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ABOUT US

OUR STORY
Our Story

Reins of Life (ROL) was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1978.  That year, Reins provided 32 hours of therapeutic riding lessons for 16 riders. Classes were held in the backyards of friends of ROL. From 1978-1991 Reins used borrowed arenas, equipment, and tack to provide services to individuals with disabilities of St. Joseph County, Indiana.  Dedicated volunteers transported borrowed horses by trailer to the lesson sites each day.  In 1991, the organization found a permanent home when Nancy and Lloyd Taylor donated twenty acres of their land on Quince Road, near Lydick.  Reins of Life now serves over 500 riders with 3,000 hours of lesson time annually for residents of 11 counties in Indiana and Michigan.

An unprecedented opportunity to expand the organization’s services came in June of 2007 in the form of the donation of a 46 acre property in Michigan City.  Royal Acres Equestrian Center was donated by a Chicago couple, Todd and Janice Much, and was valued at $2M. Therapeutic riding lessons began in Michigan City on September 10, 2007 with 16 riders in the first session.  The ROL Michigan City barn has since tripled in ridership with riders coming to us from mainly La Porte and Porter County. 

OUR MISSION

To improve the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities through equine-assisted therapy.

OUR VISION
  • To promote the mental, physical, emotional, and social growth of all involved in the program

  • To educate the community regarding the benefits of riding as therapy, and the abilities of children and adults with disabilities

  • To improve the attitudes of society toward persons with disabilities

FACILITIES

FACILITIES

South Bend

55200 Quince Road South Bend, IN 46619

P: 574.232.0853            F: 574.232.1104

  • 30 Acres

  • 5 Pastures with Run-in Shelters

  • Stall Barn with Heated Indoor Riding Area

  • Activity Room and Offices

  • Hay Barn with Heated Feed Room and Horse Treatment Area

  • Outdoor Riding Area

  • Accessible Playground

  • Nancy's Trails : Sensory Riding Trails

Michigan City

9375 W. 300 N. Michigan City, IN 46360

P: 219.874.7519

  • 46 Acres

  • 5 Pastures with Run-in Shelters

  • 16-stall Barn

  • Heated Indoor Riding Arena

  • Offices and Lounge Overlooking Indoor Arena

  • Wooded Riding Trails and Creek

  • Stocked Fish Pond

VIDEO GALLERY

VIDEO GALLERY

The Video Gallery is filled with stories of trust, confidence, first words and first steps. Learn more about Reins of Life, Inc. and how clients and their families lives have been impacted. To hear even more stories explore the full Video Gallery.

Hear their Stories

David's Story- 2023

Hear their Stories
Zach's Story- 2023

Hear their Stories
Their Story of Friendship - 2022

 

Hear their Stories
Interactive Vaulting Siblings - 2021

Hear their Stories
Lucas' Story - 2020

Hear their Stories
Isabella's Story - 2020

TEAM ROL

THE ROL TEAM

Dorota Janik

Executive Director

Christine Flowers

Program Administrator & Volunteer Coordinator    (South Bend)

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Aly Olson

Assistant to Executive Director, Internship Program Manger & Instructor 

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Morgan Paeplow

Events and Projects Director

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Amanda Bubb

 Lead Instructor (Michigan City), Vaulting Instructor, Driving Instructor & Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning

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Samantha Nusbaum

Equine Manager (South Bend), Instructor & ROL Veterans Team Instructor

Daniele Charriere

Instructor & Vaulting Instructor 

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Heather Cortelyou 

Equine Care Coordinator (Michigan City)

Braelyn Troup
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Teckla Lane

      Feeder Coordinator        (South Bend)

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Marilyn Steinhiser

 Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning, and Feeder Coordinator

(Michigan City)

Destiny Nugent

Destiny Nugent 

 Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning

Ronald Messer

Maintenance 

(South Bend)

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Neil Novak 

Maintenance & Special Projects

(Michigan City) 

ROL Interns

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Barn Animals

Robin

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Seabiscuit

EQUINE-PARTNERS

Equine Partners
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Bud

Fay

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Sunwood Darn Im Cute

“Donkey Dar”

Bonbon

Bonbon

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Sully

Cocoa

Chocolate E-spar-esso “Cocoa”

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Baloo

Shadow

Jenny

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Tessa

Flower

Flower

Rocky Road

Bandit

Bandit

Elmer

Elmer

Eeyore

Eeyore

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Elegant Ed "Ed"

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Blizzard

Friday

Friday

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Sawyer

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Kani

Aydan

Aydan

Duramax

Duramax

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Willow

Chocolate

Chocolate

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Mick

Domino

Bunny

Presley

Presley

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S'More

Truffle

Truffle

Princess

Princess

Bruno

Bruno

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