A high school student from Westchester is using her love for horses to help people who need it most.

Danielle Acocella, 14, says she has been riding horses since she was 7 years old and wanted to make a difference.

As part of a Girl Scouts project, Acocella is working with 13 Hands Equine Rescue in Bedford Hills to raise money and spread the word about equine therapy and the place where horses are given a new lease on life.

"Our goal is to rescue horses, take them out of abuse, neglect or slaughterhouse situations and rehab them,” says 13 Hands Equine Rescue founder Marylou Tortorello.

Psychologist Glenn Albright says in equine therapy, all the work is done on the ground and there's no riding.

“Horses have this unique ability to be able to read where people are at,” he says.

Albright says the horses are used very effectively with children who have autism, people who have depression, individuals with anxiety and those who were sexually abused.