When Mike retired from the United States Navy in 2016, he and Tammy purchased an equestrian ranch in Alpine, California and the rest unfolded from there. Just months later, Tammy learned of horses rescued from an abusive environment and in need of forever homes. Within two days, two of them had found one. Today, that herd has grown to thirty-six, each carrying its own story of survival.

For Tammy, rescue was never the destination. It was the doorway.

Her love of horses, paired with a deep passion for Veterans, First Responders, and their families, gave shape to an idea she couldn't let go of. She understood that the Heroes who answer a calling to serve often pay a profound price, one that follows them home in the form of physical and mental health challenges that can last a lifetime.

Tammy envisioned more than a program. She envisioned a community; a tribe where Heroes who feel lost could find their way back to themselves, and where those searching for purpose could find their footing again. For so many who have walked through our gates, Saddles In Service has become exactly that: a coming home.

At the heart of that homecoming are the horses — quiet, patient, and powerful healers who have guided our Heroes back to wholeness in ways that words rarely can.

In 2017, the dream became a mission. Mike and Tammy began building what Saddles In Service is today and what it will continue to be for every Hero we have yet to reach.