Orphaned children aren’t the only of God’s creatures who need the help of others. BSRC animal care director Michael Priour is constantly getting calls about horses in need of a home. Since space is limited, there is a waiting list, and he isn’t often able to take them in.

When he does, however, it’s always an opportunity for children to see a paradigm of their own lives, and to witness first-hand how healing relationships are built.

Six months ago, Michael was approached by the Bureau of Land Management about taking in a wild horse from their Nevada rescue program. "Apollo", as Michael would later name him, was a 6-year-old Mustang who was a typical specimen of the overpopulated wild herds of the Western U.S. With too little land and food to nourish them, surplus horses enter the "Adopt a Mustang" program to save them from starvation.

At first, Michael was hesitant about taking in the new animal. He knew the horse would have needs much different from most of the other horses he had trained. It had been in the wild for 6 years and had no relationship with humans. It might present a danger to children.

"After thinking about it, I decided to take him in. He needed a good home, and if I have learned anything from my dad, it is that we don’t turn anyone in need away."

And so Apollo came to live at the Ranch. Initially skittish and unapproachable, this horse would require more than even Michael initially thought. "I soon realized how acutely aware he was of his surroundings. Many things that other ‘barn horses’ would not even notice were traumatic for Apollo. He noticed every little noise, every movement, things that generally wouldn’t phase horses or humans. He was used to being on high alert, as everything in the wild had been a danger to him – predatory animals, other horses fighting over food or domain, and even human machines like helicopters flying over. These were things that other horses had never worried about. For Apollo, everything was new and frightening. It took him quite a while to adjust. In many ways, he reminded me of a child who comes to live at the Ranch."

Michael saw an opportunity for children to gain understanding about themselves through his work with Apollo. He showed them how aware he was of every movement in his surroundings, how he was nervous about letting a person get close to him, and how it would take time for him to trust.

Michael decided the best way to begin the relationship was to get into an enclosed round pen with the wild horse. He moved slowly and deliberately, and showed Apollo that he would not hurt him. He spoke softly and waited quietly, observing. Finally he began to walk with Apollo, pacing him without attaching a harness, mirroring his movements in the circular pen.