Hope, Healing, and High Tea at Barnabas Horse Foundation’s spring fundraiser

By Karen Owens, Publisher

The Barnabas Horse Foundation does amazing work, providing equine-assisted services for survivors of abuse and trauma, veterans, and first responders to improve their quality of life and relationships through horse and human interaction. I recently spoke with Sue McKinney, president and founder of Barnabas Horse Foundation, and Phyllis Buettner, the Foundation’s CFO and fundraising chair.

With a herd of 25 animals, 70+ volunteers and a small but mighty staff of three and a half people, they provide services to children, women and men who have been victims of abuse or trauma as well as those who suffer post-traumatic stress syndrome. Barnabas is committed to providing a safe and brave space for healing and has expanded its trauma-focused, equine-assisted psychotherapy, coaching, and learning programs to also offer services to human trafficking survivors with the help of partnering agencies.

According to McKinney, out of one family’s tragedy and heartbreak came a foundation that shares love, hope, and healing through fellowship with horses for those who have walked a similar path. 

Remarkably they provide their services for free. I asked them how they were able to accomplish that feat.

Grants and Fundraising

Buettner explained they receive a few select grants from the SC Attorney General’s Office and a family trust benefactor to cover staff salaries. Most of the funds they need to operate the farm, roughly $300,000 a year, is raised through fundraising events and donations. They host six events throughout the year, from Hot Chocolate with the Horses to Black Tie Bingo, and pickleball and golf tournaments, they try to encourage a wide range of options to reach potential donors’ heart strings.

Their upcoming event is called Tea with Equines and will be held on Saturday, April 18 from 1:00 – 3:00 pm at their farm in Murrells Inlet. According to Buettner, they have planned an elegant tea party under the tent, complete with china and silverware donated by volunteers to accompany the various tea sandwiches provided by Inlet Affairs, several hot and iced tea offerings along with sweets from the Lowcountry Sugar.

Attendees are encouraged to wear their garden party finest, with a competition for the best bowtie and fascinator in the crowd. But be prepared to leave your fancy high heels and saddle oxfords at home. This is a horse farm so flat shoes that you don’t mind getting dusty (or muddy) are your best accessory for the afternoon.

They will have guided tours of the serene barn and farm to showcase the vision and mission of the foundation. There will also be two exhibition areas set up for live demonstrations to show how the animals and volunteers work together to help people heal.

In addition, there will be a silent auction with five very unique packages for guests to bid on:

• A handmade wooden toy rocking horse
• A photography session for people and their pets
• A party for ladies to enjoy the services of Brava Med Spa
• A Theater, Theater, Theater package with tickets to three area performances
• Captain Bill’s Boat Ride, featuring a 3-4 hour river cruise

The barn stalls will feature paintings created by some of the veterans with their horses as part of their therapy, and those will be available for purchase.

Building Awareness

Raising awareness is just as critical as raising funds at these events, Buettner added. “We’re always looking for volunteers to join our efforts, because it’s quite an undertaking to manage our herd of 25 horses and ponies. They must be fed and cared for rain or shine, hot or cold 24/7, 365 days a year,” she explained.

I asked Phyllis how she got involved, and she shared that she’d always loved horses, taking riding lessons and her grandparents had a cattle farm, so she happily comes out a couple of days a week to help muck the stalls and groom the animals. She also shares a passion for helping veterans. “When I found out about Barnabas, it was like marrying two of my biggest passions, and I am celebrating my fifth anniversary as a volunteer this year.”

Sue McKinney, who founded the organization, added that you never know how people will respond after coming out for a tour or visit. Sometimes it is truly a serendipitous moment.

“Leadership Grand Strand adopted us for their community legacy project and have done an amazing job enhancing landscaping and creating a memorial garden near their office. They have replaced fencing on the property and covered the storage pod areas with roofing to create more of a building that ensures our farm equipment is now protected from the elements,” McKinney said. “Between in-kind and cash donations and donated labor and supplies, they have raised almost $99,000 for the foundation.”

What a blessing, indeed.  You can be a blessing by making plans to join the Barnabas Foundation’s tea party fun on April 18. Tickets are $75 per person and available for purchase online. Hope to see you there!