![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/shelbyville\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/01\/2-5-1024x683.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBefore Wojtkowski, who has been a registered nurse since 1985, started Hope Reins, she and her husband, Paul, operated a nonprofit called Hope Through Education Inc. Through this organization, they remodeled orphanages in Mexico, rehabilitated apartments to house displaced families during the housing crisis in 2008, and completed various other projects. When the opportunity arose for the Wojtkowskis to continue as Hope Reins, they happily opened their barn to the community and provided their own horses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A few years ago, Wojtkowski received a call from Ann Burkhalter, who had volunteered with Great Strides since 2007. Burkhalter is a certified instructor through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship. Together, they formed Hope Reins Therapeutic Riding Center, which will begin its third season this spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnn is a gem. She is not only knowledgeable with horses, but she is extremely knowledgeable with children who have disabilities, and she knows how to keep them engaged,\u201d said Wojtkowski. \u201cShe has so much knowledge with running an equine therapy program that I want our program to reflect her knowledge and character.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to research, equine therapy has proven to be the most beneficial to riders who have a physical, mental, or emotional challenge because the movement of the horse stimulates muscles, helps build core strength, and improves muscle tone. The relationships formed between the horse and its rider create pathways of communication that encourage socialization, improve social skills, reduce anxiety and irritability, and help to regulate emotions. As riders become more confident in their equine skills, they also see their self-esteem grow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur vision for our equine therapy program is to draw people to the Lord and to help them realize that horses are God\u2019s gift to man. We want others to recognize that God\u2019s healing hand is on them and their children, and as they see that, they come to truly love and appreciate the equine.\u201d GN <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" At Creekside Farm on the outskirts of the Flat Creek community, the aroma of freshly mowed hay mixes with the salty sweat of the horses. They stamp their hooves on the dirt floor, begging Angela Wojtkowski to lead them out of their stalls and into the sunlight. As the children waiting in the arena for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":23516,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23514","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature"],"yoast_head":"\n