Why TROT Matters
"Amber"
Amber is our happy, silly little girl who keeps us laughing every day. She is autistic and experiences the world in such a unique and beautiful way. We are raising her through the foster/adoption system, and from the start we were looking for activities that could help build her confidence, communication, and connection with others in a way that felt comfortable and encouraging for her.
We heard about TROT from Jessica Parnell, and right away it felt like such a welcoming place. Amber has always loved movement, animals, and being outside, so adaptive riding seemed like a great fit. Everyone at TROT welcomed her with so much patience, kindness, and understanding. Pretty quickly, it became more than just an activity — it became a place where she could really be herself and shine.
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The growth we’ve seen in Amber has been amazing. Her confidence has grown so much, and she walks into TROT excited and comfortable every time. We’ve noticed improvements in her communication, attention, and ability to follow directions, but even more importantly, we’ve seen her become really proud of herself.
Riding has also given her a calming outlet. There’s something about being around the horses that brings her so much peace and happiness. She’s become more social, more expressive, and more open to trying new things. Watching her connect with the horses and volunteers has been really emotional for our family because we can truly see her thriving there.
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One of our favorite moments was watching Amber start trotting on the horse and hearing her excitedly yell, “Faster!” with the biggest smile on her face. Seeing her feel that kind of joy, confidence, and freedom was amazing.
Another thing that stands out is the patience and love everyone at TROT shows her. As a parent and caregiver, finding places where your child feels fully accepted means so much. TROT has given Amber not only a therapeutic experience, but also a place where she feels successful, loved, and celebrated exactly as she is.
~Amy B., Foster Mom