Looking forward to this year's 3rd Annual Pig Roast! Chris and Emilee from 99.3 JQ will be here, along with Altered Life. More information to come! Save this date: July 9, 2011.
Our news letter "Out of the horse's Mouth" is being mailed out.
Here is a sample of what is in the latest edition:
Changing lives, that is what is taking place at HorsePlay. Tami, Curt and all of the horses transform lives one day at a time! Each time you go you'll learn something new, and a new life lesson. Hearing Tami's story inspired me, it made me realize what and who I want to be. She is someone that kids can look up to, a good example when they may not have one. She's also a Christian and can help the hurting grow in faith. Tami is someone I can trust and talk to when I need advice and I'm struggling.
In the program Tami arranges lessons and fun activities to help us learn about horses. And how humans and horses are alike in many ways. When horses are hurt it takes time for them to heal not only physically, but emotionally as well. It takes time for them to trust again. Some horses are independent and others can't stand to be alone. Each horse has it's own story.
It's amazing how HorsePlay can turn a day around. When you go out to the barn the horses seem to know when you're feeling down. They'll give you a gentle nudge on the shoulder and let you love on them. Then on the days you ride the horses, your mind gets a rest, and everything that is stressing you melts away. A break from those racing thoughts and making a big difference.
This time has tought me to take one life moment at a time. To look at the good and not the bad. To ultimately look to God for the answers. Thank you HorsePlay for helping to shape me into a better person.
Mary
Horseplay has been such a wonderful part of our lives. We have had the privilege of being involved in this wonderful organization for almost two years now. Tami and Curt are very helpful, understanding, and patient with my four children. They have tailor-made a specific plan to help each of them be able to deal with the pain they have carried around for so long as well as helping to work through their trust issues.
My children have been involved in *conventional therapy* for years, with little noticeable difference, however pairing these troubled children with a horse has helped them to make great strides. One of the many ways they have made a difference was letting the children know what Cool had been through. The kids then told Cool what they would want to hear if they were scared and not trusting. Without even knowing it they crossed over the line to healing that day. You could see the change.
Another way they helped our family was to have us over for a Christmas Dinner. We had been going through a very hard emotional time with the children starting to back slide. They surrounded us with love and strength, letting us lean on them for emotional support. We knew we were surrounded by God's love. God Bless this program and all the people involved!
Wendy and Children
Circle of Trust By Tami Klinger
It was a typical Monday afternoon and one of our young ladies was here. For the next couple of months her task will be working with one of our horses named Cool. Cool has a very hard time trusting anyone and it is this young lady's job to gain Cool's trust and eventually get Cool to calmly accept a saddle being placed on her back. We expect this to be a long process for both Cool and our young lady Jenny. Our first step was getting Cool to come willingly and stand next to Jenny. This day's project: the round pen.
We went to the pasture, haltered Cool and headed to the round pen. I helped Jenny remove Cool's halter and shut the gate. I then explained to Jenny that she needed to sit on the stool in the middle of the circle and avoid moving or saying anything. I sat down just outside of the gate and explained Cool's story of mistrust and hurt. How she doesn't trust easily and that her trust must be earned. As we both sat quietly, I watched as Cool nervously ran along the circle. She stayed as close to the edge as possible, not getting any closer to Jenny than necessary. Cool paced and ran cautiously, watching what the girl in the middle would do. Cool would only stop long enough to paw the ground then she would run off again. I could even see Cool's muscles twitching with nervous energy! As Jenny sat quietly, waiting without making a sound, she watched as the horse battled her fear. After many long minutes, Cool began to slow down, stop and face the middle, waiting to see what would happen. Convinced that Jenny still wasn't trustworthy, Cool would take off again, heading to the farthest edge of the circle. Cool wasn't about to be vulnerable and give her trust to someone that may hurt her. She would much rather run tiredly along the edge of the pen, giving in to her fear. Jenny was so patient! She quietly sat there not moving an inch.
With time, the stopping and standing lasted longer, and eventually Cool took a step towards the middle. Realizing that Jenny wasn't going to do anything harmful,Cool worked her way closer to the center. Soon she was within a few feet of Jenny. Understanding how hard it was for Cool to even come that close, Jenny's face beamed with pride and accomplishment. Cool was on a role now, taking one step at a time until she was right next to Jenny. Finally standing by Jenny's side, Cool allowed Jenny to pet and comfort her while she rested.
As I sat outside of the gate watching the two of them, I thought of how often God is the one in the center of the circle. Often we are like Cool, running the perimeter, unwilling to get close and vulnerable. We would much rather run and allow fear or mistrust to consume us. All the while God sits patiently in the middle, waiting for us to come in close to Him. Once Cool was side by side with Jenny, she could rest. She could stand quietly and recieve love and peace. It is the same for each of us. When we finally come close to the center, we can rest in Him. We can recieve His love, comfort, and peace. There was a huge breakthrough that day between the young lady and the horse. Jenny accomplished something by giving, and Cool recieved something by becoming vulnerable.
