We Are Fresno: Horsing Around for Therapy

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Heart of the Horse Therapy Ranch in Clovis has been using horses to help people with disabilities and traumatic injuries. The program is making big plans but directors say they need community help to make it happen.<br /><br />At Heart of The Horse Therapy Ranch, horses like Bandit here help give riders new confidence. Owners say, they’ve just been given an opportunity to open a new center, entirely for veterans. <br /><br />It’s a beautiful day for a ride at the heart of the&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 13.3333330154419px;">Heart of The Horse Therapy Ranch</span>&nbsp;in Clovis. Turn down Heart of the Horse Lane and you’ll quickly see what the program is all about: people riding horses to get healing. <br /><br />&quot;Anybody with a special need, and that special need could be anything from brain trauma, missing limbs,&quot;&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 13.3333330154419px;">Guy Adams,&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333330154419px;">Heart of The Horse Therapy Ranch.</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333330154419px;">&nbsp;<br /><br /></span>Adams heads the effort more than 10 riders a day, every day. Run on only donations. <br /><br />&quot;It’s not about the money here at&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 13.3333330154419px;">Heart of The Horse Therapy Ranch</span>, it’s about helping others, to, mentally, physically and spiritually, to get them on their road to healing,&quot; Adams said. <br /><br />People like 26-year-old Stephanie Orozco, who was in a serious car accident almost seven years ago. <br /><br />&quot;It’s incomplete, so my spinal cord wasn’t completely severed,&quot; Orozco said.&nbsp;<br /><br />Orozco can’t feel from her knees down, something that would have made horseback riding impossible, but not for Adams and his crew who got her up and riding anyway. <br /><br />&quot;Just truly amazing people, and like, the biggest hearts I’ve ever met,&quot;&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 13.3333330154419px;">Orozco said.&nbsp;</span><br /><br />Soon the ranch will be growing. A local winery just offered to lease the program this three acre space complete with a house where Adams someday hopes to house ten veterans. <br /><br />&quot;Vets, from the Vet. Center, from the VA Hospital, guys suffering from post traumatic stress, brain trauma and missing limbs,&quot; Adams said.&nbsp;<br /><br />Adams can’t make the renovations happen without help, but is hoping the central valley will come through. To help him help people.<br /><br />For more on how you can donate your time or services, visit our website.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 13.3333330154419px;">Megan Rupe, reporting.</span></div>