Tassell Ranch - WKTV Journal

By Joanne Bailey

Coe, Cora and Smartie, three of the Equine Assisted Development horses. (Photos by Mike DeWitt)

The corner of Shaffer Avenue and 32nd Street always has been a place area residents purposely drove by to visit. First it was for the exotic animals that once roamed the property and now for the horses that are part of the Equine Assisted Development of the Great Lakes.

Found in 2009, Equine Assisted Development or EAD moved on to the old Tassell Ranch property a couple of years ago. It was one of the first organizations to partner with 3 two Ranch which had taken over the the property that had been abandoned for about 25 years. The goal of 3 two Ranch was to revitalize the structures and then partner with organizations that had missions focused on helping people.

EAD was a perfect fit in that the organization uses non-riding horses to help people— especially children — grow and heal from damaged and warped views of themselves.

Former WKTV writer Mike DeWitt shares his first-hand account on EAD’s process.

Former WKTV writer Mike DeWitt works with one of the horses.

Since moving to the Kentwood area, the EAD has seen its footprint expand in the city, partnering with the Kentwood Public Schools’ after school program ARCH, bringing the horse experience to English-language learner students as well as continuing to work with foster and adopted children and the Manasseh Project, a safe house for human trafficked victims ages 12-17.

“It is our commitment to stand with these children, families, and survivors for the long hall,” said Deb VanderBand, co-founder of EAD and an equine specialist. “We want to continue to help them to find wholeness through activities with the horses.”

To help build financial support and to increase the awareness of what EAD does, this Saturday, EAD will host its second annual Barn Bash Charity Concert featuring live performances from Jamie Dionne and Bob Lacy. The June 23 event is from 6:30 — 9 p.m. at the ranch located at 3224 32nd St. SE, Kentwood. VanderBand said people are encourage to bring their own beverage and they will take care of the rest.

“This is a time when we open the gates to the community so they can tour our facility and learn about our mission,” VanderBand said, adding it helps to increase the awareness of EAD and give people a chance to have their questions answer about the program, the ranch, and the horses.

The event is by donation with a 100 percent of the proceeds going to EAD.

Inside on of the barns on the property. The barn was renovated with the natural wood showing.

“The support raised will go to support the programs we offer to the community,” she said. “It will allow us to offer more services to two other agencies waiting for an opportunity to have the heard impact their lives.”

There is a lot of opportunity for EAD to do more within the community of Kentwood and beyond, but VanderBand is upfront in stating she does not want to start something unless it is funded. “I do not want to start a very successful program that people are impact by, to have the fear of it not being funded and having to cancel it,” she said.

The volunteers are in place as the program currently has six retired school teachers along with retired business owners and managers all with “a wish to teach the youth character and leadership,” she said.

For more about EAD programs and volunteer opportunities, visit http://eadgl.org or call 616-318-4919

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By: Mike DeWitt

Mike.DeWitt@wktv.org

From a new roof to a brand new smile, 3 two Ranch and Equine Assisted Development are creating new beginnings.

As Karen Strayer stood on the property and evaluated the future site of 3 two Ranch, she recognized the staggering need for immediate renovation. The old Tassell Ranch in Kentwood, once filled with exotic animals such as zebras and cheetahs, had been abandoned for 25 years and the neglect was evident in the damaged and dilapidated state of the barns.

The exteriors of the barns were wasted and worn away, the roofs worked better as sieves, and an unseemly pink and turquoise color scheme from the previous regime insulted the walls.

In only four short months, the improvements to the old property have been moving forward steadily. Along with much-needed manual upkeep, a new roof on the stall barn was installed to keep the water out, and the pink and turquoise came off the walls to bare the beautiful wood hidden underneath. As renovations continue, 3 two Ranch will bring in more organizations to help aid in its mission.

“The organizations we want involved here at 3 two Ranch will have a mission focused on helping people,” said Strayer, director of 3 two Ranch.

In addition to the physical renovations, 3 two Ranch acquired its first partner organization — Equine Assisted Development of the Great Lakes (EAD). EAD was founded in 2009 with a focus on using non-riding horses to help people, especially children, grow and heal from damaged and warped views of themselves — the organization works with alternative high schools, human trafficking victims and other troubled youth. EAD also works with a number of other organizations and groups.

Deb VanderBand, co-founder of EAD and an equine specialist, noticed that kids could get lost amongst the shuffle of everyday life. They needed help and a purpose. She can relate. “I was a misfit and an outcast as a child. I was always struggling to find a way to fit in. I knew in life that I needed to find a way to help kids who feel that everyday.”

While it may seem unconventional to use horses for therapy, horses have the same emotion base that humans do. When it comes to connecting with kids, these animals can break down walls and make strides where adults can’t. A horse’s memory only lasts six seconds, which allows the animal to see a child for who he or she is in that particular moment, whether positive or negative.

Deb gave me a personal therapy session so I could better understand.

Kade in "The Office" — Kade in “The Office”

As I walked into the 140-foot barn better known as “The Office,” Deb brought in three horses — Coe, Cora and Smartie — behind me.

Coe owned the place and he knew it. His laid-back demeanor wasn’t going to be affected by the new face in the room, and his control over the situation and the other horses didn’t waiver.

Cora was a follower and stayed close to Coe, finding comfort in being a friend to the leader. Smartie was the smallest of the three and easily the most spastic. He never seemed comfortable.

The therapy began with an outward analysis of the horses.

“Which one is your least favorite?” asked Deb.

Smartie, him being uncomfortable made me uncomfortable.

Deb followed up quickly, “Which one is your favorite?”

Coe, obviously.

Coe, Cora and Smartie all lined up — Smartie, Cora and Coe all lined up

Deb dug deeper, “Is Coe your favorite because you see yourself in him or because you wish you were more like him?”

Three questions in and I’m already in deep thought… I don’t know, maybe a little bit of both?

As I stood there answering followup questions, the horses accepted the vibe I was putting off and started to make their way from one end of the barn to the other.

“I’ve never seen them do this before, you give off a very calming presence,” said Deb. “They feel comfortable.”

I could feel the confidence rise and I started to puff out my chest. The horses weren’t a fan of the ego as they quickly removed themselves from the situation. That six-second memory wiped clear any positive vibes I was giving off earlier.

After the self-evaluation, it was time to jump into action. Along with Karen and Deb’s son Kade, we were to build an obstacle course for the horses to walk through. Sounds easy enough. However, the horses had to walk through the obstacle course with us and we weren’t allowed to touch them.

Teamwork and communication would be paramount.

The obstacle course of imagination and teamwork

Armed with our creativity, imagination, lawn chairs, trash bins, and pool noodles, we set forth on building an obstacle course. Initially, as the course was being artfully crafted, the horses kept their distance. The tide began to turn once the horses felt like they were missing out on the positive environment we were creating by working together and enjoying the task at hand.

In fact, all three horses lined up unprompted at the beginning of the course, and I now had some new skills to bring back to the station here at WKTV.

One of Deb’s favorite moments involves one student in particular from Kentwood’s Crossroads Alternative High School.

“The young man bonded with one of the horses and was having a blast,” recounts Deb as if the event happened just an hour ago. “One of the teachers walked up to me and said, ‘We have never seen his teeth before. We have never seen a face other than anger.’ That’s the power these horses can have on a child.”