Debbie Bright-Chunn and Nikki Murphy were both educators who followed their dream of owning a horse ranch that could provide equine assisted activities for individuals with special needs. Thus Bright Star Ranch was launched four years ago and today they not only work with children who have special needs, but also branched out to provide a program to help children overcome various mental health issues. After listening to this interview, you will fall in love with the beauty of God’s creation of horses…and you’ll most likely fall in love with these two women and their beautiful hearts!
Below are some of our favorite takeaways from today’s show:
️ When we simply acknowledge another human being and truly see them for who they are on the inside, it can make a difference in their lives and allow them to flourish. Doing so also holds a blessing for us.
️ Working with a therapy horse can help in areas such as depression, anxiety, long-term illness, and PTSD. Horses can teach trust, communication, healthy relationships and boundaries. It’s also a fun way to work through these issues because it doesn’t seem like “work.”
️ Horses are mirror animals and can be used to talk about how we rate ourselves. The goal is to raise self-awareness as well as self-esteem.
️ Horse riding provides a visual example of being able to guide both the horse and ourselves down a certain path. This serves as a reminder that we can also guide ourselves down a path of Light and that God gives us the strength to do so.
️ Just as the horse and the rider must exhibit trust in each other, we too must trust God if want to reflect His Light. As we develop our relationship with God, He will prove Himself trustworthy because He is faithful.
Debbie Bright-Chunn earned her Master's in Health Informatics from Louisiana Tech University and worked for 30 years in the hospital field, serving as Health Information Director for 20 years. Her love for horses and therapeutic riding caused her to open a facility in 2018 after she became certified through PATH and CHA. She states, "This job is by far the most rewarding I have ever had and has been my vision for many years."
Nikki Murphy graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelor’s degree in Family & Child Services & a minor in Psychology in 2003. In 2004, she graduated from ULM in Monroe, Louisiana, with a Master’s in Special Education and later added a certification in Early Childhood Education. As a former special education teacher of over 12 years, she has worked with individuals and a wide variety of disabilities. She brings that knowledge and love for helping others to our team. She says that, “Combining my love of horses & working with individuals with special needs makes this my absolute dream job.”
Bright Star Ranch is a 501(c)3 non profit ministry which means that you can make a tax-deductible gift to further this amazing ministry! Visit them at https://www.brightstarranch.net/donate today.