To a horse who carried many…
May 16, 2019
A tribute to a gentle giant who carried the burdens of many…
Therapeutic Horseback Riding Services
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Rest in Peace, Sweet Jake
August 30, 2018
[vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”2/3″][vc_column_text] As the National Anthem played over the loudspeakers, Jake proudly and steadily walked around the outdoor ring at Agape South,a rider sitting up and carrying the American flag as it fluttered out behind them. There is no image more fitting of Jake’s legacy than this. His entire life has been one of service. He began with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s Mounted Patrol at age two. At age 16, IMPD felt Jake was ready to leave the streets of
The Power of a Simple Summer
June 16, 2016
[vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]SUMMER! It’s simply a season and yet it triggers so many thoughts and emotions in each and every one of us. When you ask most people about their favorite summer memories a strange and consistent thing happens…childhood replays! It’s never a single event or activity. It’s a big picture of our summers as a child. Sun, nature, swimming, vacation, sleeping in, lightening bugs, bare feet, fishing, sprinklers, cookouts, camp, the list goes on and on and let’s not forget about playing with horses of course. If you are anything like me, once you
The Power in Partnership: Bean and Mary Alice
May 16, 2016
Fear is a feeling that’s familiar to all of us. Sometimes, it arrives alone at night to wake us from a serene sleep. Once in awhile, the feeling of fear grows so tall it feels as if it’s become its own being. Sometimes it’s a feeling of reaction; an emotion that sets in after your doctor utters the word: “cancer”. Mary Alice Peoples knows a few things about fear. She also knows the strength it takes to battle it. Mary Alice understands the moment of looking fear in its eyes, and fighting it until it falls prey to the feeling
#Agape30 is here
May 6, 2016
Agape Therapeutic Riding Resources is returning to its roots to celebrate the nonprofit organization’s 30th anniversary Saturday, May 7 at Bradford Woods. Agape’s 15 horses and seven miniature horses help support our mission to cultivate personal growth in our riders and students through unique horse-facilitated activities. Each year, Agape, a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center, serves nearly 2000 individuals and 42 different diagnoses at its two locations: Bradford Woods and Cicero. Before Agape was born 30 years ago, there was one man, a mother and a daughter who saw exactly what therapeutic riding can do. The idea of Agape was
In Memory of Our Beloved Jim
April 30, 2016
“Walk on.” Those two words were so often uttered to our Jim. However, the kind soul inside the the Percheron body didn’t just hear those syllables as a cue to move forward, he heard them as a cue to connect with the person positioned on his back. And connect he certainly did. Jim created moments of confidence in our riders through all of life’s seasons. Summer is when Jim brought confidence to the hearts of our summer campers at Bradford Woods. Jim’s gentleness shined as campers stepped into stirrups and Jim, ever the strong-silent type, stood patiently for his rider
Stories of our amazing horses | Butterbean
August 5, 2015
“Recently Butterbean gave a ride to an individual who had suffered a spinal cord injury, causing her to be a quadriplegic. Having grown up with horses, she did everything from jumping to reining and contesting. She had not been on a horse since her injury and wasn’t sure if it was even possible to ride again. She was a little nervous during mounting because she could not support her weight, but she was able to sit up with the help of two side walkers and balance using the handle of the surcingle. As soon as we got into
Volunteer Spotlight- Bern & Kathy
July 29, 2015
Each night of the week there are familiar casts of characters hurrying around the barn and each Thursday, you’ll find Bern and Kathy Lytle in the barn. These two can be found doing anything and everything that needs to be done. From grooming horses, to sweeping the barn and cleaning out stalls, to side walking with riders or leading horses during class. If it needs to be done, Bern and Kathy will tackle the job head-on. Their dedication to Agape programs is abundant. The Lytles moved here in 2013. Retirement and wanting to be closer to their family brought Bern and Kathy
How to trust when you don’t understand
July 24, 2015
Today is actually a special day to me as I have had the incredible privilege of leading Agape for 3 years now. Through the ups and the downs, I am deeply passionate about what we do and overwhelmed with gratitude for this wonderful community that loves fiercely and hopes abundantly. I realize that it this post may not be proper etiquette for an Executive Director to write; however, as I am reflecting on the past 3 years, and 2015 so far, I believe that etiquette can take a quiet back seat for a brief moment. So let me just tell
“So you think you want to be a therapeutic riding horse?” Trial Horses Part 2- Trial Period and Desensitization
July 9, 2015
Last week’s post discussed the horse selection process, what we look for in trial horses and how we choose which horses we go look at. This week we’re going to take a look into the trial period and what it takes to be a therapeutic riding horse. Because of the tough nature of the job, the horses at Agape go through a trial period that lasts 60 days. In order to give them time to settle in, each trial horse stays at least 30 days. Agape equine trainer and instructor, Cody Bogard, plays a big part in the assessment, training and
Gypsy Dreamin’
June 19, 2015
Did you know Agape is competing to win one of 10 Gypsy Vanner horses? LexLin Gypsy Ranch, based in eastern Tennessee, has partnered with PATH International to provide 10 Gypsy horses to 10 PATH centers around the country through their Gypsy Gift program. Much to our excitement, Agape was nominated and selected to compete! The LexLin Gypsy Ranch page describes Gypsy horses as follows: “For hundreds of years, nomadic people known as Gypsies have traveled the roads of the United Kingdom in beautifully carved and decorated living wagons. To maintain this wandering way of life, they created an extraordinary breed
You’re Invited!|The Mane Event, Agape’s First Annual Horse Show
April 30, 2015
Come one, come all to Agape’s first annual horse show!