In 2002, sixteen horses in a cruelty case were seized by Sacramento County Animal Control and placed in
the care of Beth DeCaprio, a well-known small animal rescuer in the area. The horses began their journey housed on a small
plot of undeveloped, residential land behind DeCaprio’s house. Once she agreed to care for this unnatural herd, however,
DeCaprio found her calling and the journey of what is now known as The Grace Foundation of Northern California began.
Legal ownership of the sixteen horses was awarded to DeCaprio in 2003. During that time, DeCaprio established and
incorporated The Grace Foundation of Northern California. By 2004, the organization filed and received its 501(c)(3) non-profit
status.
Realizing that children were subject to cases of neglect and abuse just like her 16 horses were, DeCaprio
decided to establish programs for children, individuals, and at-risk youth by putting some of these rescued animals to work
as therapy horses. The equine facilitated programs, which are in effect to this day, include activities with the horses in
which children and youth learn about and apply important skills including leadership, problem solving, creative thinking,
responsibility, teamwork, assertiveness, communication, and relationship building. Activities provide the children and youth
the opportunity to assist with the rehabilitation of an animal and provide that animal with a higher quality of life. Taking
part in the animal’s recovery, allows children and youth to build self-esteem and self-confidence, learn how to work
with peers, gain a sense of feeling needed and valued, and the joy of what it feels like to make a difference in this animal’s
life.
In 2005, The Grace Foundation’s equine assisted learning programs were approved through the Folsom/Cordova
and San Juan Unified School Districts and private programs with individual at-risk youth began. 2005 also brought collaborative
efforts between The Grace Foundation and the University of California-Davis, Center for Animals in Society & Veterinary
Medicine Extension from the School of Veterinary Medicine. Throughout this year, over 200 children were involved in The Grace
Foundation Educational and Enrichment Programs; and over 50 horses made “Grace” their home.
In January
of 2006, MJM Properties donated use of their land (600 acres) for The Grace Foundation’s new home. During that time,
Grace collaborated with the City of Folsom and agreed to house and care for their Mounted Patrol Unit, in exchange for incorporation
of the Mounted Police Patrol in Grace’s educational programs. During 2006, the University of California-Davis, Center
for Animals in Society & Veterinary Medicine Extension from the School of Veterinary Medicine and the Grace Foundation
developed educational and therapeutic programs, and conducted research addressing questions for both animals and youth. The
Grace herd grew to 84 horses, three goats and a calf by the end of 2006.
By 2008, over 5,000 children had participated
in one or more of The Grace Foundation programs since their inception. This was the year that Grace also brought on a full-time,
large animal veterinarian, and began collaboration with the Pacific Coast Horseshoeing School to provide farrier care for
Grace’s equine residents. New educational programs were added, including a Life/Science field trip approved by the State
of California for science curriculum for grades 3 through 8. A new division of Grace called Pony Town was also established
and built for the early intervention of childhood autism during 2008.
In 2009, a local non-profit organization
which provided therapeutic riding programs for special needs individuals, called Ride and Shine was about to close its doors
due to the poor economy and drop in funding and donations. They approached The Grace Foundation for help and, within a few
months, Grace absorbed Ride and Shine and incorporated the group’s platform for its own therapeutic riding program,
which is now called “Ride and Shine at Grace”.
In February of 2010, the Western States Horse Expo
collaborated with the Grace Foundation to host the first annual “HELP Rescue Me Trainer’s Challenge”. The
goal of the Challenge is to promote the benefits of adopting rescue horses, produce horses that are ready to go to work for
their adopters, and help to showcase the training talents of quality, local trainers throughout Northern California.
