Tulsa Boys' Home Launches Equine Therapy Program for Vulnerable Youth
The Tulsa Boys' Home, a local nonprofit organization, has initiated a new healing program that pairs vulnerable young men with horses, including wild mustangs from Wyoming. This initiative, known as the Mañana Horsemanship Program, aims to teach patience, responsibility, and trust. Equine Specialist Johnny Clark developed the 'SPUR Model' to integrate horse work into the existing healing plans at the home. Clark emphasizes that horses act as mirrors to human emotions, reflecting feelings and helping the boys to understand themselves better. Program Manager Gage Fisher highlights the parallel between unhandled horses and youth who have experienced hardship, noting that the process of training these animals helps the boys address their own emotional 'dents' and learn functional social skills. Participants, many of whom had no prior experience with horses, engage in hands-on activities, including leading horses through obstacle courses that symbolize life's challenges. This program seeks to prepare both the h...
