Our Story (a timeline)
October 2025
Partnered with a private farm to utilize one pasture for Winterspring's sessions. This makes our service convenient for those in Columbia & Montour counties.
June 29th, 2025
We were awarded our first major grant from the Women's Giving Circle! These funds provide equine assisted mental health to clients referred to us from a local domestic abuse organization. This grant allows us to hold group sessions at no cost to the clients.
July 11, 2025
We are notified that we have been selected as one of the final four organizations eligable to win a $10,000 grant from the Women's Giving Circle. We will need to give and oral presentation on July 29th, when the foundation will vote to determine the winner of the grant. We are beyond excited and honored to be in the final four!
Summer 2025
Fundraising efforts continue as we spread the word about our organization and look for what could become our permanent and dedicated location.
June 8th, 2025
With the help of licensed counselor and Eagala veteran Patti Schlough, we hosted a demonstration for mental health professionals at a beautiful farm in Catawissa. We had over 30 people in attendance. We connected with Sara Ansell an LPC, who becomes a part of our therapy team!
May 2025
We started spreading the word about our upcoming demonstration of the Eagala model on June 8th. We invited mental health professionals from around the area to join us and learn about this therapeutic model which requires a team: a licensed mental health professional, an certified equine specialist and the horses.
During our outreach we attended the Geisinger Service Parade and gave a brief presentation on the work we are doing.
This led to Snyder County Children and Youth services approaching us about a contract.
March 12 & 13th, 2025
Our first fundraiser, Raise the Region, kicks off! We raised $2140 from our friends, family and supporters! Woot woot!
January 2, 2025
Winterspring receives its determination of non-profit charitable status from the IRS under the 501(c)3 code.
July 2024
Nicole attends the Eagala Fundamentals training in Colorado Springs, CO. Shortly thereafter she was certified as an Eagala Equine Specialist.
May 31st, 2024
Winterspring bylaws accepted and adopted. July 9th, EIN number assigned by IRS.
Spring 2024
Nicole asks five professional women, all with an unmatched love of horses, to join her in the Winterspring mission and become founding board members. These ladies are Cordelia Elias, Lura Good, Kasey Mowery, Christian Fletcher, and Sarah Walzer.
May 9th, 2024
Our story starts with a good bye. Nicole Will, the founder of Winterspring, adopted an ex-racehorse named Winter in the winter of 2022. She struggled to find a fit for Winter in the equestrian disciplines. Looking for alternative training techniques and different perspectives, she eventually understood that Winter the horse needed a place to live and be her beautiful self, beyond her usefulness to humans. Finding her a spot within an ex-racehorse Thoroughbred sanctuary program was not an easy task but very important to Nicole. Winter now resides on a peaceful farm in Oklahoma, living a life of calm enjoyment. Learning to meet Winter where she was rather than where Nicole wanted her to be was humbling and inspired the mission that Winterspring is building today.