Part of the Herd: Joaquín’s Story

Learning, growth, and healing are the three words that define what Forward Stride is all about. You can’t achieve these ideals, however, if you don’t feel safe. Joaquín’s mother writes about his time at Forward Stride:

Joaquín is an intelligent and compassionate young boy who has found comfort in being with the horses and staff at Forward Stride since 2021. He initially joined the therapeutic team to learn ways to help him develop skills to improve his relationship with his brother. He has a brother who is quite impulsive and requires frequent attention, often leaving Joaquín feeling like he was getting less attention from family. Within about six months, Joaquín transitioned to the [Riding & Groundwork Program], where he began working on improving his self-confidence and independence. Joaquín worked with Shannon and others over the next three years [in both mounted and unmounted sessions].

When I ask Joaquín what he hopes to do and work on, his answer is always the same “bare-back riding”. He is always looking forward to spending time at the barn and has told me he feels safe there. Feeling safe is the most important piece to our family. The feeling of safety fluctuates for him and his brother, and Joaquín has expressed not feeling safe at school, in the community and even at home; “What if they come take me and send me away?” Joaquín has family and friends in his life who are undocumented, and he also fears losing them. There were times he cried not wanting to go to school out of fear, but never when going to Forward Stride.

He feels safe; he arrives and leaves with a warm smile. He shared with me that he never feels worried at the barn. He shared that while at Forward Stride he only thinks about the horses, and loves being in the barn surrounded by nature. He recounts listening to the sounds of the coyotes and peacocks that sound like cats. Note from staff: anyone who has spent time at the barn in the summer months will know the sound of our peacock neighbors! They really do sound like cats.

We are honored to be a safe place for Joaquín to work toward learning, growth, and healing in his life. This work sets him on the Road to Resilience.