“Moriah was born as a nurse mare’s foal, a cast-off in the racing industry. Half Quarter Horse, he is a beautiful buckskin with a beautiful heart. He was picked up at 3 days old and raised by a man who then used him in team roping. I purchased him from that owner when he was 14; he is now 25 and still providing therapy, therapeutic riding, and helping to teach youth about horsemanship, responsibility, empathy, respect, and riding.
In the last 11 years, Moriah (“the Wind” in a Native American language) has proven himself kind and trustworthy, never doing anything to hurt another horse or human. He is patient with beginners, tolerant of those who are heavy in the saddle, and doesn’t get anxious when the person emits high anxiety. We have put youth with autism, Tourette’s Syndrome, disruptive behavior disorders, and PTSD on Moriah and he handles them all calmly.
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He will also move out with youth who are ready to build their confidence by loping and even jumping cavaletti. He is a favorite with veterans because of his steady, predictable personality and eyes that say “I have seen a lot, done a lot, and had a lot asked of me.”
We use Moriah’s life story to illustrate to the kids who come to our programs that our worth is not determined by our lineage, how the world judges us, or by monetary worth, but we all are created for a purpose. (We serve many foster, adopted, inner-city and indigent kids.) He helps them understand that, regardless of their start in life or difficulties they face, they can be kind and trustworthy and seek to live out that purpose.” —Carole B.
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