Some people might be apprehensive about therapy or worry it might not be a viable option for overcoming whatever challenges life throws at us. However, the right form of therapy can be life changing.
Lauren Crocker is one individual who knows all too well the benefits that therapy provides, and she has taken her passion for horses and for helping children and turned it into something life-altering, her nonprofit Saddled Souls.
Meet Lauren Crocker
Today, you would never be able to tell that Crocker had a rough start in her journey. She is passionate, friendly, kind, and generous. She possesses a natural ability to build relationships, and this, coupled with her tenacity and perseverance, helped her establish herself as a reputable realtor and broker that specializes in both commercial and residential properties in Montgomery County, TN.
Not only did she find success in her career and her life, balancing real estate and being a single mom, but she also created her own nonprofit organization, Saddled Souls.
Through the rough times, horses were always there for her. She was not only passionate about horses but also their therapeutic benefits, and this drove her to pursue her dream of starting an equine therapy nonprofit.
Her passion for real estate and horses drove her to succeed and rise above everything that tried to break her down. She realized that her life experiences could help her understand the needs of children and her passion for horses and her laser focus on helping children with disabilities have brought her dream of taking Saddled Souls to the next level a reality.
Her experiences of abuse and trauma as a child, a turbulent young adult life, and raising kids as a single mom are testaments to the adversity she has faced and the resilience she possesses. Crocker turned that resilience into hope for others by not only creating a valuable service for her community, but also providing support to families and children who may have otherwise felt alone.
About Equine Therapy
Equine therapy, which focuses on mental health specifically, and Hippotherapy, which centers around therapy involving the natural movement, create a complete and comprehensive approach to therapy. In a clinical setting, balls, bands, sand, books, and other weights are used to work with the children. Equine therapy and Hippotherapy use horses as a tool in an eco-friendly environment.
“Using the horse is one of the few interventions that will address all the systems of the body. Parents will see changes in areas that aren’t being specifically addressed such as sleep and digestion because of the rhythm and consistency of the horse’s gait,” Crocker explains.
Since there are many different disorders a child could be diagnosed with and each movement of the horse benefits children differently, a variety of horses are necessary for treatment. Saddled Souls sits on 15 acres in Tennessee and has a stable of horses, allowing them to accommodate multiple children with different types of disorders at one time.
While the size of horses may make some people think twice about pursuing equine therapy as a legitimate alternative, horses are gentle and loving by nature, or, as Crocker says, “Like a dog but bigger and better, you can ride them!”
One of the best parts about the equine therapy that Saddled Souls is providing is that lessons are offered after hours. Many of these children would be unable to do typical after-school activities like play basketball or run around a football field, but they now have the opportunity to participate in something outdoors that is equally as exciting with the added therapeutic benefits.
About Lauren Crocker
Lauren Crocker is an experienced realtor and broker. She specializes in commercial and residential real estate properties in Montgomery County, TN. She is also the founder of Saddled Souls, a non-profit specializing in equine-assisted hippotherapy for children. For more information, please visit Saddled Souls website.
