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Meg Emry is in her 5th year of volunteering at Freedom Farm.  Originally she heard about us through reading a Minnetonka Magazine article about Healing With Horses, our veterans program.  As an experienced English rider herself, Meg knew firsthand how beneficial horses can be.  One of her favorite horses here at Freedom Farm was Doc, a Quarter Horse formerly a western pleasure show horse.  She says he was really intuitive with the kids, very patient, and especially good for children with Cerebral Palsy to help with mobility.

One of her favorite memories was when an Autistic child started speaking for the 1st time during his ride. “It was pretty profound”, she told me.  There have been so many wonderful memories for Meg at Freedom Farm. “I love how often I find myself smiling and laughing at the students’ jokes.” She added that the older students, “are so gracious and polite”, and often take the time to thank her. “I enjoy seeing them develop confidence over the course of a summer session. Volunteering is so rewarding in this way because I learn so much from them and from the horses.”

Meg also shared about the power of a positive attitude and the impact volunteering at Freedom Farm has had on her. “Both the students and the horses seem to end up with positive attitudes, thanks in large part to Susie’s positivity. The horses might have a rough session with an emotional student or miscommunication between volunteers, and yet they still come willing to work, sensitive to the vulnerabilities of the students, and almost uncanny in their ability to respond just as needed. The students, even though they struggle with various disabilities, always end up responding with joy, enthusiasm, and growth. Susie, the students, the horses, and the other volunteers never fail in this way to inspire and encourage me.

“Having struggled myself with years of trauma and mental health issues, I find volunteering therapeutic. It helps me to practice being mindful and gives me the confidence to take what I’ve learned from communicating with the horses, riders, and other volunteers and apply it to my other relationships. Since my trauma has been relational, I find this chance to learn how to effectively, assertively, and clearly communicate invaluable. My ability to solve problems that arise during lessons gives me more confidence that I can solve problems in other areas of my life. Paying attention to the horse, rider, and sidewalkers also teaches me how to ground myself, which is a much needed skill for handling my own trauma triggers. The graciousness that I encounter from riders, the horses, Susie, and other volunteers also gives me hope and helps me counter the depression and anxiety I’ve struggled with for many years.

“I think that’s the amazing thing about Freedom Farm. Every human and animal benefits. It has this amazing ripple effect that radiates into many peoples’ lives.”