About 50 horses of various breeds call Woodway Equestrian Center home, some of which are used in horse therapy sessions, Executive Director Kathy Rogers said. Woodway sits on about 45 acres of land, featuring two barns, a covered horse arena, three outdoor sand rings, a grass jumping field, wash racks, tack rooms and 24/7 on-site barn staff. “Horses are a 24/7 job. It’s not something you can just turn off,” Rogers said. “That’s why we have two staff members who live on-site—we aim to provide the best quality care for our animals.” Husband and wife Armando Monterrosa and Maria Torres bought Woodway in 2015, formerly known as Lane’s End. The facility had been run down, Rogers said, so the new owners revamped the center. “We are a family here, and we treat everyone who comes in here that way as well. We’ve found that the Tomball community treats us like family right back,” Rogers said. Woodway offers private and group riding lessons for children and adults of all skill levels and ages, Rogers said, as well as birthday parties, corporate team-building events, horse boarding services and summer camps. Riders at Woodway and staff also compete in riding shows. However, Woodway serves as more than a horse-riding center, Rogers said. It is also the birthplace and a financial supporter of Healing With Love, a nonprofit organization that specializes in equine-assisted psychotherapy and equine-assisted learning programs. Rogers said horse therapy can help those dealing with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, grief or loss, bullying and other mental health disorders. “Horses have this innate ability to sense people’s emotions. They can tell if you’re stressed, anxious [or] bottling up your emotions,” said Rogers, who is also the executive director for Healing With Love. “It puts me in awe every time.” Woodway Equestrian Center 24706 FM 2978, Tomball 832-917-5811 www.woodway-equestrian.com Hours: Mon.-Sun. 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m.