Healing through Horsemanship

When Michael Remole '06 graduated from Olivet, he anticipated working in conventional children's ministry roles. As a teenager, he participated in puppetry conferences, which incorporated Biblical truths into entertaining sketches. At one such conference, which was held at Olivet Nazarene University, a random woman came up to Michael and spoke prophetically over him, saying, "God is going to use you to touch the lives of many children and families in your life."

"I thought it was weird," he admits, "but I also felt that God did have something big in store for me. Not too long after, I went on a Youth in Mission trip to serve in Uganda. The trip was very meaningful, but I clearly felt God say 'your mission field is where you're planted.'"

Coming from Potomac, Illinois, a small, rural town of roughly 670 people, Michael wasn't thrilled at the prospect of moving home. So, he didn't. Following graduation from Olivet, he moved to Ohio and spent three years working as a children's pastor. The work directly impacted the lives of children and families, but eventually he felt a nudge to pivot his career.

Michael obtained a master's degree in clinical counseling, and worked in Columbus, Ohio, at the Buckeye Ranch before he returned home to his family farm to help manage and eventually build out two non-profit organizations, Gateway Family Services of Illinois and Hooves of Hope.

"At first, the idea of moving back home felt like I was 'failing,'" Michael reflects. "Ultimately, I knew that home was exactly where I needed to be. I loved growing up around horses. What I learned about the science between equine assisted psychotherapy in grad school really made sense based on my own experiences interacting with horses, and I was excited to share that with others."

Hooves of Hope provides a faith-based setting for kids to learn Biblical lessons & horsemanship skills. Gateway Family Services of Illinois moves beyond the scope of traditional talk therapy methods by connecting individuals with horses to help those who have experienced trauma.

"People who come to us have relational hurts," Michael explains. "We know that relational hurts are best healed in relationships. Connecting with the horses provides an opportunity for those to experience a healthy relationship and begin healing. For example, one adoptive family really struggled to build a connection between the father and son. Weekly visits to the farm gave them opportunities to build trust-both with the horses and with each other."

The team at Gateway Family Services of Illinois, which includes licensed mental health professionals, equine professionals and a psychiatric nurse practitioner (plus 21 horses) provide hundreds of hours of mental health services each week to clients ranging from two to 94-years-old. Gateway additionally provides services in the local schools as well as to veterans through the Fall In Friday initiative.

"Our work as therapists is to hold tightly to the hand of God as we hold space for the clients," Michaels says. "What we've really worked on for our team is to create a family atmosphere with our colleagues so we avoid burnout as we provide critical services to others. Working in mental health is tough-everyone needs support!"

Of course, the risk of fatigue and burnout in the mental health field is similarly high to that of traditional ministry. Michael has worked hard to create an environment in which both his team of family members and colleagues, and the clients they serve, all feel supported and encouraged in their unique journeys.

"I am still in ministry just without a paycheck from the church," Michael says unironically. "Every day I see divine encounters between horses and humans. Because the mental health need is so great here, the clinical side has grown quickly. Our waitlist for our clinical services has more than 200 people on it, so our work is critical. But I also love that I get to help create a space in which we can take care of people and have fun together."

The programs that Gateway Family Services and Hooves of Hope offer are supported through grants and intentional fundraising. Each Christmas season, the property hosts a "Christmas in the Barn" event to welcome the community onsite to meet the horses and hear stories of impact from the team.

More information for the 2024 event can be found here: www.christmasinthebarn.org/myexperience