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2014 Giving Tree Farm: PCIR offering hope, renewing lives and inspiring change

By: C. Pilgrim
| Published 12/11/2014

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THE WOODLANDS, Texas - This holiday season, Woodlands Online is hosting the second annual Giving Tree Farm. Several non-profit organizations around Montgomery County will be participating so that they can better serve those in need. Each organization has a decorated tree at the Woodlands Online office complete with ornaments that each have an item that would benefit that non-profit. From December 3 to December 23, members of the community can participate by picking an ornament and providing that particular item.

Panther Creek Inspiration Ranch is one of the organizations participating this year. The ranch is a 501(c)(3) non-profit facility whose mission is to enhance and transform the lives of children, individuals and families struggling with mental and physical challenges. Each child is able to receive the wondrous benefits of equine therapy while creating meaningful relationships with the horses. The benefits of equine therapy include improving a rider’s strength, flexibility, coordination, sensory processing, confidence and much more, while being immersed in a loving, Christian environment.

“A horse reacts to a person’s emotion. It is rather unbelievable,” said Sondra Himmer, Vice President of Development and Communications. “If a child or a person is really upset, the horse’s heartbeat will start matching the person’s heartbeat.”

The volunteers and staff at PCIR are always working their hardest to help grow confidence in the children while providing a sense of accomplishment and encouraging high levels of independence. Each lesson is tailored to that particular child, working on activities and therapies depending on the need.

“Horses just have a spiritual sense about them that makes the kids feel good inside,” said Krista Carroll, Therapeutic Riding Instructor at PCIR. “It helps them builds self-esteem, and it helps them become good stewards and learn how to take care of another being.”

After coming to Panther Creek Inspiration Ranch, parents and teachers often see positive results in the children.

“A lot of times, when people get to us they have lost hope,” said Himmer. “They’ve have their kids in multiple therapies and often their child has plateaued. Then suddenly they come here, and there are often improvements in the kids that they have not yet seen.”

The success and size of the ranch since opening in 2006 has continued to grow tremendously because of the generosity of the community. As a non-profit organization, PCIR depends on donations and volunteers in order to provide for the families and children who go to the ranch. What was once an outdoor arena has now turned into a large facility thanks to the time, donations and effort of many community members.

“Three years ago none of this existed,” said Himmer, pointing to the covered arena. “This was all woods. We had two, easy-up tents and we sat outside to do our work. We didn’t have running water or electricity.”

However, thanks to lots of helping hands, the ranch began to grow, and so did the number of children that were able to attend. Now, the ranch has electricity, a water line, and a welcome center. Some local companies even joined together to pour concrete around the arena so that parents and siblings could watch the lessons, and furniture was donated so that spectators could sit comfortably.

“One of the most rewarding growth that I have seen with this amazing community facility over the last three years is people have joined together to make a difference,” said Himmer. “Every day there’s miracles that happen here. Without the community’s time and talent, this ranch would not be growing.”

The impact Panther Creek Inspiration makes on children with special needs and their families is life-changing. Huge improvements are seen in the children because of the valuable time they get with horses through equine therapy. Every donation made to the ranch offers hope and inspiration to the children and their families.

To support PCIR this holiday season, stop by the Woodlands Online office to pick an ornament off of their tree to purchase that particular item! The office is located at 33300 Egypt Lane, Suite B 500, Magnolia, Texas.

For more information about the ranch and to learn about the different volunteer opportunities, visit the website provided below.

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