Barnabas Staff & Board of Directors
Sue McKinney wears many hats at Barnabas Horse Foundation in Myrtle Beach, SC— Founder, President, and lead Equine Professional— but it’s her heart and vision that truly define her work. During a deeply personal trial no family should face, Sue felt God place an undeniable calling on her life. As a survivor of sexual assault, she combined her profound love of horses with an unyielding compassion for others, founding Barnabas in 2011 as a sanctuary of healing and hope.
By its third year, Barnabas gained the attention of the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office and has since been awarded the prestigious Victims of Crime Act grant for nine consecutive years. This funding has empowered Sue and her dedicated team to grow and strengthen their trauma-focused equine-assisted psychotherapy program, touching countless lives.
A certified life coach, Sue is also a Certified Victim Service Provider through the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. She has been a Natural Lifemanship Equine-Assisted Therapy practitioner since 2014 and holds certifications as a PATH International Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning and through the OK Corral Series. Her passion for ethical practices and community impact earned her the SC Electric Cooperative’s “Who Powers You?” award, celebrating her relentless dedication to making a difference. Sue’s advocacy and insight have also made her a sought-after speaker, including at the National Sexual Assault Conference in 2019 and Natural Lifemanship’s Annual Conference in 2020 and 2021.
Under Sue’s leadership, Barnabas has been nominated seven times for Myrtle Beach Area Non-Profit of the Year, winning the award in 2024. The organization was also recognized with the 2017 Ethics in Business Award. Most recently, Sue was honored as a “Relentless Legend” by her community for her unwavering work supporting survivors of crime.
Beyond her professional achievements, Sue is a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She continues to give 100% of herself to her clients, offering them compassion, care, and a safe space to heal. Her powerful presence and fearless voice have brought critical awareness to sexual assault and sex trafficking, inspiring her community to take a stand against these injustices.
A woman of steadfast faith, Sue leads with strength, integrity, and love. She’s not just a leader but a friend who speaks truth in kindness, embodying resilience and grace in every facet of her life and work.