Mustard Seed Ranch, Inc

Description

Mustard Seed Ranch is a mental health program that intentionally connects struggling youth and horses to be the catalyst in changing unhealthy patterns of behaviors and offer healing through the relationship of a horse. The youth in our services are asked to become more aware of what their horse is sharing with them nonverbally and take responsibility for caring for their horses emotionally and physically. Through the honest and authentic work, the horse and youth begin to form a trusting relationship as evidenced by the progression in the horsemanship skills and activities. This slow learning process of exploring their horse initiates that same discovery of their own self, increasing their awareness of their feelings, communication, and needs.

MSR has worked with trauma and relationship professionals to create a 16-week program that targets relationship skills identified as underdeveloped in youth diagnosed with trauma. Each week, specialized horsemanship activities are facilitated that will create the metaphor needed to discuss and strengthen those relationship skills. The desire to work with the horse acts as a motivator to do hard things and grow, something these youth traditionally don’t do in other environments.