Gypsy Gift – First Passing of the Lead Ceremony
As stated by LexLin Gypsy Ranch owner Eric Barton, “Gypsy Horses are in their element when working with people who need an understanding and calm but capable horse that thinks through situations before responding rather than reacting too quickly to unexpected events.” LexLin is committed to providing the Gypsy Horses to those that need them.
On July 26, 2014 the LexLin Gypsy Ranch https://www.gogypsy.com/ donated 10 Gypsy horses to various PATH accredited EAAT therapy centers across the U.S. The choice of each center was based on online nominations and voting. Here is a snapshot of the first five deserving recipients:
Strongwater Farm Therapeutic Equestrian Center – Tewksbury, MA received LexLin’s Cha Ching (3 year old Gelding). Strongwater is a not for profit center that serves clients of all ages from 8-91, through their therapeutic riding programs for battered women groups and veteran groups. They rely on donations for most of their horses. http://www.strongwaterfarm.org/
Love Way, Inc – Middlebury, IN received LexLin’s Megalomaniac (2 year old Gelding). Love Way makes a difference in the lives of every students who walks through their doors; their student population (total of 256 last year and ranging in age from 4 to 74) has a wide range of physical, emotional, and cognitive disabilities. http://lovewayinc.org/
Texas Tech Therapeutic Riding Center – Lubbock, TX received Comanche’s Dream of LexLin (6 year old Mare). This center is part of the Texas Tech University family and has been used to help further research in the Hippotherapy and Therapeutic Riding community. They needed a horse with concussive and unique movement to continue research and a Gypsy Vanner fills that need. http://www.depts.ttu.edu/afs/ttrc/
Hearts & Horses Inc. – Loveland, CO received The Varsity of LexLin (4 year old Gelding). Viewing the horse as a therapy partner to approximately 160 riders per week, Hearts & Horses teaches young riders with physical, mental and emotional needs valuable lessons in communication, teamwork, respect, trust, and independence through equine assisted therapy. http://www.heartsandhorses.org/
Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding (STAR) – Lenoir City, TN received Jess of LexLin (6 ½ year old Mare). STAR was chosen by LexLin to receive the gift. Their programs include those that help at-risk youth, therapeutic riding for those who struggle to communicate, and working with military veterans in their Heroes and Horses class. http://www.rideatstar.org/
Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) accredited Equine Assisted Activities Therapy (EAAT) therapy centers use horses in their treatment programs incorporating equine activities and/or the equine environment in relation to goals for the individual patient’s needs. Horses impact and enrich the lives of the developmentally disabled, sick, injured, troubled and developing lives on a daily basis through these programs. Can Praxis, an equine therapy program in Canada, has had amazing results in working with post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans and these results are similar to what happens on a daily basis in equine assisted therapy programs all around the country.
Over the next two years LexLin Gypsy Ranch’s mission is to donate 30 registered Gypsy Horses (total donation valued in excess of $500,000) to Gypsy Gift™ https://www.gogypsy.com/gypsy-gift/ while simultaneously finding eligible sponsors who will train them for approved PATH accredited centers. Centers may sponsor their selected horse. If one center on average, reaches 25 people on a weekly basis, that gives 30 Gypsy Horses a chance to impact lives 39,000 times in one year alone! Imagine how many lives can be touched over 20+ years with 30 horses!
LexLin Gypsy Ranch will donate Gypsy horses to PATH accredited centers after 2-3 years of a sponsor leasing and raising/training them through Gypsy Gift™. The sponsor will give the horse daily handling in preparation to start their official training to become a EAAT horse once they’re 3-4 years of age. This also allows the center time to decide if the horse will be suited to their particular program. LexLin Gypsy Ranch has donated several Gypsy Horses over the past few years to PATH accredited centers. We have received many thanks and glowing reports of the work our horses are doing and requests to expand our program.
To follow LexLin Gypsy Ranch on Facebook or to view more pictures from the Gypsy Gift Passing of the Lead ceremonies, feel free to visit us at: https://www.facebook.com/GypsyVannerHorsesForSale.