Our Team
Our Founders
Devin and Tia Tharp founded the ranch in 2014 with a desire to influence and inspire the next generation with Hope. God has used their hearts for reaching kids and teens combined with their individual gifts and experiences to bring together the unique ministry of partnering hurting kids and teens with a mentor and horse in order to share Hope.
Tia is the Executive Director of Bright Side. She has a BA in Equine Studies, a Masters in Pastoral Counseling: Crisis and Trauma, a certificate in Biblically Based Equine Assisted Programming, and is a Training Facilitator in Biblical Trauma Healing.
Devin is the Family Pastor at Good Shepherd Church in Charlotte. He has a Masters of Divinity and over 25 years of experience with the next generation.
Our Team Members
Alisha McCarthy, Program Coordinator
Bright Side Mentor Team
We have an amazing team of mentors who volunteer their time each week to invest in the hearts of children and teens.
Our Board
We are a registered 501(s)3 Non-Profit. Our board of directors are:
- Lew Evans
- Dave Howard
- Maria Vaughn
- Bekah Henderson
- Devin Tharp
Our Herd
Our ranch is growing all the time!
Here are our current four-legged team members.
Sponsor a Horse
While many of our horses are lovingly donated or just rediscovering a new purpose, others have their own stories of past challenges or abuse. The annual cost to feed a healthy horse is more than $3,000, and when you consider the additional supplements, vaccinations, farrier expenses, and unexpected medical costs, it’s a daunting task keeping our herd of “Angels in Horsehair” funded. And since our horses work directly with our session participants, horse sponsorships also help support our session program.
Would you consider supporting one of Bright Side's horses by committing to becoming their monthly sponsor?
Thank you again for your support. Because of you, hurting kids will continue to find hope and healing as they journey alongside their most trusted confidant: your sponsored Bright Side horse.
“Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our HOPE is in you alone.”