ASPIRE News

It is a new day!  Rejoice and be glad in it.  Moving a horse to Minnesota today.  Wednesday down to Ames to get Erika tested for allergies.

Today I wanted to talk to you about our mission.  ASPIRE provides benefits to individuals with disabilities through animal assisted activities and outreach programs, primarily through partnership with horses.

Horses are amazing animals.  They bring so much joy and love to each person they interact with.  A horse has a very intuitive sense.   They teach joy, peace, love, patience, gentleness, calmness, trust, respect,kindness, self-control, exercise, and a sense of spirituality.  They teach us to think outside of the box. 

ASPIRE has served thousands of children and adults with and without disabilities over the course of 12 years.  It has brought dreams a reality, it has brought joy and love, it has changed the quality of life of many individuals.   I think back 12 years and how far we have come.   I watch the Amercorp group outside throwing hay into a trailer, diligently working on painting the arena, and ramp.  Putting up fence posts and cleaning the barn inside.   What a joy to watch them give back.  This week they will be painting the office.

You see ladies and gentlemen this program not only changes the quality of life of the individuals we serve but the volunteers and staff.   Open your hearts and mind to a different way of life.  Think about a child that couldn't walk, can now walk his horse around the arena.  Think about a young man that could not say any words can not speak words you can understand.  Think about a child that couldn't swing or ride a bike, can know do both and more.  Think about a child that refused to be part of extracurricular activities at school and now can participate in sports.   Think about a child that is so afraid of horses can now ride her horse independently and in front of large audiences.  Think about a child that has suffered so much abuse that there is no love to find and then they find a horse and the love begins.   Think about a child that is ridiculed, teased, bullied and lost all sense of self-worth.  Imagine putting that child in an environment that no one cares what they look like or what labels they might have.  There is no judgements, labels, only the challenge to reach new levels of skill.  Imagine what that does for their self-worth.   Imagine being a child that the only way of survival is to exist each day.  Imagine a child in a wheelchair and has every part of their body strapped in.   Now visualize this child sitting on a horse with no straps only sitting with people assisting on each side.   Are you imagining the freedom.   Imagine that you no longer have to just exist that your life is filled with joy and love and you can now look forward to each day.  Imagine a senior that interacts for the first time with a little horse that loves to come and put his head in your lap.   Imagine the love this little horse gives to people that sit in places that sometimes don't get visits from people.  Imagine a senior that is able to visit about days gone by and this little horse is willing to listen.  Imagine someone that is suffering from life's tragedy and has decided life is not worth living.  Imagine now you are getting up every morning and coming to a peaceful place where each day you are giving back to others.  Imagine what a difference that makes in your life.  You see ladies and gentlemen a person can't achieve all these results in an office or home or television or video games.   This comes from a relationship with a beautiful horse and many adults that are caring, kind and want to give back. Imagine if you are a parent and you watch your fearful child ride a horse for the very first time.  Imagine a child that is filled with anxiety can now seat astride a thousand pound horse.  

Please help ASPIRE to continue bringing all of this and more to our wonderful community with your gifts of talent, money, volunteerism, and your children that are in need of services.   ASPIRE is proud to serve an individual no matter the ability to pay.   Help us to reach our goals and to strive to provide this community with a service that can bring joy to every child's life that is need of our service.   Your gifts of time, money, or service go towards changing peoples lives.   Please consider helping us grow and providing service to thousands of children and adults.  Dreams do come true.  It is with your help that we will be able to make many more dreams a reality.