JAMES SHARES WHAT HE HAS LEARNED FROM THE RANCH

Dear Flying Horse Foundation, 

My name is James and I am 10 years old. I love horses. Here at the ranch, I have learned about the care of horses and feel more and more comfortable around them each week. They are fun to watch and groom. I like the way the horse communicates when he is annoyed, calm or even listening. He is actually a lot like me! I have learned a lot from my horse. Such as keeping myself clean… so I don’t stink like he does! I have learned that all creatures, even really big strong ones, need care and compassion. We have to take care of each other. My horse, Blade, likes me. I like that he likes me. It makes me feel important. He communicates with me by using his ears and his body. 

If I didn’t have this program, I would miss everything about it… The people, the horses, the ranch, and even the smell in the air. It is all comforting to me. I feel so peaceful when I am at the ranch. 

Thank you Flying Horse Foundation for your generosity and letting me come here to this amazing program. I will never forget the time I have had here. I am a better person because of the time spent at the Flying Horse Ranch. 

*Names have been changed to protect those involved.

DAN SHARES WHY HE VOLUNTEERS

  I became a volunteer at this program in September of 2016. As a recently retired public school teacher, I was looking for an organization that would allow me to work with children from the ages of pre-teen through teenagers in a safe and compassionate manner.

                During the interview/screening process for my position, I made it clear that while I had only a limited experience in riding horses, I had nearly 25 years worth of knowledge working with children. I love this program located at The Flying Horse Ranch as it allows me to continue teaching and listening to young adults as they learn to navigate their lives’ ups and downs while bonding with and caring for horses. What may be the best part of this program is that anyone with a good heart can volunteer here, regardless of their level of experience with either children or horses!

                I want to thank the founder of The Flying Horse Foundation, as well as its Board, for opening up their hearts while giving generously of both their time and money in order for these troubled youth to have a secure place where they can meet and interact not only with horses, but with kind and caring adults as well. Each week I truly take home with me more positive feelings and memories than I ever could have imagined.

               It is my hope that other individuals can see themselves serving in a volunteer role at the Flying Horse Foundation Ranch, and reap and sow the same benefits that I have.

-Dan C.

JOY'S STORY ABOUT HER DAUGHTER

I am so thankful for Flying Horse Foundation and all that the staff members do on behalf of broken and abandoned kids and horses.  My own child loves coming to the ranch and spending sweet time with her favorite horse, Pama.  She draws pictures of Pama, while at home and will ask basically the same question week after week...Mom, if I was in danger, do you think Pama would protect me?  I always answer, "Absolutely", because I want her to know she is protected not only by a horse named, Pama, but by me her Mom who loves her dearly.  She is safe, she is loved.  How many kids need to know and understand this message?  Way too many, I'm afraid.

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of those involved.

NATALIE SHARES WHY SHE VOLUNTEERS

Dear Flying Horse Foundation,

I have been a volunteer for several years, and wanted to share about my experience. At first I volunteered because I wanted to keep an eye on my daughter who was in a group, and just help the group, but it quickly became so much more than that.  I have a special heart for at-risk kids and have just loved the opportunity to be a blessing to them and encourage them.  Some of my favorite times are when I’m walking out to the field with a child and the child starts opening up about concerns and struggles, and I’m able to be a safe, listening ear and occasionally offer a suggestion or insight. I just love watching the kids develop bonds with their horses; comments like, “Look! Tucker is happy to see me!” warm my heart, knowing the joy it brings to that child.  Many times, the kids will say that being there at the ranch is the best part of the week, and I’m blessed to be a part of that. I personally love to be around the horses too, I consider it my “therapy”, and I’m so happy to be constantly learning more about horses.  I so enjoy learning from all the very experienced facilitators and always tell them to pass their knowledge on to me because I would love to be a facilitator some day when I’m not so busy with my own kids!

Sincerely,

Natalie K.

WHY DO YOU COME TO THE RANCH?

One of our groups shared why they come to the ranch. We wanted to hear from the students as to why it was important for them to be here. We love to see how each student takes different things from the program based on their needs at the time. Here are just a few letters from our students sharing why they come and why it is important to them.

HOPE AT MARY'S HOME

August 20, 2019

 Dear Flying Horse Foundation,

I am writing on behalf of Mary’s Home to express deepest thanks and pass along encouragement. I’ve worked at Mary’s Home for a little over a year as a Resident Advisor. I live at Mary’s Home and so the nature of my role is very face-to-face, interacting with the residents and their children on a daily basis, throughout the entire day. I have also been a full-time pastor and a foster parent, so my training in trauma/healing trauma is more developed than most. The transformation I’ve seen in the residents over three months of equine therapy at your facility is truly remarkable. I know that research exists, and that we can clinically explain what happens between horses and patients, and why it works the way it does, but seeing it first hand is like watching a miracle unfold before your eyes. It is not clinical; it is awe-inspiring. 

The residents connected with their Flying Horse teacher/therapist immediately, which is already unprecedented, as these ladies do not trust easily. Then, when they began to hear each horse’s story and interact with the horses, the changes in the residents came quickly and clearly. One specific story of transformation has to do with one resident who unexpectedly, tragically lost her birth father to cancer in the middle of May. She is not one to process grief or pain and instead runs from intense emotion. The horse that she bonded with was King, and she adored him. As you might guess where the story is headed, when King was put down a couple weeks ago, it threw her into an emotional storm. Her conscious mind was saying, “If I get close to anyone, they are taken away.” The bond she formed with King was helping her process the pain of her father’s death, now King was gone, and now there was even more pain. However, becauseof her bond with King she was open to talking about and processing all of the grief that was surfacing! Even from years past! It was huge growth. This past week, she had to work with Tucker for the first time instead of King. As she recounted the morning to me she said, “I really wasn’t feeling it. He’s not King and we don’t have a bond. …And then later, almost at the end of our time, I felt like something clicked and he was telling me, ‘It’s ok, I understand. I’ll be your new King.’” 

About a month ago I was on a weekend trip in Crested Butte where there happened to be a photography showing. One of the photographers’ main subjects was a herd of wild horses in Wyoming. As I started observing her series, within seconds I burst into tears. This reaction bubbled up in me solelybecause of what I’ve seen these magnificent creatures accomplish with the Mary’s Home residents over the past three months. 

Each woman living at Mary’s Home has a harrowing story full of heartbreak and trauma and grit and resiliency. Each of them has a very specific personality, specific triggers, specific humor, and specific gifts. Now we know- so do the horses! That alone creates a connection. But for the residents, the horses aren’t judging them, pressuring them, trying to take advantage of them, or even hinting that they move on and act happy. The horses are simply existing in their current circumstance, with healthy boundaries and appropriate expectations, and giving the residents permission to do the same. 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for partnering with Mary’s Home and opening up this incredible opportunity for the residents’ healing journey.

With much appreciation and admiration,

Beth Snyder

Resident Advisor, Mary’s Home

DreamCenters of Colorado Springs

LORIE’S DAUGHTERS’ STORY

The Flying Horse Foundation has been a life changing experience for our family. The staff and volunteers have showed my family so much love and support over the past two years. My oldest daughter was given the opportunity to start equine therapy at the ranch in the spring of 2017. She was a sophomore in high school and was struggling with depression. She had started experiencing a number of medical issues that the Dr.'s could not explain. Many of her symptoms were being written off as anxiety, but the standard treatments for anxiety were not effective. My daughter was shrinking before my eyes, becoming introverted and quiet. She was paired up with Hunter as her equine partner, he had come to the ranch in need of love. She loved on him unconditionally, grooming and bonding with the scrawny horse that laid in his waste. I watched my daughters confidence grow while she was working with Hunter, she came into the first few sessions quiet and unsure about her abilities. As she developed a relationship with Hunter, the staff and volunteers I saw her self esteem grow. The Ranch provided her a place where she was loved and accepted for herself and she thrived. In the fall of 2018 her health took a turn for the worse and she spent a lot of time inpatient at The Children's Hospital in Aurora. Her hospitalizations made school impossible to attend and she had to drop out. The Ranch became her safe space, it is the one place she can go and forget about all of her medical issues for a short period of time and feel like a normal teen. It provides her the socialization time that she has lost from attending school and it is the one thing she looks forward to each week. Many times my daughter will push herself to attend knowing that she will be physically drained afterward, but spiritually/emotionally filled. Watching her ride and interact with the horses makes me so proud to see how happy and confident she is now, compared to where we began.

My youngest daughter was fortunate enough to join the program in the summer of 2018. She is a petite, shy child and she was not confident that she would be able to manage a horse. Within a short time I have seen her confidence grow and she has developed a loving relationship with Tucker. My youngest daughter has bonded with the other girls in her group and they have all built a friendship based on trust with each other. I am so very thankful for the Flying Horse Foundation. My girls look forward to their sessions at the ranch. It provides them a safe place to share their joys and fears with people that will love and support them through it all. The time with the horses allows the girls to escape what's going on in their daily lives for a little while and focus on something they have grown to love. The support and understanding that they receive from the staff and volunteers has made such a positive impact on their lives. They've bonded with their horse partners and get great joy out of the unconditional love their horses show them.

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of those involved.

PENNY'S STORY

Dear Flying Horse Foundation,

My daughter loves the horses! She's doing so well these days, even with some big school struggles, she recovers safely every time. In the middle of all of her chaos, I couldn't imagine anything was working, and I could not see the light of today. I don't know what the magic buttons were, but I know you were one of the many Band-Aids for my kiddo, and I clearly remember you being a huge factor in helping me feel ok in being human. Not everyone does that, so thank you.  I'm so glad you found her on the other side, this program is so special to her, so much more than a bandaid! Big blessings to your team!

Thank you, 

Penny*

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of those involved.

LAURA’S STORY

Laura, 17, came to the ranch about 11 months ago to help her cope with the loss of her uncle, grandfather and 7 students in her school to suicide.

She struggled significantly from depression, anxiety and low self esteem. During her time, she has hit hurdle after hurdle and has been thrown several challenges, especially with her physical health including myoclonic spasms, feeding tube and several surgeries. She was forced to take a leave of absence from school. With all of this, the Ranch is her special place where she is always wanted and accepted. She gets the freedom to rest without pressure from her world. Her goal was to be able to ride again. We are happy to report she rode within a few months!

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of those involved.

DAVID’S STORY

David, 16 came to the Ranch angry and aggressive with an open Department of Human Services case and escalating behaviors.

He started working with Benji, his horse and loved to care for him, especially feeding and preparing his meals. Over the last year, we have seen him totally change. He loves coming to the ranch and would come everyday if he could - even to unload hay or clean stalls. His parents report he has made incredible improvements and no longer resorts to aggression to cope with anger but stops, takes a deep breath, and proceeds. He has also increased his empathy and recognizes his impact on others.

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of those involved.

MARIA’S STORY

Maria* was in foster care before being adopted. She has been in eight different homes. She’s also known more abuse, neglect and trauma in her young life than most adults will ever experience.

When we first met Maria, it was almost impossible for her to trust; to connect; to give and receive respect; to give and receive love. She lived in a state of hypervigilance and fear, always waiting for the next shoe to drop. Maria was struggling terribly in school and wasn’t adjusting well with her new adoptive family. They loved her immensely, but all the love and stability
wasn’t enough. For Maria and her adoptive family, life was feeling hopeless. One decision changed the direction for Maria. Her mom signed her up for Flying Horse Foundation’s Equine Program and after a few months, most everything in her life had changed for the better. Maria met a new equine friend at Flying Horse Ranch named Bluejeans, a blue roan quarter horse. He
is kind and patient, but can require his humans to be confident and trustworthy. Slowly, but surely, Maria began to trust for the first time in her life. She could tell Bluejeans secrets about her past that she couldn’t tell anyone else. She loved his smell, his soft muzzle in her face and his reliability and dependability. As she looked into that big brown eye each week, she began to realize it was ok to let her guard down. She began to connect. And if she could connect with Bluejeans, maybe, just maybe, her new adoptive family might be safe to connect to as well. Maria also learned that when you give respect, you get it in turn. She felt proud of herself for the first time as she learned to protect and care for Bluejeans. She groomed him, cared for him, and learned what it meant to be in a relationship with mutual respect and without fear. She looked
forward to coming to the Ranch each week and slowly her demeanor began to change. School and home both got better. Maria had hope for the first time in her life. Maria’s mom was incredulous with her progress and recently thanked Maria’s facilitator, Sara, for the difference the program has made in Maria’s life. With her voice shaking, Maria’s mom said “When I pick her up now, she’s happy, positive and upbeat and I can’t thank you enough for this gift.”

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of those involved.