The Triumph Youth
program for teens uses ranch
work and horsemanship to
change lives. With the Charis
Ranch staff working alongside
them, participants spend
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hauling hay, cleaning water
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Working together as equals
breaks down barriers and
enables the staff to form
relationships with teens who
don’t always trust adults. “Our
main goal is to spend time
with the kids and let them
know that we love them, that
we value them and that they
matter to us,” says Cookman.
The second part of
the session focuses on
horsemanship activities that
range from in-hand obstacle
courses to riding. By the end
of the summer, teens who
had no previous horse
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handlers. However, they
have learned far more than
equestrian skills. They’ve
learned character building,
relational skills and the
importance of service.
“They learn that there’s
more to life than the small
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so far,” says Cookman.
“Our goal is to give them hope
that life can be different and
that they don’t have to be
stuck in the lifestyle that they
were in before.”
One Triumph Youth
participant—a young man
who had been struggling with
addiction—fell in love with a
rescue horse named Romeo
and was determined to ride
him despite his total lack of
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worked toward his goal allsummer and by the end of
the program, he was joyfully
cantering around the arena
on Romeo. On the last day
of the program, he spent
quality time simply resting his
forehead on the neck of the
horse who had become his
teacher and friend.
The ranch’s programs
are uniquely effective
because children who have
been labeled as “lost causes"
connect with horses who
once had the same label
placed on them. When the
staff at Charis Youth Ranch
tells them that no one is
worthless or too broken to
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shape of the ranch’s 28
rescue horses who have
also been given a new lease
on life. At Charis Youth
Ranch, everyone—whether
two-legged or four—has
value, regardless of their
circumstances or past.At Charis Youth Ranch,
“broken horses heal
broken children.” Here,
rescued and rehabilitated
horses connect with at-
risk children and families
through individual and
group equine interactive
sessions. Learn more at
charisyouthranch.org.
Charis Youth Ranch was
a 2019 grant recipient
from Feed it Forward™,
Nutrena's giving program
that provides support for
organizations promoting
the life-changing bond
between animals and
people. Learn more at
feeditforward.org.A teenager in the Triumph Youth program paints words of
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$GYHQWXUH<RXWK3URJUDPThis content is provided
by Hope in the Saddle,
a program dedicated to
sharing some of the most
meaningful and important
stories to emerge from the
equestrian world: stories
of how our relationships
with horses can help us
overcome life’s toughest
challenges. Read more
stories of hope and
healing through horses at
hopeinthesaddle.com.
Hope in the Saddle would
not be possible without the
support of Nutrena Horse
Feed and Tractor Supply
Co. Thank you for helping
our horses feel their best
so they can help us feel
our best.