Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Magical Meadows announced Thursday an opportunity for the community to be a part of the organization’s future through a capital campaign.
Welcoming everyone to the campaign launch, The Magical Meadows Board of Directors Chairman Carl Adams said, “Almost 20 years ago, the young lady, Ms. Tammy (Stackhouse), decided that she was going to use her horse to do some special things. From that moment on, the dream was given.”
Over the last 18 years, he said they’ve watched miracles every day take place at The Magical Meadows, 3386 E. CR 525N, Warsaw, which offers therapeutic horseback riding.
“We watched it from little ones who could not walk, get off their horse and walk. Not because it was the time for them to walk, but because of what that horse had done for them for the last year, caused them to be able to do,” Adams said. “We have seen blind children ride horses like they’re in the wind, not being held, but taking off and riding, which sets them free. We have seen mighty things in this place.”
Needs & Numbers
Michael Kuhn, Magical Meadows executive director, talked about the details of the capital campaign.
“Whenever you begin talking about putting together a capital campaign, one of the first questions that always comes up is, ‘What are the needs? What are the needs of the organization? What are the needs of the people it serves? And what are the needs of the community?’” he said.
Beginning the journey about a year ago, Kuhn said they were able to quickly identify and communicate those needs.
“When it comes to the needs of our community, we did some research and learned that more than 8,000 people - or 10% of the population - just here in Kosciusko County alone have a disability. An additional 4,000 veterans and hundreds of first responders also live here in our community. That’s over 12,000 individuals, right here in this county, that could directly benefit from the life-changing services we offer here at The Magical Meadows,” Kuhn stated.
He said those numbers don’t include the thousands of individuals from surrounding counties and the growing number of people struggling with mental health challenges who could also seek out and benefit from the services The Magical Meadows offers.
Speaking about the needs of the people The Magical Meadows already serves, Kuhn said they need “a place where they can come year-round to receive the transformational services that they have come to rely on here at The Magical Meadows. They need a place where they don’t have to worry about being turned away because they don’t have Medicaid or insurance or can’t afford the fees. Most importantly, they need a place that truly accepts them for who they are and loves them just as they are.”
Put simply, the needs of The Magical Meadows is more space and more people to meet the needs of the riders and the greater community.
“The ‘Growing with Heart’ capital campaign and expansion project that we’re here to discuss today will make it possible to do just that,” Kuhn stated.
A new 14,000-square-foot arena will allow The Magical Meadows to increase its rider numbers from about 120 to over 400 people annually, as well as encourage greater collaboration and engagement with groups and organizations that Magical Meadows was not previously able to work with.
The capital campaign will allow Magical Meadows to create a dedicated space for veterans and first responders to find peace anytime they need it, Kuhn said.
“While the participants in our Warriors Mount Up program already enjoy the sprawling landscape of our 41-acre property here, the new East arena that will go out there will give them a place that they can call home. A place where they can come together with their fellow service members to have fun, interact with horses and, most importantly, heal from the trauma that they experience on a daily basis,” Kuhn stated.
To make all the plans a reality, he said The Magical Meadows needs help.
“This project comes with a price tag of $2 million. Around $1.7 million of that will cover the costs of constructing these magnificent buildings, while the other $300,000 will help us account for increases in operating expenses and staffing for two years,” Kuhn said.
Some help on the capital campaign has already been extended through matching funds.
“As of this moment, $735,000 has already been pledged toward the $2 million goal; $300,000 of that is a matching challenge from some very, very dear friends of The Magical Meadows who wish to remain anonymous,” Kuhn said. “... Another $400,000 has been pledged through an incredible grant from K21 Health Foundation.”
That means that every dollar donated toward the campaign, up to $700,000, will be matched at a 1-to-1 ratio. After the matches are made, that will leave $500,000 left to be raised.
With the community’s help, Kuhn said they plan to break ground on the project by this fall and have it completed by spring 2026.
The addition of the two new arenas is phase I of the expansion plans. Once those are both finished, The Magical Meadows will embark on the second phase and a second capital campaign. Phase II will involve a complete overhaul of the existing arena.
“The dirt you’re standing on right now will be turned into and replaced by a basketball court, an accessible recreational area specifically for individuals with disabilities. A place where they, too, can call home,” Kuhn continued.
It’ll also have several therapy rooms, accessible restrooms, a family restroom and a sensory room to expand Magical Meadows’ services through developing partnerships. More details on those partnerships are to come in the future.
Phase II will cost another $1.5 to $2 million.
First Responders & Foundations
Kosciusko County Sheriff Jim Smith said the sheriff’s office has been involved with The Magical Meadows for several years now in various ways.
“A lot of people don’t realize the therapeutic value these horses can bring to someone. I think the best way I may be able to describe it is soothing,” Smith said. “Being a veteran myself, I can tell you first hand there is a distinct parallel in the way that vets and first responders handle their stresses, their worries and their troubles. The best part about it is, the horses don’t seem to much care, rather, they are there for them, even if it’s only for a few moments, to set aside those worries and enjoy the soothing and maybe freeness of riding them.”
He said he could not be more excited to see the growth in The Magical Meadows.
“One of my favorite things to see is when an organization steps outside of everything that is comfortable, sets their sights on something that is needed. They know it is needed because they are listening to this great community, so they were able to identify those needs for our community,” Smith said.
As a leader of a law enforcement organization, Smith said he worries a lot about the mental health of all of his employees.
“Times are different now in terms of dealing with one’s well-being as a first responder. You see, when I started this field many years ago, the sentiment that I received from seasoned officers, as I had a tough call, is ‘you signed up for this, kid. Shake it off, figure it out and get to the next call,’” Smith recalled.
He said we’ve all seen the results of that approach with military veterans and first responders as they move along in their lives.
“It seems to have a funny way of showing up throughout one’s life. PTSD is absolutely a real thing,” Smith said. “Where it’s different now, in my opinion, the younger generation is more open to address these tough calls, these emotions of maybe failing, or other issues that may be keeping them up at night. I also believe that the leadership in these organizations are more understanding and we want to help where we can. So when an organization like Magical Meadows kicks off a campaign that will be another great resource for our department, that really excites me.”
He concluded by encouraging the staff and volunteers at Magical Meadows, as well as the citizens of the county and surrounding areas. “If one has ever felt led to help an organization that will in turn help veterans and first responders, this would be the one,” Smith stated.
K21 Health Foundation Grants Manager Jennifer Stewart said K21 has gotten to do some great things within its partnership with Magical Meadows, like pave the parking lot, buy the land to grow their own hay, etc.
“So it’s been neat to be able to watch you guys grow, and this is just so exciting. Just standing in this facility alone and thinking about what’s going to be coming along,” she said. “When you see the passion that someone has, and then to see it create something that brings services to our community, Tammy did that. You created something that didn’t exist here, and so many people are having their lives impacted with this equine therapy.”
Stackhouse said The Magical Meadows is about making sure those with a diagnosis are recognized and are just as worthy as anybody else to go about their day and be able to do things that are offered to the community.
“We are so honored that those people with that little word attached to their family, that diagnosis, has allowed us to be that small voice, to be able to provide opportunity and reassure them that they are not less, they are equal, and this is going to be something for them for years and years to come,” she said.
To learn more about The Magical Meadows and the ‘Growing with Heart’ capital campaign, visit www.themagicalmeadows.org/growingwithheart
