Take one woman + love of people & horses = one great idea!

It's a simple and brilliant concept:

Children with chronic or life threatening illnesses, or broken in spirit by their life experiences become empowered to be care givers rather than care dependent through their interaction with animals.

For children living with disease or other ailments, studies have shown that pet therapy improves:

• Mental & physical health
• Shortens recovery times
• Reduces stess
• Reduces incidents of depression
• (All true for children & adults!)

The equine program gives kids the opportunity to help them verbalize their emotions & experiences and improves control of their bodies by completeing tasks with their horse partners.

The Lee family rescues horses and has adopted children who came to them with broken spirits, and various physical and emotional challenges.

The children, in caring for rescued horses, recognized similarities in their own pasts.  This opened the door for empathy and recovery.

GIDDYUP on over to take a peek Partner:

Valley of Refuge Ranch

Located in Kingsley, Michigan.