For Laurie Bryceland, the path to founding a growing equine-assisted nonprofit began at home—with her son—and has since expanded into a regional mission centered on healing, resilience, and connection.
“I do have a 27-year-old special needs son,” Bryceland said. “He is on the autism spectrum… he also has sensory processing disorder, congenital heart disease and chronic kidney disease, so he is medically complicated as well.”
Her son, Shane Bryceland, is also an author. “He just published his first book, Normal Outside, Battle Inside. We’re very, very proud of him.”
Raising Shane, she said, came with significant challenges. “It was very challenging to manage his needs, both medically and… his autism,” she recalled. But an unexpected moment would later shape her life’s work.
“When my son would come to the barn… I saw a change in him,” Bryceland said. “He was so different around the horse… it just brought out the very best in him.”
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That experience stayed with her. “I said, ‘You know what? I need to help other individuals who face similar challenges… and introduce them to horses,’” she said. “I knew it could bring out the very best in them… help their anxiety and help their depression.”
As an educator with a long-standing passion for children with special needs, Bryceland eventually pursued formal training in equine-assisted services. By 2017, she had become a certified therapeutic riding instructor and entered the field professionally.
But the COVID-19 pandemic brought unexpected disruption.
“I watched, right before my eyes, my own son’s progress just disappear,” she said. “His regression was heartbreaking.”
At the same time, she remained connected to veterans and first responders she had worked with previously. “They were texting me… ‘When are we reopening?’”
Faced with growing need and limited services, Bryceland made a decision.
“I said to my husband, ‘We have to help,’” she recalled. “We have the farm. We have horses.”
In May 2020, Victory Hill Therapeutic Horsemanship was born.
“In a matter of five weeks, we assembled our board of directors… recruited over 30 volunteers,” she said. “It was a whirlwind.”
By June 2020, the organization began serving its first clients—and demand has not slowed since.
“We’ve been filled to capacity ever since,” Bryceland said. “We have a waiting list.”
Healing for people—and horses
Today, Victory Hill serves veterans, first responders, children in foster care, at-risk youth, and individuals with special needs. But Bryceland is quick to emphasize that healing is not one-sided.
“All of our horses are rescued,” she said. “Some of them were… ready to go to slaughter. Some were severe neglect and abuse cases.”
One of those horses, King, now plays a central role in the program.
“He was bound for slaughter,” Bryceland said. “Now he’s a fantastic therapeutic horse… he’s much happier.”
She has witnessed transformation on both sides of the arena.
“We see that the horses go through this crazy transformation… they’re just thriving and happy,” she said. “They really are healing people every day—and it’s healing them.”
A new vision: regional wellness center
Now, Bryceland is leading an ambitious expansion to meet that growing need.
“I’m very excited that we are developing a regional Wellness Center,” she said. “Half of the property is in Goshen, and half… in the Town of Wallkill. It’s literally on the border.”
The site—formerly known as Seven Meadows Farm—is a vacant equestrian facility with strong potential. “It is a premier equestrian center,” Bryceland said.
“The land trust is planning to purchase the property on behalf of Victory Hill, and then we will have five years to purchase it from them,” she explained. “That is an incredible arrangement, because it will give us the time we need.”
The new campus aims to significantly expand services across the region. “This campus… will become the brick-and-mortar home” for partner organizations supporting veterans, she said.
“First and foremost, their service dog program… there is nowhere to house the puppies and train them here,” she added. “This campus will allow that program to move forward.”
Transportation is another key focus. “They’re going to be providing transportation for our veterans to get to their appointments,” Bryceland said. “Right now… they have no way to get to us for treatment.”
The facility will also include spaces designed for connection and recovery. “We’re going to have a veteran lounge… a gym… we really want this to be a home away from home,” she said.
At the same time, the expansion will increase access for families and individuals currently waiting for services. “We’re full right now,” she said. “This new property will allow us to eliminate our waiting list.”
Community support needed
The project, estimated at around $2 million, has already gained momentum. “We have about 30 percent of the funding raised already,” Bryceland said. “We have about $140,000 left that we need to raise” for the initial phase.
The property will also require significant restoration. “It needs a lot of TLC,” she said. “The fencing… needs to be repaired… the indoor is a warehouse right now… it all needs to be reconditioned.”
Still, Bryceland remains hopeful. “We’re turning over every rock to find the funding,” she said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for Orange County.”
Her message to the community is clear: “This is going to be a life-changing facility.”
A mission rooted in caregiving
At its core, Bryceland’s work is deeply personal.
“When you have a special needs child, you just need a lot of support,” she said. Reflecting on her own experience, she added, “Nobody… ever told us that he could be eligible for services… we didn’t know.”
Now, she is committed to helping other families navigate those challenges. “It’s a passion of mine to make sure I educate every parent,” she said.
Her advice to others: “Seek out other parents… talk to other parents who have walked on a similar journey.”
From one mother’s experience to a growing community initiative, Bryceland’s work continues to expand—offering healing, connection, and hope across the Hudson Valley.
