Shannon Horsley never set out to work with horses, but life had other plans — and she wouldn’t have it any other way. As Executive Director of The Red Barn in Leeds, she’s dedicated to creating a place where children with disabilities, veterans, and those facing challenges can experience healing and confidence through equine-assisted programs.
Her work goes far beyond the barn, fostering a community built on compassion, resilience, and connection. We sat down with Shannon to hear about her unexpected journey, the transformative power of horses, and the moments that make it all worthwhile.
Tell us a little about yourself!
I’m 44, have a husband, Patrick, and two grown children, Gabriel and Alaina. I thought I would be in the criminal justice field at this point in my life — even got a degree in Criminal Justice — but things didn’t go that way. And I think it’s worked out better this way. I love animals, gardening, podcasts and audiobooks, my many nephews and niece, and my three rescue dogs.
What first drew you to The Red Barn? Have you always had a passion for working with horses?
I am actually not a horse person! I love them but never had the opportunity to be around them before coming here. I used to work at a shelter for homeless women and children, and Joy O’Neal served on the board of directors. We had a great professional relationship, and when she opened the barn at her property in Leeds in 2012, she asked me to help establish and run it.
I had young children and wanted life to slow down a bit, so I RAN to this new place in the woods where I was close to my home and my children could also benefit from the environment. It was also important to me to work for a faith-based nonprofit in a healthy environment. I get to take lots of walks in nature now!
The Red Barn is such a special place. For those who aren’t familiar, can you share its mission and how it serves the community?
Our mission is to provide educational, therapeutic, and equine-assisted programs to individuals with disabilities and special circumstances, especially those from low-income families. This includes providing therapeutic horseback riding lessons and equine-assisted learning classes.
It’s a place where children who use wheelchairs and leg braces can fit right in, have fun, and be challenged within their abilities. The instructors apply just the right amount of the right kind of stress/pressure, and the students become stronger and more confident. Their balance improves, and they become more resilient to frustration, stress, and anxiety. It just improves their quality of life overall. Plus, it’s fun!
All of our programs are available to veterans as well, and veterans never pay to participate. A close, dear friend of Joy’s named Larry Siegel ensured we included veterans from the beginning.
How do horses play a role in the healing and growth of those you serve?
Horses are perfect for this work. They are natural prey animals, so they understand the fear and anxiety many of our students feel. Horses can be startled or even terrified, but then they return to grazing, getting back to a state of equilibrium quickly. That’s something they help us learn!
A horse’s gait almost perfectly mimics a human’s, so riding gives those with limited or difficult mobility a great example and strengthens the muscles needed for walking, jogging, and running. Plus, horses are fuzzy, warm, cuddly, funny, and beautiful, making us motivated to spend time with them. That’s great for kids who attend multiple therapies elsewhere each week and might resist another therapeutic session without a horse to nuzzle.
Being physically near a horse also lowers a human’s heart rate and promotes a state of calm — a lot of our students and visitors need that help releasing some stress and worry (I might occasionally go pet a horse to release some tension, too!).
What has your journey to the Executive Director role been like?
In a word, it is challenging. Just having the weight of the responsibility on my shoulders can be exhausting sometimes because it’s really, really important that we stay open long-term and keep serving those with disabilities, special circumstances, and those from low-income families. The daily tasks aren’t hard, mainly because we have the best staff on earth, but the big picture of long-term sustainability has been sobering.
The most rewarding part of this job is helping and watching staff members get better at what they do. Direct service is not my gift; administration is my gift. But I also want to see change in the world. My part in that is bolstering the staff members so that they can go be awesome, and that’s really cool.
Of course, I want more money to do more awesome things, and I have to be patient and wait for it to come. I also love working in the background, so being interviewed for a Google Workspace commercial, news articles, and magazines like this one has been challenging!
What is one thing you wish more people knew about The Red Barn?
I wish everyone knew how it feels to be there. It’s beautiful, quiet, and peaceful, and you can feel God all around you. Believers and non-believers alike all feel the same peace, hope, and love all around. It sounds crazy until you experience it.
I am better because of the horses and people we serve. I am more grounded, grateful, and fulfilled. I have quite a few health challenges myself, and I could sit and wallow. But what’s the point of that? Our students don’t sit and wallow in their pain and struggles. I shouldn’t, either. They’re inspiring.
What do you do when you’re not at the Red Barn?
I hang out at home a lot, get together with family, water my houseplants (which takes a long time!), or relax — otherwise known as doing laundry, cooking, and cleaning.
Who or what is inspiring you at the moment?
Our Public Relations Manager, Grace Butler, recently attended a hospitality training offered by a national hotel chain. She came back on fire, and it has spread! She shared the training with our whole staff, and then she read Unreasonable Hospitality. I read it, and now I can’t stop thinking about how to make every person feel seen, heard, known, valued, wanted, and loved. I literally cannot stop thinking about this! I’m also listening to podcasts about leadership, and I’m inspired and challenged to be a better leader every day.
What are your favorite Birmingham restaurants?
My kids are foodies, so we like to try something different when we eat out. They love Makarios, and I love Wasabi Juan and PF Chang’s.
What are your favorite places to shop and play in Birmingham?
I’m a homebody, so I don’t get out a lot. I love being in my home. IÂ enjoy hiking, though, especially at Moss Rock Preserve and Turkey Creek.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Give everyone the benefit of the doubt, never assume the negative, and choose to assume positive intent. That advice changed my attitude and then my life.
Aside from faith, family, and friends, name three things you can’t live without.
Dogs, vegetables, and chocolate!
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Meet more interesting and inspiring Southern women over at our FACES archives!Â
