An African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child,” has controversy wrapped around it like bubble wrap. No! Others say, not a village – a family! An idea is that individuals and groups outside the family have an impact (for better or for worse) on a child’s wellbeing. Bill Grace writes, “it takes a village or at the very least a church of great heart to help raise a child.”
CORRAL CONNECTIONS, founded on Romans 8:15, has been established to provide opportunities to develop self-worth, self- confidence and to experience God’s love through building relationships. God did not leave us alone as orphans. He has adopted us by paying a great price for relationship with us. We are HIS sons and daughters! CORRAL CONNECTIONS will provide opportunities to develop interpersonal skills and confidence in who we are in Christ Jesus and who we are becoming as we learn how to receive God’s free gifts of grace, love, and mercy.
Students will learn about groundwork, haltering, leading, mounting & dismounting, bridling & saddling. Of course we will provide ample opportunity for grooming the horses and daily clean up chores. You will learn principles that can be applied to all areas of life through these activities.
As you develop sensitivity to the horses, you will also be more sensitive to those around you. Your awareness of varied ways of communication will become evident, and you will see how we can encourage the horses and one another through affirmation and praise.
CORRAL CONNECTIONS mission statement: “We purpose to provide an experience that will be enjoyable, memorable, inspirational and educational while building confidence, esteem and relationship.” We invite you to come and BE BUILT.
The hand of LOVE, in the form of loving grandparents, brought a precious young lad 13 years of age to be with us for nine days and experience CORRAL CONNECTIONS. Upon returning back to Minnesota with Grandpa Donny, an over-the-road truck driver, he wrote about his experience. I received his permission to share with ya’ll.
“Hey, I’m Eli and Deb is a really good person to do horses with. She has you do things that really help you build connections with the horse you are working with. There was a lot of fear in me working with 1,000 pound animals, but Deb helped me get passed [sic] that by grooming and playing trust games between me and this 1,000 pound animal! There was a lot of stuff that I did to build a relationship with these horses! I have learned MANY things to do with horses to build trust and connections! My main goal was to ride a horse since I was 9/10 years old and this amazing lady helped me do that! NOW I can truly say when I am older I will want to have horses! These animals teach you things about yourself that you didn’t know! I did an exercise on the back of my horse with the assistance of Loren and Deb that rocked me on the INSIDE! I experienced a relaxation and confidence that I had never known before! These entire amazing things Deb had me do all led up to my goal, RIDING HORSES! It was a really FUN experience! Grandpa and Grandma Watson, your love for me creates a space to grow and be rooted and grounded. THANKS! Mom and Dad, I love you! I always will. Loren and Deb “thanks” for impacting my life. Ruhammah, you are a beautiful horse! Thanks for letting me work with you and for teaching me!” ~ Eli Hauser
I quote, “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.” (Jimmy Johnson) Because of the extra, extra….you are reading about it!
“Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.” Teddy Roosevelt
That’s what Grandpa Donny & Elijah James did when they stopped in Alabama. That’s what CORRAL CONNECTIONS did when they came.
Eli expressed having fear when he was in the presence of a horse. My final quote is from George Addair who said, “Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” Eli rode a horse!
Your NEIGHbor,
Deb Kitchenmaster
Corral Connections/www.corralconnections.com
‘A church of great heart’
256-426-7947
Animal B.E.S.T. practitioner
dkitchenmaster@mchsi.com
