It wasn’t very noisy as the good folks at the ROARR ranch played their video for gathered guests and donors Friday, with perhaps the only sound being the rustle of Kleenex to dab some eyes, as the narrator’s voiceover said, “In the horse’s presence hearts ignite.”
ROARR (Robinson Outreach at RiverCross Ranch) strives to relieve the conditions associated with youth and elderly in need, by providing Equine Assisted Learning and related Therapies. EAL is an experiential life skills program that helps participants become strong, confident human beings. Participants engage in objective driven exercises and find themselves learning valuable life skills in a fun, exciting atmosphere while working with horses.
Seeing the looks on the kids’ and seniors’ faces in the video it’s impossible not to be moved.
Marian Koosel is about as far away from being a ‘horse person’ as can be imagined. She was born and raised in England, and has always been a city person. The 84-year-old now lives at Hawthorne seniors facility in Cochrane. She’s not reluctant at all about revealing her age.
“I’m getting there. I thank the Lord every day that I wake up,” she said with a giggle.
She came to visit the ranch a month ago, and found her interaction with a little horse “very pleasurable” Friday.
