Nancie Roahrig has moved Step Up into T.L.C. (Therapeutic Loving Caballos) Inc. from Arizona to Gloucester. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit focuses on “traveling the miles to bring smiles” in the form of horse therapy.

Step Up began as a carriage company in 1997 with a Clydesdale named “Lenny.” The company became a nonprofit in 2006 when Roahrig decided to focus on pet therapy after taking Lenny to visit a friend’s daughter in the hospital with cancer. Now she travels with her horses to bring therapy to people in nursing homes, hospitals and hospice facilities.

“They’re so therapeutic,” said Roahrig.

Step Up currently has three horses who travel for therapy. “Jumping Jack” (also known as “JJ”) is a 2,000-pound Clydesdale, “Dillon” is a pony who is able to give rides, and “Buddy” is a miniature horse that wears Build-A-Bear Workshop shoes when he is indoors to keep carpets clean and stay steady on tiled floors.

“It’s incredible the work that they do,” she said.

In addition to pet therapy, Roahrig also travels to schools and libraries to provide education about horses. She even offers onsite field trips for students and teachers.

Roahrig also books the horses for special occasions, such as weddings and birthday parties, to fund her nonprofit. Dillon gives pony rides at birthday parties, but he can also be painted, and he even enjoys it.

“He loves it,” said Roahrig. ”He absolutely loves it.”

The horses even get dressed up, both for therapy and special occasions. JJ will wear a Santa hat or elf ears around Christmastime. The horses will also get dressed up for Easter and, most recently, for Independence Day. All three horses were in this year’s Yorktown Independence Parade, all dolled up in red, white and blue.

Roahrig moved to Gloucester in November to be closer to her young grandchildren who reside in Mathews.

To contact Step Up for horse therapy or special occasions, visit stepuptlc.org or email stepuppistol@gmail.com. The nonprofit also has a Facebook page called Step Up Into T.L.C. Inc.