Emerge Equine brings back unique summer program

Coming into the teenage years can be a hard transition for some, Emerge Equine has decided to help make this difficult part of a person's life a little easier to manage with a summer equine experience 

The “Let your light shine” program is offered to women and teen girls and is owned and operated by Linda Hopp with help from her 14-year-old daughter Emily. 

Emily knows firsthand the importance of equine therapy, 

"With my horse, we have a really strong connection because we've worked together for so long. Honestly, we just know each other and when I'm having a rough time at school or something, I can just go and talk to him and it feels like he's just my best friend and I can talk to him about anything. It's just like he understands me because we are connected.”

The program itself is aimed toward building connections with the animals the participants engage with and the world around them. Once in the program teens learn skills through activities, such as breathing and mindfulness exercises, learning to connect energetically, setting boundaries, and finding their leadership voice.

Emily illustrates who can benefit from participating in this one of a kind learning experience. 

“Well, anyone really, It's a really powerful program and I personally have gotten a lot out of it just because the horses reflect on how you're feeling. It's really powerful and it's just another way to look at how you're feeling and your experiences with life.”

Emily builds on this by sharing a highlight from her time working in this program.

“One day at school I got a concussion from playing flag football, I came home and we had the program that day and I pulled out my horse and I was working with him and I didn't realize I had a concussion yet. It's almost like he sensed that I was in pain and he was nudging at my head with his nose and super protective of me. Like he'd go and stand in front of someone to protect me. He just knew, so that was definitely one of the most amazing experiences that I've had from this.”

Life from a teenager's perspective is full of change and not all of those changes can or will be positive. Emerge Equine is working to impact this perspective positively by buildings skills and mindfulness that can help young people face these changes and cope with whatever life hits them with. So instead of fearing change learn to embrace it.

The “Let your light shine” program begins on May 30th and will continue to offer its unique learning experience throughout June.