The Horse Boy

It all started with an email list.  I was looking for local horse people to connect with and found an email list for dressage people in my area.  I didn't see myself doing any type of dressage training or riding but what the heck, it was horse people sharing with each other so I joined up.  One day a lady with a charity posted saying that she was looking for donated panels for a round pen.  We live on my husband's VA disability pay, money is always tight, but I always like to help out where I can so I emailed her back saying we didn't have panels to offer but have loads of time, love, and, with the help of four teen boys, a rough 'n ready work crew if they'd be interested in us building them a round pen.  As we emailed she admitted that what they really needed was local people willing to learn their methods and offer them to the community which is how I found out about The Horse Boy Foundation.

For the longest period of my childhood we lived in Beamont, Texas where my mother worked for MHMR and I often volunteered.  I became comfortable with the clients there.  They helped me connect with and understand a percentage of our population that I otherwise might not have, those we label mentally disabled, and I would've been poorer for it.  I learned that these people aren't any different from any of us when you boil it all down.  They are just people making their way through life the best way they can, learning, overcoming obstacles, messing up along the way, and growing like all the rest of us!  There were quite a few people there that absolutely enchanted me with the generous outpouring of their love and childlike joyful innocence.  Heck there were times that I really envied them for that!   

The Horse Boy Foundation was born of a dad's quest to help his autistic son, Rowan.  Rowan's father, Rupert, had been around horses all his life riding and training them but feared Rowan wasn't safe around them until one day Rowan broke away, running onto their neighbor's property amongst the horses there.  Rather than spooking at the child the horses seemed to be very careful of Rowan, the lead mare being very gentle and accepting.  Like many others, Rupert found that animals and nature had a calming, healing kind of affect on Rowan which could be used to help Rowan and other children. 

Right away I told my new email pal that I'd love to hear more and maybe talk about learning to use their methods!  I just heard back from her and they'll be offering their first certification clinic at the end of this month or somewhere around the first part of October.  I can't wait!  I have so many questions, ideas, and plans whirling around in my head!