After reading the book by Kim Meeder called Hope Rising, which chronicled the transformation of an abandoned Oregon rock quarry into a Christian Youth Ranch, Kim Tschirret decided she needed to bring the same type of equine ministry to Raleigh.
"It is our hope to help each child discover God's unique purpose for them and provide a lasting foundation built on love, trust and faith," says Tschirret, "this is the kind of relationship they will find at Hope Reins with our horses."
Many of our horses are rehabilitated "rescue" horses - and Hope Reins provides a safe haven for these animals where they can learn to trust and love again. The child participates in this rehabilitation process when they are paired with one horse and leader consistently during sessions – allowing for a very customized program. "Developing trust, empathy, compassion, responsibility and self-confidence is all part of the plan for the children, " says Tschirret.
"Horses have an amazing power to help facilitate healing and mirror our emotions to teach us about ourselves," according to Tschirret. "They are honest and nonjudgmental. Horses experience a wide range of emotions and are incredibly sensitive to human moods and feelings, which make them powerful therapy partners."
According to Lori Taylor, a licensed clinical social worker and Hope Reins board member, the opportunity for children that have endured trauma to be paired with horses that have survived trauma creates an unique situation – allowing these children to trust again and make an initial step towards psychological healing. "When some of these new skills are practiced with a horse, they can then be generalized to other human relationships," says Taylor," and God can heal in many wonderful and amazing ways, including giving hope to a child through creating a relationship with a horse."
"Follow a horse where no one else can tread, through the minefield of pain that surrounds a broken child's soul. From a mistreated horse to an emotionally starved child and back again, a torrent of love revives their barren places. In the presence of unconditional love , a mute girl speaks for the first time. A defiant teenager teaches a horse to trust again...and opens his own heart to love. A rescued horse gives a dying man his last wish. A battered girl finds love and protection in the friendship of a battered horse... Come visit a place where the impossible flourishes, where dreams survive the inferno of reality-a place where hope rises."
Excerpt from Bridge Called Hope: Stories of Triumph from the Ranch of Rescued Dreams, by Kim Meeder.