His Barn began in Indian Land, South Carolina; however, it is rooted in southwestern Pennsylvania.
I grew up in Connellsville as a horse crazy kid who couldn’t afford lessons. A week of horse camp at Camp Allegheny every summer as a teenager gave me more than just an opportunity to be near a horse. The camp and the people God put there shaped my love for horses. It also led to my relationship with Jesus and my desire to provide a place for others to enjoy the same things I experienced. Those passions have only grown over the years.
The world can be hectic and unstable with more questions than answers. The culture continues to erode our family units, our relationships and our perceptions of God. Mistakes are now potentially plastered across social media for the world to comment. Self-esteem and self-worth are derived from how many likes are attained by what is likely an AI generated picture.
This is not so with a horse. Horses have been the same for hundreds of years. They don’t care about where we come from, how much money we have, or even if we’re any good at riding. They care about the way we treat them and if they feel safe. They will see through us in a heartbeat if we are insincere. However, they don’t hold a grudge. They forgive freely and move on, leaving our mishaps in the past.
Horses demand honesty and consistency, and they will teach us how to lead them with confidence. They long to have a relationship with us even when we don’t feel worthy of their trust and somehow our heart heals in the process.
They perfectly represent the love God has for us. The deeper my relationship has gone with Jesus over the years, the better horse trainer I have become. The more time I have spent with horses, the better I understand God’s gentleness, patience and love for me.
His Barn tries to reflect that. It was created to be a place where people can learn about horses in a safe environment. It’s a place where they can also feel loved and feel like they are enough, just the way they are.
Our approach here is slow, consistent and focused on life-long safe habits. Horses can be dangerous. It’s my job to educate both horse and human to help explain the unknown between them. ANYONE can learn enough to stay safe and enjoy a well-trained horse.
You will learn how to ride, care for, and maintain training for a horse. You will learn to handle them safely and how to navigate an emergency if one occurs. Ultimately, you will learn how to trust yourself.
Every moment with a horse is a moment to learn something from them or about them. This, in turn, teaches us lessons that go far beyond the barn or the corral. We were created for so much more than most of us believe. The horse needs us to step into that truth so that it can feel safe enough to follow us wherever we’re leading. It’s a beautiful relationship I love introducing to people.
There’s a place at His Barn for all ages. Those under the age of seven can schedule pony rides. Lessons are for riders seven and up. Those who are uncertain can come brush or just watch. We also offer day camps in the summer that are the heartbeat of the program.
Life-long friendships form as kids ride, learn, and eat together. We cater lunches from local restaurants for the kids and have full days planned to make priceless memories. We already have a few return kids from Carolina registered to make the trip up here, and our counselors are travelling to help make our first summer in PA top notch.
The opportunity to bring this program “home” after 26 years in the South is a dream come true for me. I am so excited to meet y’all and share the world of horses with you!
