Our Mission
TM Horse Haven is a local nonprofit dedicated to providing a safe space for people to rest, restore, and renew. We are committed to ensuring that those who visit have the opportunity to experience the peace and calm that comes from being present in nature, grounding that comes from interaction and reflection, and the transformation of thought that encourages them to make positive and lasting changes in their lives and actions.
Our Vision
Our vision is to create and cultivate an environment
where people have the time and space to care for their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being while connecting with others and/or simply enjoying nature and our animals.
"Renewal is not just innovation and change.
It is also the process of bringing the results of change
into line with our purposes.
Our Story
We are Kyle and Chelsea Kirchhoefer and we are so blessed that you found your way to our site and our story. We were married in 2007 and are the adoring parents of two intelligent, loving, brave, and strong girls. We love nature and the great outdoors, nurturing our land and our animals, building our life around our dreams while trying to make the world a better place, and spending time with others cultivating meaningful relationships. We have dedicated our lives investing in transformation of all types (I.e., personal, professional, spiritual, or in the name of supporting community and building relationships). Whether it’s by caring for our own animals and rescue horses, flipping houses, or running any of our other seven companies, in life our passion is watching something bloom into a stronger more confident and fulfilled version of itself.
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In 2020, we found ourselves in the midst of building multiple businesses and navigating the pandemic with two small, school-aged children. We were busy, our minds were crowded, and we were tired. Our guess is that if you are reading this, you too can relate in some way! We were also trying to find an activity that was safe and available for our kids (as was the rest of the world).
We started horseback riding lessons, a long-time dream for both girls. Right from the start, we noticed that being at the barn had a profound effect on our entire family. Walking into a quiet barn, we heard nothing but the rhythmic sounds of the horses eating their breakfast. It was meditative. Soothing. We were gifted a chore task list that required us to tune into the needs of the barn and the animals, and we soon found meaning and purpose in being in the environment and in the work we were doing to care for something outside of ourselves. We would leave feeling relaxed, refreshed, and rejuvenated...feelings we were all searching for during a time of great uncertainty.
As we spent more time volunteering at the barn, we began to see that being in nature, along with bonding with the animals and each other, helped us feel more peaceful. More grounded. We could see the mental health benefits of working together and growing in our knowledge and understanding of animal caretaking, moving our bodies with purpose, and being in the fresh air. We were calmer, happier, more alive and connected than we had been before. As a family, we fell more in love with each other and the horses, and knew we wanted more time caring for and learning from them.
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We welcomed our first horse in 2021, and rescued our first pony just five months later. By that time, we had already begun the process of looking for a property of our own. We desired to create a safe space for animals and people to experience the effects of a safe, nurturing space, just as we had found at the barn for riding lessons. We purchased the now home of TM Horse Haven in 2022, and have since been spending our time rehabbing and redesigning the property in preparation for it to be your safe haven for years to come.
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Kyle & Chelsea Kirchhoefer | Founders
John W. Gardner | Former United States Secretary of Health, Education & Welfare
"Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in
the courage of those who dare
to make dreams into a reality."
Jonas Salk | Researcher
Our Hopes & Dreams
We dream of the ways TM Horse Haven can provide you with the kind of respite, reflection, and the renewal of purpose that we saw transform our family. We dream of the land being full of animals, kids playing in the fields or learning to fish in our pond, and the community being connected and experiencing nature in the midst of their busy lives. We are passionate about you having the best possible opportunities to explore your understanding of community and connectedness, as well as your desire for fulfilling relationships, jobs, goals, hopes, and dreams. What better a way to support those than by providing a safe and nurturing environment for you
to breathe, reflect, connect, and dream of the possibilities for the future.
We love to dream of what could be, and then take the necessary steps towards making it become a reality. We would love to help you do the same, whether you are pursuing better personal health, a new professional endeavor, establishing or building connections, or celebrating life, we embrace and welcome you just as you are. We are very much come as you are people (and are most comfortable in jeans and cowboy boots)....so grab some comfortable clothes, throw on your own favorite pair of boots or walking shoes, and join us on our beautiful piece of property nestled just to the South of The University of Illinois' Willard Airport.
