Life Horse:  A Place Where Hope and Dreams Abound

  LifeHorse at Grand Review Farm was founded in April, 2002 and was based on an article found in Horse Illustrated about a LifeHorse program at Covenant Farm in Maryland. The program is new and exciting and brings hope to children who might not otherwise have much. LifeHorse is a specially designed therapeutic horseback riding program for terminally and chronically ill children to ride and be around horses. 

  Children aged 3-21 are accepted into the program and are allowed to participate to their full ability. While some of the children are too sick to actually ride a horse, they find hope and joy in brushing or feeding or even just sitting on a bale of hay and talking to a horse. Those children who are strong enough to ride are allowed to progress at their own speed and level. This may mean a child on a horse with someone leading him and a side walker on each side, or it may mean a child having a private lesson on a horse who they are riding all by themselves. Some of the children choose not to ride at all, they prefer to ride in a carriage and learn to drive the horses. 

  Regardless of the child's individual capabilities, they are allowed to explore, learn and find what makes them happy in the barn, even if that means bonding with a cat who happens to wander by.  After all, LifeHorse is about finding something to LIVE for, not just about a horse. The program is of no charge to the children and their families. The support of individuals and corporations make the program possible, it is through donations, child sponsorships, horse sponsorships and grants that the program exists.