MARION COUNTY-

A mentoring program in Marion County may be coming to an end.
"Horses 'N' Heroes" founded in 1997, is a non-profit organization that depends on donations and sponsors.

  
Mindy Morrow said last year they received about $225,000 from private sponsors and donations, but this year they only received 25 percent of that.
 Morrow said sponsors tell her the tough economy is to blame.
 Now the girls and Morrow are taking action, by putting together a youtube video, hoping to find a last- minute hero.
   

 
Sixteen- year -old Sarah Lee Kuhns spends more than 20 hours a week with these horses.
Kuhns is part of a program called Horses N Heroes helps young girls learn about self respect and teamworkand it gives them a chance to work one on one with these beautiful animals.

"Before I started the program I didn't have any confidence at all I felt like I wasn't good at anything," said Sarah Lee Kuhns.

Now four years later the program has helped boost her confidence.

"Once I started with horses I felt like I was able to do something. I was able to put something in this life and I like I had meaning here," said Kuhns.

Most of the girls come from low-income families and others are dealing with a personal situation, like the death of a parent.
They sid this program brings them happiness.
At the farm they feed, groom and give medicine to the horses.
While the girls enjoy working on their duties, some said the most exciting part of their day is when they get ride a horse and get training lessons from Morrow.

"I couldn't imagine that I wouldn't have been able to ride. It never even entered my mind. So to have a group of girls that are in ocala surrounded by horses everywhere you got there are horses and not have that opportunity is sad," said Morrow.

The thought of the program ending brings tears to their eyes.

"I have connected with each one of these horses and without them I just can't do this sort of thing. without this program. We don't have any money and we don't know anybody else that will be able to do this," said Kuhns.

They hope this YouTube video will help save the one thing they can't live without.
Morrow said the have enough funds to make it through the month of December, but once January rolls around they don't know what they are going to do.

To donate or become a sponsor you can call Mindy Morrow at 352-629-5280 or visit their website http://www.horsesnheroes.org/

Here is the link for the YouTube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Frvg-l89D4Q