Four Sturdy Legs Beneath Them - Sometimes it only takes a suggestion, and a door to a fantastic opportunity will open. Our adult son, Curt, has spent his life dealing with severe autism. Never being able to speak, never being able to make friends, play sports, hang out with other kids because he can't handle the stress and frustrations. A few years ago a suggestion was made by his doctor that he try horseback riding at a ranch offering therapeutic riding lessons about an hour from our home. I didn't even know they existed! A phone call...a visit to the ranch...a spot on the roster...and a new and wonderful experience started for Curt. He has such a big smile when he visits the ranch and rides 'his' horse, Allee. It has given him the chance to socialize, bond with classmates, staff and animals - and he is proud of himself! My husband and I started supporting the ranch in small ways that we could - Jeremiah's Crossing in Babcock, Wisconsin has a rather unique mission - they offer services to their participants at no cost. Their philosophy is that a chance for a challenged individual to participate in therapeutic riding should not add to a family's financial burdens. Of course, that philosophy means fundraising challenges for the ranch...and has brought us more opportunities to help out. As soon as I retired last year I made the commitment to volunteer to assist with riding lessons, and at fundraisers throughout the year, and now this year to join the board of directors. A day of lessons at the ranch can be physically tiring, but worth the reward I receive when I see the riders - with many forms of physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges - climb aboard their equine companion and for an hour be able to succeed at so much more than they could on their own. My husband is also retiring this year and feels the same passion to help...he has already started volunteering. And it all started with that small suggestion...
Review from #MyGivingStory
I help horses help kids. Jeremiah's Crossing is a horseback riding program for people with disabilities, located in a rural town in central WI, 30 minutes from all its surrounding 'big' cities. I came to know about the ranch through an interaction that only God could have coordinated and found myself meeting co-founders Roger and Kathleen Harris just days later. After only minutes at the ranch, I could feel the love that they have for each other, their horses, their program and especially, their riders! From day one I knew this would be part of my mission to serve God and my community, doing all that I could to support this incredible program! In addition to volunteering during their lessons, I am also the volunteer Volunteer Coordinator. This past summer I helped Jeremiah's Crossing kick-start our Volunteer Contest, raising awareness in the community about the program and bringing in new volunteers! As a result of the contest our number of volunteers grew, which meant we were able to provide more horseback riding lessons than ever before! However, because of the ranch's remote location and rural surrounding towns/cities, volunteerism (our program is run solely on a volunteer basis) and donations continue to be a challenge. Yet, no riders are charged for a single lesson! This is truly an incredible program, doing God's work and worthy of recognition! I am so thankful to be a part of Jeremiah's Crossing.
jeremiahscrossing.org
Review from #MyGivingStory