Quote #2 For the First Time

"I've had kids out here who have hugged their parents for the first time after working with horses. I've had children who've talked for the first time after working with horses."
~ Jackie Wilks, Harvest Farms Founder

Jackie said that the children who come out to her farm have never talked or hugged their parents before. After they have worked with her and the horses, the run up to their parents and hug them or they start talking to them for the first time. Her and her husband,Tom, started the farm 6 years ago after Jackie saw children falling away from their families. Dr. Travis Crowe says that it is the movement of the child on the horse that allows certain things to be released from the brain that help the child to relax.


Maynarich, Melissa. "Horse Therapy Making A Difference." (2009): n. pag. Web. 10 Nov 2010. <http://www.news9.com/global/story.asp?s=11243629>

Picture #2 Healing Power of A Horse

Jacob is 15 and has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and cognitive delays due to a brain injury at birth. When a child willingly goes up to a horse and is being loud or rambunctious, like Jacob was, the horse will most likely run away because it is scared; therefore, the child will learn to be calm and collected when they are around the animals. The program that Jacob attends serves more than 200 kids with disabilities and is run by 300+ volunteers.

Shapario, Mary. "Healing Power of A Horse." (2010): n. pag. Web. 9 Nov 2010. <http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2010/05/18/west/special_feature/0519wc-equine0.txt>.

Quote #1 Changing Lives

 "We've seen kids' lives change...We're trying to break the cycle that kids find themselves in when they have been let down by a parent or adult figure in their lives, A lot don't know how to build a loving, healthy relationship because of what's been done to them. We try to instill positive life skills so they can overcome their past."
         ~ Stacy Gormley, President of the Fidelis Foundation, FL

This was said by Stacy Gormley; the president of the Fidelis Foundation in Florida. She said that by using the horses as a 'therapist', she has see the children's lives change. Stacy's goal; as well as the rest of the Fidelis Foundations', is to help gain the children's trust and instill life skills. The children have lost trust in people because they have been let down by someone they trusted. The foundation has helped children from ages 2 through 17 to build confidence in themselves and the horses, healthy relationships, and their self-esteem levels. The Myrtle Beach branch is headed by Sybil Lee who hopes to extend the services to people in the surrounding areas. The Fidelis Foundation helps children who are underprivileged, abused or neglected, foster children, those who have HIV/AIDS, Autism, Down Syndrome, and more. The Branch in Myrtle Beach offers their service to children at the following places: Waccamaw Youth Center, Mercy Kids, Celebrate Kids, Life House Care Center, and Citizens Against Spouse Abuse (CASA).

Frost, Janelle. "Healing on Horseback." (2010): n. pag. Web. 9 Nov 2010. <http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/08/28/1659909/healing-on-horseback.html>.

Picture #1 Miracle Horses

This child has autism and she is in an Equine Assisted Therapy program in Florida. They offer this program to children with disabilities in all of central Florida. According to the volunteers at Freedom Ride, the children with autism, for the most part, just keep to themselves. Then, after they are exposed to something new, like equine assisted therapy, they come out of their shell and start talking to them and the horses.
         "Healing." Miracle Horses. Web. 9 Nov 2010. .

Preliminary Links and Descriptions

http://www.equine-therapy-programs.com/
This is an organization that helps children with disabilities using horses.

http://flyingchange.org/index.php
This organization was founded by Lissa Corcoran in 1996. They offer therapy programs to children using their horses.

http://www.healingreigns.com/Equine%20Assisted%20Therapy.htm
Thiswebsite has reasons to use horses in therapy. Founded by Melony Nunez, AZ.

http://www.aspenranch.com/equine.html
This organizatiion that uses horses in therapy with adolescents. Founded by Becky Brown.

wordle #1

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