There is nothing better than friends. Jacob is to the right.
He struggled all of his life. Unable to read social cues, he was ostrasized by his peers. Rigid in his thinking, led to fights and altercations which started him on a path he did not want to travel.
In school he was classified as being on the Autism Spectrum and given a one-on-one aide to guide and lead him to success in the classroom.
His mother was constantly seeking innovative therapies to help her only son. She heard about equine therapy and its success with children that had difficulty with social situations. It was at this time that his mother registered her son to receive equine therapy at Raise Your Dreams Farm, located in Southern NJ.
It was here that I met Jacob. Every moment at the farm was structured and he was given specific tasks, which he carried out with precision. Slowly, he was seen as a great helper, and the other students would go to him for advice or help with their horse. He slowly gained confidence and a knack with the horses and ponies. It was here that he set noble goals and each one was met with thunderous applause. He got a facebook page and became friends with the other students at the farm. He learned to negotiate the nuisances of teenagerhood with the help and assistance of these friends. They would fist pump and high five each other over their accomplishments on the horses. Jacob learned valuable lessons that helped him to acclimate to the high school.
Today Jacob is declassified and this fall he was nominated for the Homecoming Court, voted on by his peers.
This may seem impossible, but for Jacob, he has one answer for his success, Raise Your Dreams Farm. It is here that he learned how to be a friend and how to have friends. Horses are the great equalizer and they taught him patience, love, forgiveness, and goal setting. Jacob has been given the coveted position as an Assistant Instructor, which he has taken quite seriously. He schools other students and has developed an instructor’s eye to fine tune the rider’s position. He has become a valuable member of this farm and it has blessed him as much as he has blessed us.
Would you like to support Raise Your Dreams Farm? It is very easy- just post a horse, tack, unwanted riding apparel on http://www.anythingforhorseandrider.com. Through your posting, you will support this farm and all of the work done here.
Want to follow the riders here? Go to Raise Your Dreams Farm FB page or Anything for Horse and Rider FB page.
Anything For Horse And Rider 
this is a bit like an apprenticeship instead of a classroom. Some learn be doing actively rather than sitting and being told.
Wow what an inspiring story!! Jacob is a lucky fellow to be given the opportunity to stay at your horse farm. Seems like he learned valuable life-lessons there! I wish there were more stories like this, they are so positive and wonderful!