It was what I thought a very simple exercise; teaching a survivor how to lead her partner horse. Decide where you are going. Focus your eyes in that direction. Hold your head up. Take and release a deep breath. Take a step forward. It was in that moment that this timid, distrusting and deeply wounded, yet brave survivor changed my life forever.
After taking one step forward with her horse she stopped. I didn't think much of it; great first step. Let's try again. The girl stood there for a moment. I wasn't sure if she was frightened or if this part of building a relationship with her horse was too much at the time. Then she looked up at me and said, "If you do this horse ranch thing you're going to help a lot of survivors".
I was a bit taken aback and asked her what she meant. She went on to tell me that when she was being trafficked she and the other girls in the trafficker's stable (yes, stable is how they refer to the girls they "own" ) were not allowed to make eye contact with another human being... ever. They were to keep their heads down and do as they were told. She said it made her feel like an abused dog and that by doing this exercise it made her feel human again. IT MADE HER FEEL HUMAN!
Wow! I couldn't shake her words for weeks to come. It was then that I knew we had to move forward with The Wild Hope and offer free equine therapy services to those affected by sexual abuse, exploitation, and trafficking.
By donating today you are helping a survivor FEEL HUMAN AGAIN! You are giving them access to healing and restoration at no cost to them. You are helping to stop the generational cycle of abuse and exploitation in their families. You are giving a brave, resilient individual a chance to move beyond just surviving into thriving in all they were meant to be.
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