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What We DoThe H.A.Y. (Horses Assisting Youth) Foundation serves local children between the ages of 4 and 17 by providing them the experience of learning proper horsemanship in order to support the child's social and emotional well-being. Several local Therapeutic Riding Centers are established to assist children with physical and mental disabilities, Autism and other health impairments, but there was a lack assistance in the community for youth who were considered ‘at-risk’. The H.A.Y. Foundation Program fosters the well-being of ‘at-risk’ youth by building confidence and self-esteem, encouraging self-discipline and behavioral control, improving language and communication skills, and providing the opportunity to create a trusting bond between a child and horse.
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Our History
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H.A.Y. was formed on April 4, 2011 by Amy and Dave Koenigsfeld (pictured above) to foster the well-being, and nourish the emotional health of youth who are poor, distressed or underprivileged through the implementation of equine and equine related activities. H.A.Y. stands for Horses Assisting Youth and serves youth that live approximately within a 40 mile radius of Nixa, Missouri. The H.A.Y. Foundation began serving youth in June of 2012 according to the Foundation Board approved mission statement and bylaws.
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