Curt Pate
Riley Olson contacted me several years ago to come and help with a horse sale he was producing in Stockton Missouri. The way he presented it to me I knew it was special. God, horses and boys that need some guidance is a program that I can believe is good and I immediately knew I wanted to help. I have seen the program improve every year.
The thing I didn’t know is I was beginning to be a part of some of the best people I have ever had the opportunity to become involved with.
When I went to the first sale I could see that Riley had a solid team that was there truly caring for the boys and horses that they were in charge of getting a better deal in life.
The first thing I learned is Riley and the people he surrounds himself with are true believers and live in the biblical teachings of the christian faith. They not only teach it but live it.
The next thing I learned was Riley was a stockman, and his horsemanship and livestock skills were ranch based and was from real common sense values that fit the programs goals of helping young men with no experience learn and create a horse of value, and while doing it creating a bond with the horse and the other coaches and boys in the program.
Riley and his team kept everything safe through discipline, picked people up when they were down, gave them courage when they were scared, and most of all showing these boys that had lots of challenges what it was like to be and act like a man under all circumstances, and with this type of program there are many ways to learn courage, humility, love and how to have fun.
I can not imagine a better way to help anyone, young or old, troubled or not with a horse program that this team has put together. It’s never about them. It’s about God, humans and animals. In the world we live in today, how can it get any more needed or better than that?
I truly believe in Ride Prosperously Ministry program and hope I get to remain a part of it. It has improved my life immensely, and I feel anyone involved will get the same reward.
-Curt Pate