Sterling – Blue jeans, black ties, glimmer, and big hearts graced the barn at the Black Leg Ranch on Saturday, November 20. TR 4 Heart & Soul hosted its fifth annual fundraiser with about 320 supporters in attendance. The event featured the therapeutic riding organization’s participant spotlight, which highlighted stories from the individuals that receive horse riding instruction to aid in physical and emotional therapy through equine rehabilitation. A live and silent auction accompanied a social and dinner, and a dance with a live band warmed up the barn floor.
TR 4 Heart & Soul’s mission seeks to improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities through the heart and soul of a horse.
"It all started with a dream." Katie Oakland, TR 4 Heart & Soul Founder
“It all started with a dream. A dream to help individuals through the touch of a horse,” said Katie Oakland, TR 4 Heart & Soul Founder. “We could not be doing this without the amazing support of our volunteers, donors, and students. It all comes full circle. Our number one priority is taking care of our students and the equine partners they trust their healing to, daily. If that means 4:00 a.m. trips to the vet, thawing frozen waterers at ten in the evening or having an extra volunteer around to assist with riding, it is all that matters.”
The organization offers therapeutic riding classes focusing on a broad range of disabilities, as well as alternative physical and emotional hardships. Each class has specific goals and measurable objectives depending on the physical, cognitive, social, and horsemanship skills of each rider. Riders and volunteers range from the ages of 14 to 80 years of age. Cognitive classes focus on the processes of the mind including planning, judgement, memory, orientation, concepts, attention, and language. Physical rehabilitation focuses on riders with impairments affecting muscles, nerves, and bones. Activities on the horse provide strength, balance, and coordination. Sensory processing actives on the equine athlete improve the rider’s brain and ability to absorb, analyze, and respond to information from the body’s five senses.
“Words cannot describe the joy that this has brought to my boys." Kim Wilkens, participant
Kim Wilkens started horse therapy with her children after the death of her husband, Adam. “Words cannot describe the joy that this has brought to my boys. They frequently ask how many more days until their next horse therapy but also how many hours, how many minutes. Words will never be enough to thank the whole TR team including Katie, the volunteers, and the amazing organization that has given my boys the opportunity to use equine therapy in their healing journey.” Wilkens added, “The unbearable becomes bearable when you walk it with good people.”
Over the past year, TR has expanded and is also working with the Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College’s Equine Studies Program to help provide therapeutic riding at the Healing Horse Ranch, located west of Parshall.
"Thank you to all that assist and support in making this such a special organization.” Dale Pahlke, event auctioneer
Dale Pahlke, event auctioneer, summed up the evening, “This was an absolutely awesome night. This is the best night we have ever had. Katie and her family have dedicated their life to this and to our community. Our community is so much better with this tremendous program. Thank you to all that assist and support in making this such a special organization.”
The fundraiser supports 80 percent of operations for TR including feed for the horses, subsidized programming, barn and heat needs, maintenance and care for the equine partners.
Volunteer and rider Braydon Avery described his time at the ranch like this, “I just do whatever to help around; I get to catch horses, help feed the horses and see lots of people smiling. I love helping at Katie’s.”
When heading out to visit TR, don’t be surprised to see riders reading on their horses, playing a game of red light-green light or hula hoops draped on a horse’s neck. The variety of learning and healing techniques are endless. They can be found in one barn, with two hearts beating loudly to the sound of hoofprints in dirt. A special place with giving people making the community a better place. For more information, check out TR 4 Heart & Soul on Facebook or therapeuticriding4has.org.
