Velvet (Buddy), Happy Trails Riding Academy, Visalia, California

For a full list of the states and countries included in each of the PATH Intl. Regions, please visit: /membership/regions/

Congratulations again to all the 2025 PATH Intl. Equine of the Year Award winners. Thank you to Purina for their continued support and sponsorship of this award, recognizing the best equines in equine-assisted services.

Sara Conant, Communications Supervisor,
, (800) 369-7433 ext. 12331

About PATH Intl.:

The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International® (PATH Intl.), formed in 1969, advances professional equine-assisted services (EAS) by empowering its members, credentialed professionals, partners and the public through rigorously developed standards, credentials and education that recognize the power of the equine-human relationship. At 721 member centers, more than 71,000 children and adults with special needs, including 8,000 veterans, may find improved health, wellness, a sense of pride, independence and fun through involvement with horses. PATH Intl. members, credentialed professionals and member centers uphold the PATH Intl. Standards, developed and adopted by the PATH Intl. membership, to ensure centers and professionals follow procedures essential to providing safe, humane, gold-standard-quality EAS programming to the public, in the broad areas of horsemanship, therapy and learning. Among its multiple EAS certification programs, PATH Intl. proudly offers the Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor certification (the PATH Intl. CTRI®); the first and only independently accredited certification program in EAS.