Local therapeutic outreach Hope Horses, Inc. is seizing the reins of a big new benefit — one that comes with a mane and a tail — thanks to the yearly charitable effort known nationwide as Giving Tuesday.

In partnership with Cullman-based Alabama Farm Credit, Hope Horses announced that this year’s Giving Tuesday campaign has raised $6,447, a sum that far exceeds that campaign’s $5,000 goal to purchase a new therapeutic riding horse.

The campaign’s success has already saddled up: Hope Horses is welcoming Sal (aka “Splash of Gold”) to its expanding stable, enabling the outreach to serve an additional two to four area students each week, while also reducing “the workload on its current equine team, fostering more opportunities for individuals with special needs to access physical and emotional therapy,” as Alabama Farm Credit explained in its announcement.

Based out of its headquarters along Cullman’s Convent Road, Hope Horses serves individuals statewide by providing therapeutic and adaptive riding programs to those who have physical, cognitive, social or emotional disabilities.

“At Alabama Farm Credit, we are proud to support nonprofits, recognizing their vital role in strengthening our communities and addressing critical needs,” Mel Koller, Alabama Farm Credit CEO, said in the announcement.

“As an agricultural lender, we find a unique harmony in partnering with agriculture-focused nonprofits, like Hope Horses, whose missions align closely with our commitment to the land and the people who depend on it. By supporting these organizations, we help ensure that the benefits of agriculture — its resources, education and opportunities — reach those who need them most, while also fostering growth and resilience across our broader community.”

Alabama Farm Credit boosted Hope Horses’ Giving Tuesday campaign by promoting it across social media and through its own gift-matching program for employees. “We are grateful for everyone who gave and who shared our posts to spread the word about Hope,” Kelsey Scott, Hope Horses’ executive director, said in the announcement. “It’s a community-driven organization, and we appreciate everyone who helped us reach our goal.”

For more information on Alabama Farm Credit and its initiatives, visit www.alabamafarmcredit.com. Learn more about Hope Horses and its riding programs at www.hopehorses.org.

Benjamin Bullard can be reached at bbullard@cullmantimes.com and by phone at 256-734-2131 ext. 234.