Meet the Horses

	My name is "Christian" and I was donated to Rising Hope in March 2012 along with my best friend Gideon. My name comes from Acts 11:26 where the disciples were called Christians for the first time. Christian means Christ-ones because all they had in common was Christ - not race, culture, or even language. Christ crosses all boundaries and unifies all people. I am a white quarter horse and Arabian mix. I love people and I am the friendliest of the herd. If I see you at the fence, I will come over for a rub on my nose or a pat on my neck. I will certainly get into your space because I love touch and like to nozzle your face. Do not be afraid of my forwardness, for it is just love. A fun day for me is being around people, they just fascinate me. I do like to roll around in the dirt, so it is difficult for the volunteers to keep me clean and white. Please come visit me at the farm and let me rest my head on your shoulders.
	Gideon is my name from Judges 6:12. "The angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." My breed is an appaloosa and I am white with many brown spots. My spots are small around the front of my body and get bigger toward my rump. I am best friends with Christian and we go everywhere together. I am very shy and will not come to you. However, I will allow you to come to me. I do love all the attention of brushing and rubbing by the riders. I find my confidence in Christian and will go anywhere as long as he is with me. I am not a tall horse but I have a big, big heart. I try harder in comparison to the herd to be a good therapy horse. I love the children. When a child approaches me, I bend my head down so they can pat my head. If they are in a wheel chair, I will lay my head in their lap to make it easy for them to love me. Come to the farm and help me get over my shyness by giving me a treat and telling me how much you care.
	My name is Miracle, from Psalm 77:14: You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. I am a fairly new member of the herd. I came to Rising Hope Farms in September 2010. Spanish Mustang is my breed and Olive Dune Roam is my color. I stand only 14 hands high, but I have powerful muscles and can carry a lot of weight. My service to God is to be an instrument of healing to the people who come to the farm with my smooth and sassy gait. Even though my face is dark, I radiate a beacon of light to the individual whom I ride. I ride mostly the very small children, because of my small body frame. I love being fed treats and having my coat brushed. The volunteers here at great and they keep me exercised and trained for my little riders.
	My name is Abe, short for Abraham. I was donated to Rising Hope Farms in October 2009. I am the oldest horse in the herd, I am 24 years old. I am a black Tennessee walking horse with a small white moon shape star on my face. Even though I am old, I am a very beautiful horse. I stand 16 hands high with a very strong back, I hold my head high and I'm very proud of the way God made me. Because my previous owner took such good care of me, I do not look my age. I have a slight deformity on my right back leg, but it does not interfere with my performance in the arena. I love to be around people and especially the children here at Rising Hope Farm. I love it when the children rub my black shiny coat and feed me treats. I am very careful with them when they get on my back, because I know they are special and need lots of care.
	My name is Shadow. My full name is "Shadow of Light" from Psalms. 91:1 I am a black and white paint. I am a gaited racking horse which makes me very smooth to ride. I have been a member of Kurt and Gail's family for 14 years. I am 15 years old this year. Eating and rolling in the mud are my favorite things to do I'm in charge of the other horses because I've been here the longest and often steal their food when I can. I'm a little overweight and Kurt and Gail say I'm lazy. I like children, especially when they feed me snacks and brush my coat. God has given me a special gift to be able to connect with children in a special way as He uses the healing power of my muscles to enhance their body and make them stronger.
My name is Heaven. My full name is "High as the Heavens," from Psalm 103:11. I am a Clydesdale, which means I'm a very big horse. I am used on the farm to pull carts, wagons, and carriages. People like to sit on my back to get their picture made. God has given me a majestic gift of size and beauty that is reflected in the wide eyes of children and adults. I am known around the farm as a "gentle giant." I like having everyone's attention and don't mind if you braid my mane or wash my flowing, white, feather legs. I don't mind if you walk underneath me or put ribbons in my tail. Like the people in the therapeutic riding program, I too have a special need - I have asthma. It's difficult for me to breathe sometimes, but the touch of a child relaxes me and soothes my breathing.
My name is Prophet. "True Prophet" is my full name from Luke 7:16. I am a tri-colored paint horse. I am the youngest in the herd at 5 years old and I have a lot of energy and always want to play. I am being schooled several days a week so one day I will graduate into a therapy horse. I get to participate and feel special in the therapy program by being stabled and allowing people to rub my neck and talk to me. Even though I'm young, my eyes see the special people who visit the farm. God's gift of magic and healing works for myself and individuals as we connect with each other through touch and conversation in the barn.