LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – For more than 50 years, the Texas Girls and Boys Ranch has helped foster children through equine therapy. The program helps children process trauma and receive counseling while living with foster families on the property.
‘Somewhere peaceful’
Meagan Miller, donor relations officer, said the ranch offers children a place outside of town during difficult times in their lives.
“And it’s a great way for the kids, when they’re going through something really hard in their life, to be outside of town, which I love,” Miller said. “We both grew up in ranching families and know how important that is. And so they’re able to be out here in somewhere peaceful.”
Working with horses
Danielle Peters is the equine specialist at the Texas Girls and Boys Ranch. She teaches children how to work with their horses. Peters said she wants children to experience the barn the same way she did as a child, making it fun rather than a chore or requirement.
“I’ve seen…I can think back to one of the kids that came in,” Peters said. “He was grumpy, shut down, wouldn’t talk to anybody. He came down and within the second session, he was opened up, laughing, cutting up, and just really enjoying it.”
Processing trauma through obstacles
Miller said through equine therapy, children walk their horses through obstacles while also processing obstacles of their own.
“So it works really well with kids who maybe can’t voice the trauma they’ve been through or maybe even remember the trauma they’ve been through, um, to heal from that and then function in a different way,” Miller said.
Support continues after foster care
Once children age out of the foster care system, they are still cared for by the Girls and Boys Ranch. Miller said her goal is making sure every child knows they can come back for help no matter what phase of life they may be in.
“We have one who’s actually going through Texas Tech as a single mom,” Miller said. “And so being able to like serve almost as her parents because she doesn’t have any, you know, when she needs something, she knows who she can call.”
Relies on donations
The ranch relies solely on donations to keep every child clothed and fed. That also includes care for the animals. Miller said they never offer the bare minimum to any child, which she credits to community support.
“Like we’re finding the need and relying on like believing God is going to provide and meet that need,” Miller said. “And I think we see it like again and again and again to where you can’t help but want to continue to build and like support the kids that we support and the families we support.”
Those who would like to support the mission of the Girls and Boys Ranch can find a link to donate on www.TxGBR.org
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