STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Kristy Wood held blindfolds in hand as she addressed six girls standing in the arena at Swiftsure Therapeutic Ranch.

“The activity we do today is to take you out of your comfort zone. If you don’t want to be blindfolded, you don’t have to. But, if you’re willing to open yourself up, I promise you these horses will take care of you.”

After a little hesitation, the girls agreed to taking turns being blindfolded. The blindfolded girls took the reins of their horses while their partners issued vocal commands guiding the blindfolded girls around cones placed around the arena.