Leaven: Building a Program Like Ours

What a wonderful way to start the New Year! When I opened the computer I received a wonderful message from across the country from a person who is looking to develop a riding program using mustangs. She explained that she had been following our blog and was nearly finished with my book, "And a Little Child Shall lead Them" and she wanted to know what she could learn from our program. She might be coming out in a few weeks to see how we do things.

Three important points arise from this note:

1. The most important thing that we can do is to present a program whose strengths can be replicated in other programs across the country. We reach hundreds of people personally, but it is by using our program as the leaven that helps countless others make bread that we can have the greatest impact. I am always available to consult with anyone looking to build a program like ours. I will happily tell you every mistake that we made in the process and will share every insight gained. Of course, there would never be a charge for this assistance. It has been said that I can get a bit evangelical in my drive to help other programs grow. I plead guilty. Helping grow more programs like ours is the most important contribution that I can make to building a newer world.

2. What we do is not beyond the reach of any one who is willing to work hard to learn natural horsemanship and the impact of trauma on humans. The interplay between the two gives us the ability to shine lights into very dark worlds.

3. This contact learned of our program though our blog. We need to make sure that blog posts reach a wide audience. That means that by sharing blog posts on facebook, sending an email to friends recommending the blog, and signing up to get blog posts sent directly to your email you might be the spark that ends up inspiring someone to build a program like ours.  

It is so easy to do so. In the length of time that it will take us to feed up this morning each of you can reach thousands of people. Perhaps one of those thousands will start a program for veterans with PTSD. Perhaps one of those thousands will start a program to preserve and promote nearly extinct strains of Colonial Spanish horses. Perhaps one of those thousands will start a program teaching soil and water conservation and microbial pasture development to young people. Perhaps one of those thousands will begin a program assisting a local substance abuse facility for young people. Perhaps one of those thousands will begin a roots music instructional program for young people that instills an understanding of  sankofa in those kids.

All of that can happen simply because you pressed a button on a computer. It is such a little thing, but so is leaven.