Healing Kids with Horses
In our tiny town of Yantis, Texas, retired racehorses are making a big impact on the lives of local children. Lake Fork Stables was created from a passion for not only the Thoroughbred but for spreading and sharing the love of horses with everyone in our community.
Through our program, Riders Up!, we provide free and reduced rate riding lessons to low-income, autistic, military, and foster children. Lake Fork Stables became a 501c3 nonprofit after we recognized a need in our area. A need for kids of all ages to have access to extracurricular activities and equine-assisted therapy that their families could afford.
Many families in our area don’t have a lot of extra income for their kids to participate in extracurricular activities. Many of these families are single-parent households who commute great distances to work or families with children on the autism spectrum who have to travel hours away to receive the services they need. It is not only our mission to provide children with access to horses but to help those families fill the gap and the needs that they have.
And, it’s not just about horseback riding. It’s about the life lessons that are learned in the barn and on the back of a horse. It’s about the horsemanship, the process, the work, and the patience they learn. These are lessons that will stick with them for years to come. It’s about the passion that I hope they will one day share with kids of their own.
Our secondary mission is to spread awareness of the off-the-track Thoroughbred. These horses often get a bad reputation, but they are vital members of our team. The Thoroughbred puts their heart into everything they do. I believe it’s our duty to give back to them in any way we can. Our program is named Riders Up! to honor their racing legacy as they become teachers of the future generation of equestrians and maybe even jockeys.
Little did we know when we started as a nonprofit in the fall of 2019 that we would soon be in a pandemic, which has made the challenge that much greater. The creator of the Horse Boy Foundation, Rupert Isaccson says “When you serve others, your dreams will come true.” This statement is certainly true. It is a blessing every day to work with children and our horses, but to continue the dream, we need support from our community. Donations of feed, hay, and even tack are accepted as well as financial support. You can learn more about our programs at http://www.ridersup.org.