Hope Reins of Raleigh is a 33-acre nonprofit ranch that serves kids in life crisis through rescued horses and Christ. Their mission is to pair hurting kids with rescued horses to find hope and healing. Hope Reins offers kids ages 5-18 one-on-one sessions, group sessions/programs, summer camps, and so many more opportunities to find hope and love.

While I was not in the session program, I have been volunteering at the ranch since I was 12 years old. Each year I returned, I grew more attached to the people I met and the ranch itself. As I grew older, I was able to get even further involved in the programs Hope Reins offered and it really began to make an impact on me.

After years of serving on smaller land rented from a church, they were able to purchase the beautiful, rolling 33-acre ranch we now know as Hope Reins. The moment I stepped foot through the gates at the new property, I was completely struck by the love, hope, and happiness I felt. Every person I came into contact with greeted me with such kindness, despite not knowing me well. I simply could not be in a bad mood while on this property.

Over the years, I have met so many people that want nothing more than to offer their support and love. These people have become people that I want to turn to when things go wrong and friends I want to have for the rest of my life. However, Hope Reins has more than just human love to offer. Their "angels in horsehair" as they're called have such radiant personalities that I have never seen in a horse before.

One horse in particular (pictured above) has become my best four-legged friend. Buddy is the most expressive horse I have ever met. He makes sure you always know what he's feeling and when he needs some scratches. I have spent so much of my time at Hope Reins just loving on Buddy and spending time with him (and of course scratching him everywhere). Words can't even explain the healing that takes place during this "me time". He loves to give and receive love and bonding with a thousand pound animal in that way just feels like a miracle.

In my years of volunteering, I have seen many miracles at this place. After so many obstacles being thrown at me through my life, I never truly believed in miracles and was even beginning to feel iffy about Christianity. I have seen countless families crying over the progress their hurting children make here, I've had countless families come to me and tell me the impact Hope Reins has had on their children. And the impact that has on me cannot be put into words. It doesn't matter if a child has anxiety, depression, suffered a death in the family, etc. these loving horses that share common stories and the loving people they are surrounded by bringing out the best in everyone that walks through those gates.

As I said before, I have never been involved in sessions at Hope Reins. If I can be this deeply impacted by Hope Reins outside of their programs, think about the impact the programs can have. Hope Reins restored my faith in Christ and humanity in general despite my diagnoses of PTSD, depression, and anxiety. At Hope Reins, those diagnoses do not matter. It's a place where you can be free of your traumas. It's a place where you can be safe from judgment and harm. Hope Reins is a miracle in itself and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for that ranch.