Benefits of Our Programs
We believe that God has created the world and everything in it.
“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you, or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind” (Job 12:7 – 10).
As such, he has placed us as faithful stewards over his creation.
“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground,” (Genesis 1:26).
We fulfill our role as faithful stewards by caring for the horses in our ministry.
Our Programs
Using natural horsemanship training techniques and principles, we lead and mentor our participants as they learn to develop applicable life skills such as decision-making, communication, leadership, goal-setting, and problem-solving.
Although the Lord alone can bring healing, as we read in the book of Jeremiah, “Heal me Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise” (Jeremiah 17:14), the horse’s movement provides the sensory input of a precise, repetitive pattern of movement very similar to the movement of a person’s pelvis during normal human gait. The horse’s center of gravity shifts forward, backward, up and down, and side to side just as humans do.
Additionally, muscle tone is improved through movements transmitted by the horse; the body warmth of the horse aids muscle relaxation. Head and trunk postural control are encouraged, and body symmetry (balance) is enhanced. The riding participants receive body awareness, spatial orientation, and endurance benefits. Interestingly, there has also been found a beneficial effect on digestion. Contact with the horse demands constantly changing, adaptive responses and automatic self-correction by the rider resulting in increased responsiveness and adaptability.
Lastly, the horse is a social creature that readily bonds with people. If you are kind to him, he will be kind to you. He will respond to you without judgment for the burdens you may be carrying or if you can walk or talk. He will love you because you are kind and respectful. That’s all the horse needs. A participant’s bonding with the horse can motivate them to do dramatic things. This unconditional relationship is an exact representation of our Savior’s love for you! In fact, He loved you just as you are, so much that he was willing to accept the consequences of your sin so that you would be able to spend eternity with him in paradise!
The Bible says, “He suffered and endured great pain for us…He was wounded and crushed because of our sins; by taking our punishment, he made us completely well…the Lord gave Him the punishment we deserved,” Isaiah 53: 4-6 (Contemporary English Version).
If you would like to learn more about how you can accept His gift of salvation, please come, and speak with any member of our Ministry Outreach Team.