As mentioned before, we believe in the healing power of Jesus Christ. We strive to point our clients to Christ throughout the entire time they’re with us. Our equine program helps clients heal by equipping them with coping skills, confidence, how to identify and manage their emotions, and so much more. Horses are emotionally sensitive, and will respond to our emotions even if we aren’t aware of what we are feeling, or our words don’t match our emotions. Horses are great mirrors because they respond directly to  their environment. They pick up on and respond to even the most subtle cues in human emotions and body language and respond directly to those cues. Horses are generally agreeable animals, however they respond best when being asked to do something in a calm manner. A lot of survivors of abuse and trafficking struggle with anger at the perpetrator and/or the trauma they’ve been through. Anger and frustration is common in clients struggling with mental health and self-harm, as well. While there’s a time and place for righteous anger – even Jesus got angry in the temple in the Bible, horses help them to process that in a healthy way. Clients work through activities designed to help them grow in their faith, build confidence, identify and apply practical ways of overcoming the obstacles they face in their healing, their faith, and in everyday life. They will have the opportunity to partner with one horse or choose a different horse each time. While the majority of the exercises clients work through are ground activities, we do have a few mounted activities that we use at the discretion of the Holy Spirit. Horses help our clients see and believe that they are worthy of friendship and love. There’s nothing quite like walking out in the field and a horse coming to meet them or leaving the other horses and following them back across the field. Sometimes it’s easier for a client to believe they’re worthy of love and friendship and acceptance from a horse than it is to believe that from another human in the beginning of their healing, and horses can help bridge that gap while we chip away at their layers of walls until they believe that they are wanted and worthy of love and friendship and acceptance.

We hope to use primarily off the track thoroughbreds (OTTBs) at Restore Ranch. She’s Simply Sweet is our only OTTB currently, but we plan on adding more to our herd after we have a farm of our own. Why horses? Jesus heals a lot of different ways in the Bible, and though not specifically through equine therapy, we believe He uses horses (and animals in general) to heal. A lot of survivors are fearful and untrusting of humans after the trauma they’ve been through, and , horses can help bridge the gap. Horses offer a pure soul, and they are peaceful, social animals. They see survivors for who they are, not ¡what was done to their bodies. Horses are emotionally sensitive and are a good mirror for survivors to help them identify feelings and ‘ help them gain confidence. We believe horses can help survivors experience the love and healing and restoration Jesus offers in a ‘ tangible way and He can draw them to Himself through horses. Retraining racehorses can be a parallel for survivors, who have to learn ‘ how to how to heal, or possibly learn how to live, depending on their trauma and the duration of it, just as retired racehorses learn new ‘skills as they transition into pleasure and/or competition horses.