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.<\/p>\n
\u2018Somewhere peaceful\u2019<\/p>\n
Meagan Miller, donor relations officer, said the ranch offers children a place outside of town during difficult times in their lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it\u2019s a great way for the kids, when they\u2019re going through something really hard in their life, to be outside of town, which I love,\u201d Miller said. \u201cWe both grew up in ranching families and know how important that is. And so they\u2019re able to be out here in somewhere peaceful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Working with horses<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve seen…I can think back to one of the kids that came in,\u201d Peters said. \u201cHe was grumpy, shut down, wouldn\u2019t talk to anybody. He came down and within the second session, he was opened up, laughing, cutting up, and just really enjoying it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Processing trauma through obstacles<\/p>\n
Miller said through equine therapy, children walk their horses through obstacles while also processing obstacles of their own.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo it works really well with kids who maybe can\u2019t voice the trauma they\u2019ve been through or maybe even remember the trauma they\u2019ve been through, um, to heal from that and then function in a different way,\u201d Miller said.<\/p>\n
Support continues after foster care<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have one who\u2019s actually going through Texas Tech as a single mom,\u201d Miller said. \u201cAnd so being able to like serve almost as her parents because she doesn\u2019t have any, you know, when she needs something, she knows who she can call.\u201d<\/p>\n
Relies on donations<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike we\u2019re finding the need and relying on like believing God is going to provide and meet that need,\u201d Miller said. \u201cAnd I think we see it like again and again and again to where you can\u2019t help but want to continue to build and like support the kids that we support and the families we support.\u201d<\/p>\n