In a quiet stretch of Portland, Tennessee, Hill Haven Chapel feels  like a breath of fresh air,  a place where time slows, horses graze peacefully, and healing happens in small, steady ways.

At the heart of it all is Stephanie Hubbard, the founder of Hill Haven Chapel and the caretaker of a senior horse sanctuary that has become a source of hope for both animals and children.

“I feel so much for them,” Stephanie says, speaking of the horses she has taken in. Many are elderly, worn down from years of work, their eyes carrying stories of being used rather than cared for. “They’re not tools. They’re living beings.”

Stephanie has created a sanctuary where children who are struggling can spend time outdoors, care for aging horses, and heal together through consistent kindness and community.

Her love for horses began early. Growing up in the heart of Nashville, Stephanie found refuge at a barn after a friend introduced her to horseback riding. By age 11, she was spending every weekend working at the stable, eager to ride at the end of long days. The barn became a place of safety, friendship, and peace. She remembers her classmates making unwise decisions and hanging with the wrong crowd and often thinks about how differently her life would be if she followed suit.

“Those horses saved me,” she says simply.

That belief stayed with her as she grew older. When she saw her own daughter struggle as a teenager, along with her daughter’s friends, Stephanie recognized the same pain she once carried. She saw how caring for horses gave them confidence, purpose, and a sense of belonging.

Hill Haven Chapel grew out of that realization, shaped by both faith and family legacy. Stephanie’s grandmother, Barbara, who turned 92 on Groundhog Day, was deeply rooted in the church and a lifelong volunteer. Stephanie sees Hill Haven as a way to honor that legacy while responding to a growing need.

“We’re missing community,” she says. “We’re not listening to the trees when the wind blows. We’re missing sitting outside.”

Today, children come to Hill Haven not to be fixed, but to be present. They help with barn work, hear the horses’ stories, and learn that trauma changes you, but so does healing. The horses, Stephanie says, are different from other programs because “they’re here to stay.” They are not rotated out. They are home.

Funding the sanctuary is one of the greatest challenges. Stephanie built a small chapel and wedding venue on the property, using those proceeds to support the horses’ care. “Without the support of the community, we couldn’t do this,” she says.

Despite the emotional and financial toll, the rewards are constant. Stephanie has watched the sanctuary’s impact ripple outward,  inspiring similar efforts and drawing people who want to learn how to create healing spaces of their own.

When asked what makes it all worth it, her answer comes easily.

“Every day,” she says. “When I see those horses happy.”

She gave up the home that she lived in for 26 years to move to land better suited for the animals. For her, the tradeoff was simple.

“They deserve this,” she says. “And so do the kids who find their way here.”

Get a peek at Hill Haven on their website.