"I may not speak your language but when you spend time in my presence and listen with your heart you will hear my voice."
Our Horses
Our horses have the ability to communicate and interact with people. They have various temperaments and personalities. Like the people who work with them, they each have their own unique life story. They have varying physical capabilities; some have had injuries or illness that have created some limitations. But they all have the ability to touch the hearts and lives of people.
It seems like magic sometimes to watch the withdrawn child's eyes light up with delight when Ellie lowers her Percheron head to be eye to eye with them, the oppositional teenager who can’t help but laugh when Bunny rolls the soccer ball with her nose, the depressed child who smiles as she pets Hope and Hope wraps her neck around the child with a horsie hug.
However, sometimes our horse’s jobs are more difficult and aren’t sweet happy moments. Sometimes Ellie will remind a child with anger issues week after week for months, that unless they deal with their anger in a healthy way she will not lower her head for her halter. Sometimes Bunny will refuse to move even one hoof until an adult figures out that what works is asking for a result, instead of demanding it. Flash has many times gotten a long workout as he paces that fence back and forth until the anxious teen finally admits that she doesn’t really feel fine; then he will stop pacing. And Hope has stood by many a person as they have finally opened up and let their tears flow to find healing.
At The Ranch of Hope Reins, our horses are the foundation of our programming. The love, trust, and interaction they give us are priceless and we, in turn, love them whole-heartedly.
It seems like magic sometimes to watch the withdrawn child's eyes light up with delight when Ellie lowers her Percheron head to be eye to eye with them, the oppositional teenager who can’t help but laugh when Bunny rolls the soccer ball with her nose, the depressed child who smiles as she pets Hope and Hope wraps her neck around the child with a horsie hug.
However, sometimes our horse’s jobs are more difficult and aren’t sweet happy moments. Sometimes Ellie will remind a child with anger issues week after week for months, that unless they deal with their anger in a healthy way she will not lower her head for her halter. Sometimes Bunny will refuse to move even one hoof until an adult figures out that what works is asking for a result, instead of demanding it. Flash has many times gotten a long workout as he paces that fence back and forth until the anxious teen finally admits that she doesn’t really feel fine; then he will stop pacing. And Hope has stood by many a person as they have finally opened up and let their tears flow to find healing.
At The Ranch of Hope Reins, our horses are the foundation of our programming. The love, trust, and interaction they give us are priceless and we, in turn, love them whole-heartedly.