Today we’d like to introduce you to Diane Prewitt.
Hi Diane, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My background in the therapeutic riding field spans thirteen years, during which I worked with diverse populations, including individuals with cerebral palsy and adolescents receiving mental health support. I soon realized that there was an underserved population that was not receiving these services: active-duty service members, veterans, and first responders. The people who often sacrifice the most need support, too. So, I created Guiding Reins in 2019 to fill that void.
The COVID-19 pandemic initially paused our operations. As frontline healthcare workers, first responders, and veterans faced unprecedented stress, the need for a place to decompress and heal became even more apparent. Grant funding allowed us to relaunch our programs and begin serving those who needed them most.
Fast forward to 2026, and Guiding Reins has now served more than 400 participants through six host farms across Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina. We primarily serve veterans, active-duty military personnel, first responders, frontline healthcare workers, and their families. We have also built strong relationships with community partners who help connect participants to our services. Many of the veterans we work with are referred through VA clinics in Greenville, Anderson, and Asheville, the Greenville Vet Center, Upstate Warrior Solution, and local veteran-owned businesses.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Launching Guiding Reins just as COVID-19 began created significant challenges. At the same time, the pandemic highlighted just how much frontline workers, veterans, and first responders needed a safe place to decompress and heal, so the need for our programs only grew.
As participation increased, I began reaching out to local farms to ask if they would partner with us by providing horses and facility space. In the beginning, I heard “no” far more often than “yes.” Rather than giving up, I kept building relationships and sharing our mission. Eventually, one host farm in Campobello believed in what we were doing, and that became the foundation for our growth. Today, we’ve expanded to host farms from Liberty, South Carolina, to Bright’s Creek, North Carolina. Looking back, those early challenges taught me the value of persistence, strong community partnerships, and believing in the mission even when others do not see the vision right away.
We’ve been impressed with Guiding Reins, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Guiding Reins is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides mental health equine-assisted wellness programs for veterans, active duty military personnel, first responders, and their families. Our mission is to utilize equine-human interaction to promote self-awareness of mindset, demeanor, and behavior to help cope with life’s challenges and build beneficial and effective relationships.
What sets us apart is that our programs are entirely ground-based. There is no horseback riding involved unless a participant has a physical disability. The horses serve as partners in the healing process, offering immediate, honest feedback that helps participants develop self-awareness, emotional regulation, communication, and trust. Every session is facilitated by trained professionals who prioritize both participant and equine well-being.
Another distinction is that our services are provided at no cost to participants. Through generous donors, grants, and community partnerships, we can remove financial barriers so those who have dedicated their lives to serving others can receive support when they need it most.
What I am most proud of is seeing the impact these programs have on the people we serve. Many participants come to us feeling overwhelmed, isolated, or unsure where to turn. Over time, we watch them build confidence, reconnect with their families, strengthen relationships, and find healthier ways to manage the stress they carry. Knowing that someone leaves feeling more hopeful than when they arrived is what makes this work worthwhile.
I am also proud of how our community has embraced our mission. What started with one host farm has grown into a network of partners across Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina. That growth has only been possible because local farms, volunteers, donors, and referral partners believe in what we do. Their support allows us to continue offering our programs at no cost and to reach more active-duty military, veterans, first responders, and their immediate families.
How do you think about luck?
I think we have experienced a lot of good fortune along the way. We were able to continue growing through the challenges of COVID-19, and we have been incredibly fortunate to build partnerships with outstanding host farms that believe in our mission. Every person and organization that has chosen to support Guiding Reins has played a role in helping us reach more participants, and I am grateful for each of those relationships.
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Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.guidingreins.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guidingreins/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/guiding-reins
