By Susan Burton, Henry County Schools Communications Director
Springville, TN – Students visited ABLE Farms to get a feel of what it’s like to work with horses. HCHS students spent time with horses by grooming them and getting used to being in the same space as the animals. ABLE (Ability-Belonging-Love-Equality) Stables is an equine assisted ministry whose aim is to create a safe space where all are welcome and is located in the Springville area.
One of the founders of ABLE Farms, Bart Croasmun, showed the students how to groom the horses and how to feed them treats. He explains that relationships with horses can help people to be more self-confident, to help build trust, reduce anxiety, and create habits for positive social-emotional and spiritual growth.
Melissa Berry, Special Education teacher at HCHS, has one of her horses, Sundance, at the farm. The horse has a disability of being blind in one eye but was still a great trail riding horse and helped to herd cattle. Jacob Boone, a field trip student explained that having a disability doesn’t keep you from being able to do things.
You can reach ABLE Farms at their website, www.ablefarms.org, for more information.