Shannan Hearne's oldest dream was to own a ranch(牧场). In February 2020, her dream finally came true when she opened the gates of Sun and Moon Ranch. Then, just a month later, the county slid into COVID-19 lockdown.
With large areas of grasslands and plenty of sunshine and fresh air, there was no safer way for frightened neighbors to get out of the house. Sure, you can sign up for riding lessons or board your horse. But you can also drop by to play with the chickens, goats, and dogs, or join the younger ranchers playing on the big pile of freshly dug dirt. Hearne now saw the ranch as something more than a business－it would be a place the community could call home.
Many of them came not just for free cookouts, but for the chance to find peace of mind. "I had a vision for the space able to help cure those in need," says Hearne. One of those people, now 15, was born without fingers on one hand. His grandmother brought him to Sun and Moon for riding lessons. Learning to control a horse with one hand helped him better manage his disability, and he grew closer to his grandmother over their shared love of horses. " And I believe this is especially true for children or anyone who struggles with any sort of psychological issues," Hearne says.
Another boy became selectively silent because of his autism (自闭症). Taking the reins (缰绳), literally, helped him do so in his daily life too. "I could see how the empowerment of riding was helping him feel once again in control of the world around him," says Hearne.
A. The ranch, Hearne realized, should be for everybody.
B. As the pandemic deepened, locals began to gather there.
C. Soon Hearne's dream began to grow into something bigger.
D. Locals desired to put up a tent there when they felt won out.
E. Lesson by lesson, Hearne watched him slowly come out of his own world.
F. He went from not answering questions to literally talking our ears off.
G. There is something empowering about controlling a thousand-pound animal.
