The Ark Miniature Therapy Horses Brings Comfort & Connection to Kokomo
Jenny Hancock didn’t set out to run a nonprofit with 11 miniature horses, four miniature donkeys, and a farm full of goats, sheep and even a peacock. Her path began in ministry, but a personal family struggle steered her in a new direction.
“My dad had Parkinson’s disease,” Hancock says. “By 2018 he was stumbling and couldn’t take his dog for walks anymore. I started researching ways animals could help people with mobility issues, and I came across therapy horses.”
Around that time, Hancock’s daughter was taking horseback riding lessons. Sitting at the barn, she noticed how the trainer worked with both horse and rider, and the idea clicked. She decided to give it a try for her father and brought home her first miniature horses, Cheyenne and Petunia.
“They brought him a lot of joy,” she says. “Even when he didn’t feel comfortable walking with them, they’d come onto the porch and keep him company.”
Her father passed away in late 2019. Hancock wanted to honor him by sharing the comfort her animals had given him. She began researching therapy horse programs and trained to become a certified miniature therapy horse handler in 2020, expanding their herd to five miniature horses and eventually developing their nonprofit, The Ark. But that came only after a setback: COVID-19.
“It shut everything down,” Hancock says. “We couldn’t go into nursing homes, hospitals or schools. It delayed our certification, but we kept working at it.”
Eventually, the fully mobile program began serving children and adults of all ages through animal-assisted activities. Every visit is designed to bring positive mental, physical and emotional benefits. At the same time, the horses themselves are given a second chance. Many have been rescued from neglect or abandonment and now thrive in their new roles.
At first, the work was personal for Hancock — a passion project to honor her father.
“It was just my husband and me funding everything,” she says. “But by 2022, we realized we needed to become a 501(c)(3).”
Drawing on her background in accounting, Hancock filed the paperwork herself. Right before Christmas, the approval letter arrived.
“It was the best present I could’ve asked for,” she says.
Today, The Ark travels within about 30 miles of Kokomo. The animals sit patiently with students at Hopebridge, help at-risk kids through a partnership with Narrow Gate Horse Ranch, and brighten afternoons for seniors living in care facilities. The Ark also appears at schools and nonprofit events to make ordinary moments special. Additionally, they take part in community events like the Kokomo Christmas Parade, where last year they walked 10 miniature horses through downtown.
The group doesn’t charge for visits. Instead, they suggest a donation, which supports the animals’ care.
“Nobody’s ever turned us down,” Hancock says. “People are very generous, and every bit goes back to the animals.”
The Ark has grown beyond horses. Sheep, goats, rabbits, donkeys and the resident peacock all play a role. The animals visit churches for VBS programs, schools and community centers. Hancock says one of her favorite visits was to Second Missionary Baptist’s summer program.
“A lot of those kids had never been around farm animals,” she says.
Special needs children hold a particular place in her heart. At one autism center, a horse that had been restless during training became calm and attentive the moment the children arrived.
“He stood perfectly still the entire time,” Hancock says. “It’s amazing how animals can sense what people need.”
The farm itself has become part of the mission. Open farm days are planned, and families can schedule visits through the group’s website or Facebook page. Volunteers are welcome, and 100% of donations go toward animal care. Hancock also partners with the Kokomo Area Career Center. Veterinary science students visit to learn hands-on skills like trimming hooves and giving shots.
Looking ahead, Hancock wants to expand the farm’s sensory activities for children, building on a recent Eagle Scout project that created a goat playground with interactive features.
The work is demanding, but Hancock says the reward is clear.
“When you see someone light up because of these animals, it makes everything worth it,” she says.
You can contact The Ark Miniature Therapy Horses about scheduling a visit or volunteering at 765-434-3132 or at jenh915@gmail.com. Additional information can be found on their Facebook page (@TheArkTherapyAnimals) or Instagram (@the_ark_therapy_animals). The Ark is located at 7658 W 00 NS in Kokomo.
