The Tucker County Giving Circle (TCGC) was pleased to partner again this year with Saddles and Smiles on their third annual Barn Rat Assistance Training (BRAT) Camp.
BRAT camps are Saddles and Smiles’ weeklong workshops designed for local youth ages 12 and up. The camps introduce participants to the Barn Rat program – a volunteer initiative where youth assist with weekly equine sessions and take on leadership roles during Saddles and Smiles’ three summer horse camps. BRAT camps provide participants with hands-on horsemanship skills, leadership development, and opportunities for personal growth.
TCGC is proud to have financially supported BRAT Camps for all three years of the program. The number of BRAT Camp participants has varied each year, with six students participating in 2026.
Saddles and Smiles, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was created to provide equine-assisted learning experiences for children, teens, and young adults with mental, emotional, and physical challenges. In rural Tucker County, these services are scarce, often requiring families to travel over an hour at significant financial and personal cost. To bridge this gap, Saddles and Smiles offers programming at no cost to participants, made possible through fundraising, small grants, and community support.
TCGC’s mission is to support women and children in Tucker County. All TCGC grants are funded by donations from members of the organization and administered by the Tucker Community Foundation. Since the organization’s inception in 2020, TCGC has provided over $70,000 to organizations that support women and children in Tucker County. The grant application period for 2026/27 recently closed, and TCGC members will be meeting on Oct. 9 to determine how this year’s available funds will be distributed.
To learn more about the Tucker County Giving Circle, contact [email protected]. To learn more about Saddles and Smiles, visit their website at saddlesandsmiles.org/.
