A
spirit of hope per-
meates the adaptive
riding and equine-
assisted therapy ranch
known as One Step
Closer. Founded by
Landa and Mark Keirstead in 2006, the ranch
has benefitted thousands of youth and military
veterans through programs that foster cogni-
tive, physical and emotional development. The
special connection between horse and human
is where the magic happens.
Landa is so at one with horses, it’s hard to
imagine her in any other career, but her path to
founding One Step Closer was circuitous. She
grew up around horses and riding but dreamed
of becoming an artist. As a college student,
concerns about earning a livelihood led to a
30-year career as a registered dental assistant.
While she enjoyed dentistry, Landa began
rethinking her life’s focus. An impromptu con-
versation inspired her shift to equine-assisted
therapy.
“A friend shared his experience volunteering
with the National Center for Equine Facilitated
Therapy in Woodside, and how he helped a
disabled man learn to ride. I was intrigued and
decided to volunteer. People I worked with
there kept asking why South County didn’t
offer a similar program. I knew then I wanted
to take it on.”
Landa spent three months in Texas in an
intensive equine-assisted therapy training pro-
gram offered by Professional Association of
Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH).
“Everyone thought I was crazy. We were
putting our kids through college at the time. It
was a leap of faith.”
In 2007 Landa worked with her first young
client at Calero Stables, a popular horseback
riding facility in South San Jose. Some horse
owners there were skeptical about her program
until they saw it in action.
“Over 100 people came to our first horse-
manship show. We changed a lot of minds.”
When Calero Stables closed, the Keirstead’s
sought a turnkey property where they could
live and operate One Step Closer. Landa knew
from the moment she first stepped onto the
two-and-a-half acre ranch on Foothill Avenue
owned by Julius and Dorothy Menendez that
it was “the one.”
“They thought our mission was a sign from
God and took our offer despite competitive
bids. In May 2011 we were open for business.
Our horses settled in easily, like they’d been
here for years. Word spread and clients came.”
Landa carefully assesses which horses and
riders are best suited to each other. She still
remembers her first client, a boy with Down
Syndrome, and how he couldn’t stop talking
about riding his first horse. His parents shared
the experience with their support group, which
led to referrals. Since then, Landa has worked
with clients with autism, cerebral palsy and
other challenges. Doctors sometimes refer their
patients to One Step Closer, which is how Landa
first began working with veterans in 2013.
“The Veterans Administration likes the idea
of veterans working outside with horses at our
ranch, and the fact that we are a PATH Premier
facility. To date, we have served over 1,000
veterans. Vets don’t want to relive their stories,
they want help so they can move on with life.
Our program is designed for them.”
Hundreds of kids have gone through the
adaptive riding program, starting at age 4. It’s
fun, as it should be, but it’s also therapy. The
goal is to gain a little ground every day; whether
it’s confidence-building or working through
stroke recovery. Every activity is important, from
brushing the horse, building a relationship, and
putting on the saddle, to going for a ride.
“I have a rider in her 20s who came to
me not knowing right from left. She learned
though doing. Another couldn’t feed herself,
After two summers, she started feeding herself.
She had made the mind and body connection.
Many of our kids have been mainstreamed into
regular programs because of what we do.”
Volunteers go through an orientation and
then shadow experienced volunteers.
“A trainer once advised, ‘Do what you’re
good at, don’t try to do it all.’ Mark and I fol-
low that model. I direct the riding programs.
He manages the business side. We love work-
ing with people and serving our community as
a nonprofit. Recognition from the Chamber is
an honor and validation of our work and we’re
grateful for it.”
“Clients and volunteers tell
us One Step Closer feels like
family and some have been
with us since the beginning.
We teach people how to ride,
despite their challenges.
That’s how we make a posi-
tive difference in this world.”
“It’s an opportunity for us
to mentor youth. It’s fun to
see the lightbulb go off and
their commitment level go
up. What they do here often
influences their decisions,
like studying neuroscience or
going to veterinary school.”
49