Horses and Healing

Jun 28

New Day’s first horse camp since October, 2019 and it was wonderful to be back! There was laughter, tears, sadness, joy, fear and great courage. In other words…healing happened. It’s difficult to express the magnitude of what happens at horse camp, but I will try to paint a vivid picture. When we first meet the wranglers and the horses, the girls are excited, but they are also anxious and apprehensive; this makes the horses skittish and jumpy. There’s a palpable, nervous energy in the air. When a girl mounts her horse you can see her body is stiff and tense; her eyes wide with fear. The wranglers keep close watch and soothe the girls with calm, clear and empowering instruction. The beginning of the trail ride is awkward and jittery, but by the end all of that is gone. There is chatter and laughter and pride in what they just did! The horses we ride are not “ponies at the fair” kind of animals. The girls must take control, gently but firmly guiding their horse. One of the effects of sex trafficking is the loss of freedom to make decisions and having control over your life. In the evening, the girls often spend time with their horse. “Arial” spent hours alone with hers, crying as she shared her heart with him. Horses are wonderful gifts from God as they are able to reflect our moods, and being horses, they don't judge or react the way we humans sometimes do.

Teen girls recovered from sex trafficking at horse camp — On the trail.

Many of the girls have not experienced the calming effects of being in nature, and our host ranch is a very beautiful place. We rode on shady trails, and picnicked under giant trees at a rustic table with benches hand-hewn from trees on the ranch. We created dream boards, and envisioned hopeful futures.

Thank you to Pat, for making this all possible at the ranch she and Mickey built. Thank you to the wranglers and ranch hands for a sacrificial labor of love. Thanks to all of you who give generously to underwrite costs.

Psalm 91:4 "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.”