Candlelight Ranch seeks volunteers for expanded equine therapy program

DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR

SMITHWICK — If you love horses, or even just like them, and you want to help make a difference in the lives of children, Candlelight Ranch needs you.

The facility, 6408 Muleshoe Bend Trail off RR 1431, provides a unique outdoor environment for special-needs and at-risk children. The ranch does this through several programs, including equine therapy.

Ranch program director Lynnette Holtz recently completed her certification with the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association. This allows Candlelight Ranch to expand its program even more.

But volunteers are still needed for the horse program, even though these volunteers won’t help at the level Holtz provides services.

“There’s a lot of things we use the horses for,” Holtz said. “They’re very relaxing and calming for the kids.”

One of the most popular activities is painting a horse. This is where kids put paint on their hands or fingers and then put their hands on a horse.

“There’s a lot of groups that come in here and groom the horses,” Holtz said. “A lot of what the volunteers will do is just keep the kids calm around the horses.”

Candlelight Ranch is holding a equine-assisted learning volunteer training May 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The program will introduce people to the needs of the facility and how to work with the horses and children.

“You don’t need to be somebody who grew up around horses or even have one,” Holtz said. “You should at least like them. If they’re interested in horses at all, this could be for them.”

Along with the horses, volunteers will be working around children and youth.

Volunteer opportunities are available throughout the week during the summer, but Holtz said the ranch will definitely work with people’s schedules.

Candlelight Ranch uses a variety of programs to work with special-needs and at-risk youth. Many of the activities are nature-based and include a challenge course (zip lines), low ropes course, hiking, art and music therapy workshops, natural science as well as yoga and movement sessions.

To register for the May 30 workshop, email the Holtz at lynette@candlelightranch.org or call the ranch at (512) 323-5300. Go to www.candlelightranch.org for more information on the facility or other volunteer opportunities.

daniel@thepicayune.com