“The Giraffe Award Goes To……”

Briah getting ready to lead Chicken Nugget for an equine therapy lesson.

“I am scared of horses. I rode at another farm and the horse tried to walk off when I was getting on. I am really scared,” she was trembling as she got onto the mounting block. Chicken Nugget was waiting patiently for her. She patted his mane to reassure herself that he would not move off. Patting his neck would allow her to gain his trust.

“Don’t worry, Chicken Nugget is great. Now, if it was Hershey, he would definitely walk off by now,” Timmy reassured her.

“Will Chicken Nugget walk off?”

In unison, all that were around shouted, “No!”

“What do I do again?” Briah was wavering in her resolve to ride this pony. Timmy stepped in front of me and gently pried her earthbound foot into the left stirrup. He then helped her up into the saddle, like the pro he has become. Without realizing it, she was now sitting astride the funny, fuzzy Chicken Nugget.

She screamed from fear as Chicken Nugget adjusted to his rider. Then the kids gathered around her for moral support.
Each one shouting directives, “Lean back!”
“Don’t look down!”
“Sit up!”
“Breathe!”
“You are ok; Chicken Nugget is a great pony. He won’t let anything happen to you!”
Each child patted Briah and comforted her with their approval as she responded to each directive. Then they gently walked beside her as Chicken Nugget took tentative steps. Each step he took, they prodded her with encouragement and accolades. They clapped, patted, and cheered. Briah began to relax. We walked around the riding ring. She steered around the obstacles, gaining further confidence. Then her mother, an instructor at the farm, saw her daughter straddling Chicken Nugget and she clasped her mouth from surprise.

Briah attempted a wave and shouted to her mother that she was not scared any more. Her fear collapsed as her confidence grew.

Today Briah trots on Chicken Nugget and Milkshake. She is the first one to encourage others that are fearful, echoing what her friends used to help her overcome her fear. Briah, grabs each new child’s hand and tells them that she knows the feeling of fear, but she promises that Chicken Nugget will NOT move when you try to get on him.
Maybe this is why Briah got “The Giraffe Award” at school. You see, this little girl sticks her neck out for everyone. She LOVES helping others and you can see it as she gingerly helps the special needs children. Her face reveals all that she thinks. Her eyes well with tears over a child overcoming an obstacle, or her face swells with joy, when like herself, they have conquered fear.

Briah is the first one at the farm, ready to sweep the tack shack or feed shack. She will clean the stalls, brush a horse, or tack up a pony. Grabbing a helmet and gently placing it on the special child’s head, she reassures the child that Chicken Nugget is the best.

Thanks Briah for making Raise Your Dreams Farm run smoothly every Saturday. It is your confidence and belief that all can be an overcomer like you.

Raise Your Dreams Farm is blessed abundantly by all of these precious children. The farm could not exist without their help, support, and most importantly their love for the students, horses, and instructors. Want to help Raise Your Dreams Farm? Please consider posting your horse, tack, clothing, etc. for sale on the classified section of http://www.anythingforhorseandrider.com. Please help others so that we can help others!