Dr. Edie Dopking–founder of Quantum Leap Farm, an Odessa, FL-based facility that, for 25 years, has offered an array of equestrian therapy programs, addressing a wide range of conditions, serving constituents who “range from age 2 to 92”—describes her lifelong passion for horses, growing up in Bowling Green, KY, and escalating when her Dad bought her a horse when she was 11. 
Horses have remained central to Dopking’s world. And the profound realization that these beautiful 
animals could assist in different types of healing came by way of the Bakas Equestrian Center a therapeutic riding program in Tampa, specializing in helping children with various disabilities. Dopking volunteered at Bakas, and struck by their good work–and wanting to provide comparable help to adults, given her “soft spot” for veterans (both her dad and husband are veterans), while pursuing her PhD in Aging Studies—the idea for Quantum Leap Farm took hold. Conveniently, she had a parcel of land to devote to it, she had some dough (from the sale of an MRI business she was part of), and she had some freed-up time. So, beginning modestly, with three horses, she launched Quantum Leap Farm in 2000. Dopking kept the
enterprise small initially, in part mindful that the first five years constitutes a pivotal period for the IRS to evaluate the status (and ostensible status) of a particular nonprofit. This point leads us into a discussion of how the operation of Quantum Leap Farm is financed—just the care and feeding of horses is a significant expense, not counting veterinary bills, and that’s just for starters—widening out to a highly detailed account of Quantum Leap’s major fundraising events each year. Noting that I’ve long thought horses are magical in all kinds of ways, including the way they appear to be capable of healing various afflictions and broken souls, I ask Dopking about a few conditions common to Quantum Leap clients, and how the horse interaction helps. She addresses children on the autism spectrum, describing the typical impact of equine encounters at Quantum Leap. A bit later, she does the same regarding veterans with PTSD. We conclude our conversation (only because the clock ran out) acknowledging that Quantum Leap Farm enthusiastically welcomes volunteers to assist the operation in a variety of capacities. To learn more: https://www.quantumleapfarm.org/
ALSO: I spoke with Laura Weiss, of Florida Voices for Animals, the veteran Tampa-based animal advocacy organization pursuing a broad portfolio of protests, campaigns and other projects, such as producing the annual Tampa Bay Veg Fest, set for Nov. 14, 2026. She explained they’re also coordinating a three-day protest of the Loomis Brothers Circus stint at Robarts Arena in Sarasota, starting July 31—and the related effort to persuade the circus to stop using Okha, an Asian elephant, thought to be about 56, captured from the wild in India as a baby. Weiss notes that FVA provides signs and other materials to those who choose to join them in this Sarasota protest, which corresponds to the show times: Friday, July 31, from 6:30pm-8 pm, Saturday, August 1, from 12:30pm-2pm.; 3:30-5pm.; 6:30-8pm Robarts Arena at Sarasota Fairgrounds, 3000 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34237 (https://www.floridavoicesforanimals.org/)
COMEDY CORNER: Gary Gulman’s “Walrus” [excerpt] (https://garygulman.com/)
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Sweet’s “Fox On The Run”
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