Tucked into the peaceful foothills of Alpine, Utah, Bridle Up Hope is more than a barn — it’s a place where horses and humans work together to build confidence, resilience, and hope. Here, girls and women discover that the quiet strength of a horse can teach lessons about life, courage, and self-worth that last far beyond the arena.

Bridle Up Hope was founded by Sean and Rebecca Covey after their daughter, Rachel, passed away due to the effects of depression. Determined to find something positive amid the tragedy, the Coveys reflected on what had brought their daughter peace. Her family saw firsthand the healing bond between their daughter and her horses and recognized how that same bond could offer a sense of belonging and hope to other girls. 

Bridle Up Hope offers a unique equine-assisted learning experience that combines riding lessons, life skills development, and service — all rooted in the principles of Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.  Whether it is a girl in school trying to figure out where she belongs or a young mother navigating postpartum life, everyone is welcome at the barn. 

“If you name a background, we’ve probably seen it,” said Nicole Holgreen, executive director for Bridle Up Hope. “Sometimes we don’t know what struggle they’ve been going through until after the lessons are over. They’ll call and say, ‘You have no idea — I was going through this really terrible situation, and this program completely transformed my life.’ It’s really neat to see the impact this has had on so many girls and women.”

What started as a small neighborhood riding program quickly grew into something much larger. To date, more than 3,500 girls and women have graduated from the program. Bridle Up Hope has also expanded to 13 locations, which include four barns in Utah (Alpine, Kaysville, Mapleton, and St. George) and global programs in Estonia, Ukraine, and Hungary. Each site carries the same mission while reflecting the unique communities it serves. 

While Bridle Up Hope’s reach continues to grow, the organization remains focused on the individual experience for each girl and woman. At Bridle Up Hope Alpine, the organization’s headquarters, nearly 100 one-on-one lessons are held each week, and demand often results in a 30-60 day waitlist. Each lesson is structured around three core pillars: learning to ride horses, developing life skills, and serving others. The program is designed to meet participants where they are — offering a 14-week experience for girls ages 12–21, and a 7-week program for women ages 22 and up.

“Women have more life experiences and are generally more open to the 7 Habits side of it,” Holgreen explained. “Where I feel like the girls are generally coming for the horses. Of course, they are here for the life skills too, but for them it’s like a 1,000-pound object lesson that we sneakily weave the habits into.” 

Each lesson at Bridle Up Hope begins with a 10-15 minute discussion focused on one of the 7 Habits, allowing participants to explore how those principles apply to their own lives and current challenges. From the very first lesson, girls and women move into hands-on work with the horses. 

No two lessons will look the same. Instruction is all about meeting the participant where she is – both emotionally and in her level of horsemanship. Opportunities range from English and Western riding to driving, jumping, trail riding, and more, allowing participants to discover what resonates most with them.

“It’s about having options for them,” Holgreen said. “Sometimes our students will ride in an English saddle and think, ‘That’s not for me.’ They may find they’re happiest on a trail ride in the mountains with a horse. Or someone jumps for the first time and says, ‘Oh my gosh, this feels like I’m flying. Many of our students have never even touched a horse — and a few years later, they are working towards owning their own horse.” 

Bridle Up Hope Alpine has 19 horses available for the girls and women during their lessons. According to Holgreen, horses are a unique and effective delivery tool for the 7 Habits. 

“For many participants, just being near a horse is both intimidating and empowering. “Even for me, their size alone can feel overwhelming,” Holgreen said. “Our largest horse is a draft cross at 17.2 hands — just sitting on his back can feel empowering and a little scary at the same time.”

Beyond their size, the horses are incredibly intuitive. They sense emotions and respond in ways that help participants open up. Holgreen recalls seeing horses approach girls who are struggling, resting their heads on their shoulders to offer quiet companionship. 

In lessons, horses often mirror behavior, giving teens immediate, honest feedback that encourages self-reflection. “They’re learning about themselves through these incredible animals,” Holgreen explained.

Once their lessons are complete, participants are encouraged to stay connected to the barn through service hours, offered at various times to accommodate different schedules. For every 10 hours of service, girls and women earn additional lessons, helping them remain engaged while giving back. These are called “Sharpen the Saw Classes,” inspired by the seventh habit, and include lessons on yoga, self-defense, art, and other activities designed to teach coping skills, confidence, and creativity. 

“Keeping them engaged at the barn is all about giving them tools they can use as they go through the ups and downs of life,” Holgreen said.

For Holgreen, one of the most touching stories to come out of Bridle Up Hope involves a 12-year-old girl who came through a Catholic refugee foster program in Utah. She was an unaccompanied minor who had crossed the border, spoke only Spanish, and was on the autism spectrum. When she first arrived at the barn, she was nearly nonverbal and so shy that she hid behind her foster mom.

Week by week, as she began her lessons, things started to change. About three weeks into her program, a donor came to tour the barn and asked her how the program had impacted her life. The instructor translated the question into Spanish, and the girl smiled and said, “It’s changed my life, because it’s helped me find my smile.”

By the time she graduated from the program, Holgreen said she was a completely different person. During the graduation ceremony, she stood before a room of more than 150 people and bowed to the audience. It was a full-circle moment for everyone who had witnessed her journey from a quiet, frightened child to a girl who had found her voice and her confidence.

“I always remember that there are miracles, sometimes they just look different than what we envision. The Coveys never imagined losing their daughter, but to see them turn it into something beautiful and to have something positive come from that is just really beautiful to see,” Holgreen said. 

What started as a local effort to honor one young woman’s love for horses and help other girls and women in need has become a worldwide movement of healing and empowerment. With each new enrollment, Bridle Up Hope continues to prove that even through tragedy, something good can grow. 

Learn more about Bridle Up Hope at their website, bridleuphope.org, or by following them on social media - @BridleUpHope.