An equine-assisted therapy center in Osceola County is at capacity and they want to serve more people but they can't do it without the community's help.

  • McCormick Research Center in competition for a horse
  • Equine-assisted therapy center will soon be down a horse
  • Community can vote for the center

This nonprofit hopes to earn your vote in a competition that would help them expand.

"I love the horses and they have changed my life dramatically," said Francesca Langston.

She is a veteran who stopped serving in the Marines after an injury overseas led to five jaw surgeries. She continues to recover, with the help of a four-legged friend.

"It was really hard until I found actually this program, and that actually helped me more in dealing more with my mental and things that I deal with every day," she explained.

Langston is talking about the McCormick Research Center in St. Cloud which provides horse-based therapy services for veterans and special needs individuals. The center has 15 therapy horses at the moment.

Kristina Hess, 15, has epilepsy and mild cerebral palsy. She’s been part of the program for 10 years. "My horse name's JR. He is a sweet, kind and tenderhearted. He loved carrots and apples," Hess said.

But one of the center’s horses is retiring soon. This is why they have entered a national competition to see if they can win a Gypsy Vanner, a breed of horse that is docile and well-suited for therapy but can cost thousands of dollars.

The founder of the center, Thomasa Sanchez, said they don't have enough resources to meet the community's needs at the moment.

"We can show that Central Florida is the place that people can be cared for, because we have a community that gives back. Vote today,” Sanchez said.

Langston said this new horse would be a blessing that can help many others just like her. "If it doesn't make you happy or change your life, I don't know what will," Langston added.

The McCormick Research Center is in second place. Supporters can vote every 24 hours for their favorite organization.

For more information, head to the McCormick Research Center website.

To vote in the "Gypsy Gift" competition, click here.