Belle came to The Shea Center on an equine therapy scholarship from the Brynn Wheeler Foundation.
As Belle prepares to enter her senior year of high school, she stays busy with theater, creating YouTube videos, and frequent trips to Disneyland. She hopes to become a film director one day, but one of her most meaningful recent experiences have come through The Shea Center’s Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) program.
Having always loved horses, Belle was excited to begin EAL after hearing positive things about equine assisted services. At the time, she was facing personal challenges after cancer treatment and hoped spending time with horses would bring her some peace. “It was everything I needed and more,” she says.
Belle formed a special bond with Remi, a horse she describes as spunky, sweet, and gentle. During her sessions, she learned how to groom, saddle, and care for him while also developing riding and horsemanship skills. “Working with horses made all my stress disappear,” she shares. “When I’m up here, all my problems down there disappear.”
She also enjoyed building a connection with her instructor, Kelli. One of her favorite memories was taking her first trail ride. “It was just me, Remi, and Kelli, and it felt so freeing,” she recalls.
Over the course of ten weeks, Belle noticed herself becoming calmer, happier, and more relaxed. The experience taught her patience, helped her manage anxiety, and encouraged her to talk more openly about difficult emotions. “The experience definitely impacted the way I handled difficult days,” she explains. “It made me feel lighter.”
Today, Belle carries many lessons from her time at Shea, including a deeper appreciation for horses, nature, and the importance of working through life’s challenges. When asked to describe her experience in three words, she chose: “encouraging, joyful, and refreshing.”
For other teens considering Equine Assisted Learning, Belle offers simple advice: “Choosing Shea is the best decision. It helped me in so many ways and made me feel safe and at home. Never be afraid to try new things.”
Belle’s parents benefited as well. Reflecting on the experience, they shared, “The program provided healing that Belle didn’t even realize she needed. After starting EAL, we saw a remarkable lift in her spirits. She left each session with the biggest smile, as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. It meant so much to see our daughter happy, thriving, and gaining confidence again. Coming on the heels of her cancer treatment, this experience arrived during an especially stressful and challenging time in her life. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.”