Sanna Roling

Using horses as the teachers, I founded and operate an all-volunteer public charity based in Texas that brings people with intellectual, physical, and/or emotional disabilities into the mainstream of life.

The Dream Catcher Stables program creates inclusion by teaching persons with disabilities to ride and care for horses using volunteers without or with disabilities. Troubled youth, including those involved with the criminal justice system, have the opportunity to understand consequences and choices as they weed, pick up debris and complete their adjudicated community service.

In the last 15 years, through interaction with horses, over 140 people with disabilities and their families, 165 high school youth and 500 volunteers have realized true self-esteem, chosen positive pathways for life, taken the road less traveled but better, accepted others for what they CAN DO and reveled in the experience, while allowing others to understand the potential societal value of people with disabilities.

For me, creating and operating Dream Catcher Stables, Inc. was a natural. As the daughter of a Shriner and Eastern Star, my childhood was filled with opportunities to help others. It is a place where people with disabilities can be successful, equal and capable, growing to their maximum life potential through interaction with horses in a positive environment. NO ONE is ever turned away for lack of ability to pay.

At age 72, the successes of Dream Catcher Stables program keep me young.
–  A person with complex PTSD works toward a productive life after 20 years of issues.
–  Retired or stressed educators find solace with the horses.
–  An elementary student with autism can behave at school, leaving the parents free to attend to their jobs.
–  A teenager with Down Syndrome is now part of a school cheerleading squad.
–  A person with seriously deteriorating vision is now in college. Another is an author.
–  An adult living in a wheelchair volunteers and enjoys riding independently.
–  The youthful volunteer who stated, “I thank God for putting you in my life, because without you I have no idea how I would survive.”
–  Approximately 97% of the adjudicated youth who served court ordered community service have returned to positive life pathways.

Today, Dream Catcher Stables has two major initiatives while continuing current programming: securing a permanent home, and developing and opening a school day program for students whose behavior has restricted their ability to learn by sending them to alternative placements. My years of experience have led me to develop and spearhead our capital campaign. Design, material production and implementation of it will keep me young in mind and body.