Shily's Promise Youth Ranch (SPYR) is located in Berrien County, Michigan. The ranch's purpose is to provide an environment and opportunity for disadvantaged children and rescued horses to interact and help each other find healing and hope. Using a model of one child with one horse with one trained leader at all times, we will offer a safe, encouraging, therapeutic experience for all children who visit. By inviting and encouraging each child's family to accompany him or her to the ranch, we hope to support not just to the child, but the family as a whole. Through the ranch's program, any child may request and receive free lessons with the ranch horses. This includes learning groundwork techniques, horse care, and riding skills. Typically, a child may schedule one 90-minute session per week. Although lessons will be provided for all who request them, extra efforts will be made to identify and invite local children with the most desperate needs. This will be done through contact with local counseling providers, school systems, bereavement facilities, etc.
Each child who visits the ranch will be paired up with a trained leader in a one-on-one situation. Every session will begin with a job or project that the child and leader complete together. Including a small job in the visit serves several purposes. First of all, as the leader and child work side-by-side, a non-threatening connection is made that allows the leader to casually ask questions about what may be happening in the child's life. Secondly, giving the child a task allows them to give back something to the ranch, instilling in him/her a sense of pride. Finally, the work helps give the no-cost lesson more value to the child, as he/she isn't just getting "something for nothing".
The remainder of each session will involve the child and leader interacting with one of the ranch horses. Depending upon the child and his or her situation, comfort level, and skills with horses, this may involve any of the following: learning to be comfortable around the horse just by being near it/observing its behavior/petting it; grooming the horse; caring for an injured horse; learning and practicing ground skills; or riding the horse.
