New Smyrna Beach, Florida

Experience the joy of horses

in a safe, fun, and hopefilled Christian environment.

Training through hope inspired horsemanship.

A young man pets a buckskin horse at a pipe gate at The Refuge

Our Heart & Primary Program

Equine Assisted OASIS Sessions

An oasis is a place of rest and refreshment in a dry land. Our OASIS sessions offer just that: time with our horses in a safe, peaceful, Christ-centered setting.

Led by a certified Faith-Based Equine Assisted Learning instructor (FBEAP), each session pairs hands-on, ground-based time with the horses with gentle guided reflection rooted in God's Word. Horses respond honestly to how we approach them. Along the way, women, children and families can slow down, find encouragement and discover the hope that is ours in Christ.

“But you are a refuge to the poor, O Lord, a refuge to the needy in distress. You are a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat.” Isaiah 25:4
Book an OASIS Session
Two children ride side by side on a buckskin and a bay horse in the sandy arena at The Refuge

New Program

Sibling & Family Connection Sessions

Bring your siblings or your whole family to spend time together alongside the horses.

  • Build communication skills
  • Grow connection with one another
  • Learn teamwork and working together
  • Strengthen your relationships
Book a Family Session

Our Mission

A refuge for every heart

The Refuge Equestrian Center is a Christian ministry where women, children, and families experience the joy of horses in a safe, fun, and hopefilled environment. Through faith-based equine assisted learning and natural horsemanship, we help people grow in confidence, character, and hope, one hoofbeat at a time.

Training through hope inspired horsemanship.

A young woman in a cowboy hat stands with a dark bay horse at The Refuge

“But you are a refuge to the poor, O Lord, a refuge to the needy in distress. You are a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat.”

Isaiah 25:4
Sarah Pendleton with one of her horses

Meet Your Instructor

Sarah Pendleton

  • Certified Faith-Based Equine Assisted Learning Instructor (FBEAP)
  • Natural Horsemanship Trainer
  • Approved Step Up for Students Direct Pay Provider
Contact Sarah

What We Offer

More Programs

A child in a riding helmet reads on a chestnut horse at sunset at The Refuge
Coming Soon

Horse Powered Reading

Making reading fun and memorable alongside our horses.

A young boy holds the lead rope of a buckskin horse in a grassy field at The Refuge

Faith-Based STEM

Science, technology, engineering and math explored through hands-on time with horses.

A young woman with a bay horse on a sandy path at The Refuge

FBEAP Facilitator Training & Certification

Become a certified Faith-Based Equine Assisted Learning facilitator.

A student introduces a saddle pad to a bay horse during the Horse Ownership Experience at The Refuge

Horse Ownership Experience

Discover what it's like to care for and partner with your own horse.

A girl runs a black and white mini pony over a barrel jump at The Refuge

Horse Agility Classes

Build trust and communication as you guide a horse through obstacles on the ground.

A girl in a riding helmet sits on a buckskin horse at The Refuge

Natural Horsemanship Training

Gentle, relationship-based training for horses and their people.

We accept all Step Up For Students scholarships (FES-UA, FES-EO and PEP). Learn more

Our Herd

Meet Our Horses

Solo, a buckskin Quarter Horse gelding, looking over a fence

Solo

Quarter Horse Gelding

Training Sessions with Maverick

A girl kisses Maverick's forehead in the sandy arena A girl rubs Maverick's face during a training session A girl gently rubs Maverick's face while holding his lead rope A girl stands beside young Maverick in the arena A girl and Maverick stand together in the sandy arena

Horse Spotlight

Indigo Spotlight

Atrevido's Lakota do High Country · Mangalarga Marchador mare

Meet Indigo

Atrevido's Lakota do High Country, our Mangalarga Marchador mare, at home in the paddock at The Refuge.

She completed her first 25-mile AERC endurance ride. Watch more of her adventures below.

Watch to the end!
Her first 25-mile endurance ride (AERC)
Gabby and Indigo, horse agility
Hailey and Indigo, horse agility
Keyara and Indigo, horse agility

More of Indigo on YouTube

The Refuge

From Our Farm

A child in a riding helmet reads on a chestnut horse at sunset
Reading at sunset
A girl rests her forehead against a buckskin horse
A place of rest
A smiling girl with a buckskin horse
Joy with horses
A girl runs a black and white mini pony over a barrel jump
Horse agility
A little boy in a riding helmet on a paint pony
First rides
A girl in a riding helmet on a buckskin horse
Natural horsemanship
Maverick as a foal beside a grazing black mare
Maverick as a foal
Two children ride side by side in the sandy arena
Riding side by side
View between a horse's ears of a rider on a buckskin ahead on a grassy trail
Trail rides
Two smiling riders on a buckskin and a dark bay horse
Riding together
A rider guides a bay horse over a ground obstacle
Horsemanship training
A smiling boy with a dun horse under a shed roof
Barn friends

On YouTube

Watch Us in Action

Moments from The Refuge, straight from our YouTube channel.

Solo, January 2025
Mama’s little helper
See more on YouTube

Step Up For Students Scholarship Families Welcome

The Refuge Equestrian Center is an approved Step Up for Students Direct Pay provider. Contact us to learn how your scholarship can be used for our programs.

Can I use my Step Up For Students scholarship at The Refuge? Yes. We are an approved Step Up For Students Direct Pay provider, and we accept all Step Up For Students scholarships, including FES-UA, FES-EO and PEP. Contact us to ask how your scholarship applies to the program you're interested in.

Pregnant Sarah with a horse smelling her belly

From the Blog

They Knew Before I Said a Word

The day I went into labor with my sixth baby, each of my horses came up to smell my belly. Here is what that taught me about how God made horses to sense our hearts.

Read the Story All Posts

Contact

Come visit the Refuge

We'd love to hear from you. Send a message and we'll get back to you soon.