Founder Anne Davis transitioned from a successful 20-year career in the airline industry to create Horses With Hope in 2007. Motivated by her daughter Jamie Lynn, who was born with Down syndrome, Anne established a therapeutic riding program on a farm in Washington, PA, leasing both the facilities and the horses. The program began with just three students but quickly grew, reaching full capacity with 27 clients per week and over 75 volunteers.

In 2013, Horses With Hope incorporated as a nonprofit organization, purchased four horses, and relocated the program to the South Hills of Pittsburgh. This move allowed the organization to nearly double the number of individuals served, expanding to 50 clients per week and increasing its volunteer base to more than 100. This growth was driven by the program’s strong reputation and targeted outreach to underserved communities, including group homes for individuals with physical and developmental disabilities, a psychiatric hospital for mental health populations, Pittsburgh Public Schools, and Allegheny Intermediate Unit Schools.

By 2014, the Horses With Hope Learning Center was serving 100 clients per week during the school year, offering both Therapeutic Riding (TR) and Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) sessions.

In 2021, the organization began operations at Gilfillan Farm, located on the property of the Historical Society of Upper St. Clair. As a working tenant of the farm, Horses With Hope now uses several fields for turnout and grazing, along with historic barns for animal housing, an outdoor riding arena, and plans for a covered arena to ensure year-round programming.

Of the more than 100 volunteers involved with the program, 70% are teenagers participating in service learning, and Horses With Hope is recognized by four local universities as a site for internships.