Freedom Village Equestrian Outreach...

Healing Broken Lives Through God and Horses!

The horse program is one of several programs at the village used to build character in the life of a teen. Character traits such as responsibility, trustworthiness, integrity, teamwork, and patience are developed as a teen learns to take care of a horse. As a teen takes on the daily responsibility of feeding and grooming a horse, realizing that the horse depends on them, it allows them to look outside of themselves. This in turn helps them adopt a servant’s attitude among the people around them - whether it be their peers in the dorm, or their family back home. Horses also make great sounding boards for the teens - allowing them to open up about the troubles of their past and their goals for the future.

While being on horse barn, the participants soon learn that many hands make light work, thus developing teamwork. Keeping the horses, barn, and grounds neat and tidy promotes a sense of pride in one’s tasks, a strong work ethic, and an increase in self-esteem in seeing a job well done. The teens on “horse detail” become a close knit group.

Will Rogers is quoted as saying, “There is nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse.” I can see it in the smiles!

If you or someone you know has a horse or any other needed supplies like; boots, buckets, brooms, manure forks, hay, water feeders, hay feeders, grain, or any type of needed medical supplies for horses like wormer etc. that can be donated  please contact us at 607-243-8126 or email us at: reins@freedomvillageusa.com and ask for Helen or Kathi.