Newsroom

(Owensboro, KY – Dream Riders of Kentucky, Inc. and Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc.) – Dream Riders of Kentucky and Southern Star Cares are excited to announce the arrival of two new horses, Star and Tater Tot, to the Dream Riders family.

In December 2025, Dream Riders was awarded a $13,416 grant through the Southern Star Cares grant program. With the grant, the non-profit sought to increase their herd to meet the growing needs of their riders, both in their skills and physically. The addition of Star and Tater Tot will allow Dream Riders to accommodate more riders, expanding their program’s reach in the community.

Dream Riders of Kentucky’s mission is to ensure that everyone, regardless of physical challenges, should experience the life-changing benefits of equine therapy and assisted activities.

“As our riders grow and mature, they get taller and heavier. While our riders were maturing, our horses were struggling,” Dream Riders riding instructor Haley Rigling explained, “By expanding our herd with larger horses, Southern Star is helping us close that gap. It gives us the literal strength we need to grow our programs and make sure that no one is left behind just because they grow up. We aren’t just adding horses to our herd, we are opening doors that have been closed for a long time.”

“Dream Riders demonstrates the heart of what Southern Star Cares stands for—community, compassion, and meaningful impact. We’re proud to partner with them and support their mission through this grant, made possible by the generosity of Southern Star team members,” says Rebekah Tanner, Southern Star Cares 2026 Board Chair.

Southern Star Cares is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization formed by Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. and located in Owensboro, KY. Southern Star Cares’ grants are funded from team members’ contributions. Since its inaugural fundraising campaign in 2022, Southern Star team members have donated nearly $500,000 to local non-profits across Southern Star’s footprint. All funds raised by Southern Star Cares go to grant recipients, with no administrative fees or deductions.

Media contact: 

Karen Goedde 
Director, Communications and Public Relations 
karen.goedde@southernstar.com 
(270) 852-4495 

 About Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. 

Southern Star is a leading transporter of natural gas to America’s heartland, with approximately 5,800 miles of natural gas transmission pipeline in the Midwest and Mid-Continent regions of the United States. Our pipeline system, facilities and employees are located in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska and Texas, with our headquarters in Owensboro, KY. 
 
For more details, visit: https://southernstar.com/newsroom/media-kit 

About Dream Riders of Kentucky, Inc.

Dream Riders of Kentucky is a non-profit equine-assisted activities and therapies program in a supportive and therapeutic environment to enhance the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities living in Daviess County and surrounding areas. The Dream Riders of Kentucky program strives to be therapeutically beneficial in the physical, psychological, cognitive, and behavioral challenges of each individual who participates. All programs work towards fostering independence, enhancing individual strengths, and achieving personal goals.