On the Magical Meadows website, executive director "Cowboy Carl" Adams posted his favorite quote by Winston Churchill:
"Never give in. Never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force: never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."
Churchill was speaking of the struggles of World War II, in 1941, but the message stands salient for any hardship, mental, physical, or spiritual. It's a message of hope that Magical Meadows stands for in everything it does.
This horseback riding center, based in Indiana, serves clients of all ages with special needs. Some are autistic, others blind. Some have cerebral palsy, or PTSD. And many, because of their conditions, found themselves losing hope.
"I kind of went through a little bit of depression," said Ashley Buss, a high school student who lost her vision at 13. "Since I can't see, it makes me feel really good that I can get on this 1,500-pound animal and actually control it. I thought I was going to be at home the rest of my life. That was going to be as good as it was going to get. Now, I actually have a dream. I actually have a plan for the future that doesn't include just doing nothing. I'm really excited about that."
Horses have a strong sense of empathy with members of their herd, both equine and human. Their gentle nature can relieve anxiety, and tension. Riding also builds up physical coordination, muscle tone, and confidence.
Magical Meadows therapeutic riding center was one of the recipients of support through the Lincoln Driven to Give program. This event raises money for charitable organizations by donating $20 for every test drive taken at participating dealerships during the event. Lincoln has raised over $6 million for charity through Driven to Give. To learn more about the program, contact Grapevine Lincoln at (888) 458-6167.