StirrUp Purpose

Last weekend kicked off our first Veterans & First Responders Retreat of the year! 🇺🇸🐴
Veterans gathered at Whispering Pines Horse Camp for a weekend of horses, connection, and adventure in the beautiful Central Oregon wilderness.

They rode through the breathtaking Three Sisters Wilderness, creating memories, building camaraderie, and experiencing the powerful connection between horse and rider.

We are grateful for the opportunity to provide these retreats and can’t wait for the ones still to come this year. 🇺🇸

Ready for the first Men’s Veterans Retreat of 2026!

🤠 SUMMER COWBOY CAMPS ARE HERE! 🐎

Saddle up for an unforgettable summer with StirrUp Purpose!

We’re offering two fun, hands-on camp experiences for kids ages 7–12:
🌱 Greenhorn Camp (Beginner) – July 20–24
⭐ Wrangler Camp (Intermediate) – July 27–31

Each week is packed with riding, horse care, games, and creative activities—all designed to build confidence and connection with horses. Plus, campers will show off what they’ve learned during a special Family Day horse show at the end of the week!

🕘 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
💲 $420 per camper (½ due by May 31, final payment by July 1)
👥 Limited to 8 participants per camp
📌 Open to kids not currently enrolled

Spots fill fast—don’t miss out on a week full of growth, fun, and cowboy spirit!

👉 Message us or contact Candace Martin [email protected]
to learn more or sign up!

We had an amazing time representing StirrUp Purpose in the Sisters Rodeo Parade this weekend! 🤠🐴

Brayden and Pie showcased our Ground and Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) sessions, while Josh and Johnny rode Spider and Artie to represent our Therapeutic Horsemanship program.

Phil and Ruby highlighted our Hippotherapy program, and Lauren Connelly, U.S. Marine Corps Ret., rode Poker to represent our Veteran Program.

We are so grateful to be part of the Sisters community and loved sharing the many ways our horses make an impact. Thank you to everyone who cheered us on along the parade route! ❤️🐎

This month we’re celebrating Micah, a volunteer who brings fun, consistency, and so much heart to every class!

Many know him for his famous arena announcement: “HORSE COMING THROUGH!” 🐴 It wouldn’t be the same without it!

Micah has a special gift for connecting with riders. He keeps lessons fun, engages students, and helps them feel successful through every challenge, big or small. Watching confidence grow because of his encouragement is truly something special.

Micah always shows up with a smile, works hard, and is eager to support wherever needed. We are so grateful for all he brings to our program!

At StirrUp Purpose, we serve those who have served us by offering a different kind of healing—one built on trust, connection, community and the quiet strength of horses. Through our summer horse camp retreats, veterans rediscover a sense of calm, rebuild confidence and begin to heal from the visible and invisible wounds of service.

Our goal is to raise $5,000 by Monday to support one of our summer horse camp retreats for veterans and first responders. We would be grateful for any support you can provide. To donate, follow the link below:

https://stirruppurpose.org/donate

Healing doesn’t always happen in words—sometimes it happens in the quiet connection between horse and human.

Through our partnership with StirrUp Purpose, Cross the Divide helps create powerful equine experiences for veterans, first responders, and their families.

These retreats offer more than riding—they provide trust-building, confidence, emotional healing, leadership, and the kind of peace that only horses seem to understand.

Out here, there’s no pressure.
No judgment.
Just honest connection, open space, and room to heal.

Whether it’s groundwork, trail riding, or simply standing beside a horse and breathing again—these moments matter.

Healing looks different for everyone.

Sometimes…it starts in the barn.

Meet Kathryn 🐴

Kathryn has spent the past 46 years living and working alongside horses — from managing sheep and cattle ranches in New Zealand and Oregon to caring for Friesian horses as a barn manager and groom. Today, she and her husband manage a ranch just outside Sisters, where she still finds her favorite place to be: out on the trail with a trusted horse.

We’re excited for Kathryn to help facilitate Hippotherapy sessions in Sisters, bringing her lifelong horsemanship experience, gentle spirit, and love for both horses and people to the program.