Walnut Grove Therapeutic Center Inc.

The mission of Walnut Grove Therapeutic Center is to provide a safe and therapeutic location for those with special needs to benefit from equestrian activities.

Our primary focus is serving children diagnosed with cancer, those with intellectual and/or physical disabilities, and veterans experiencing PTSD. Our goal is to grow The Center to serve more individuals with disabilities and/or those experiencing emotional trauma, regardless of the cause.

Walnut Grove Farms opened in January of 2017 as a traditional riding facility. After our daughter Ashlyn’s cancer diagnosis in 2014, we saw how working with horses aided her recovery. They gave her hope and helped her focus on the future. Beyond that, the bond she had with her horse provided her with the emotional strength to persevere in her treatments. Seeing the impact horses had on our daughter inspired us to start Walnut Grove Therapeutic Center, Inc. Since that time, the number of special needs children and adults riding at our facility has increased significantly. In 2021, to help grow the therapeutic riding program, we formed a nonprofit 501c3 organization. Shortly after establishing our non-profit, childhood Leukemia would resurface in our lives when Walnut Grove riding instructor Megan Fuhrman's daughter, Masyn Fuhrman, would be diagnosed with the same cancer as our daughter Ashlyn. Yet again we would experience the magic of the horse, giving another little girl the strength to battle cancer. The inspiration of these two amazing fighters kicked us all into high gear to raise the funds needed to make Walnut Grove everything it needs to be to help as many riders and their families as possible.   

As a nonprofit we have been able to expand our programs but our further growth is restricted because the current facilities are not fully accessible to individuals in wheelchairs, with vision disabilities, or who use assistive devices. We also recognize the need for climate-controlled facilities and other structural modifications to reduce or eliminate barriers for full participation for all year round.

The board developed a plan for expansion to include, an additional barn named in honor of Masyn Fuhrman (The Masyn Marie Barn), modification of the current grooming area and barns, as well as the enclosure of a  covered riding arena and ramp area to allow year-round use. 

Since beginning to raise funds in January of 2024 we are so excited to announce the outer shell of The Masyn Marie Barn has been completed as of April 2025. With your support, love, and dedication we hope to raise the additional funds needed to complete the inside of the Masyn Marie Barn as well as the other necessary accommodations to Walnut Grove to allow us to continue to change lives forever with our beloved horses. Thank you all in advance for your continued support and dedication of our mission and Walnut Grove.