New Beginnings Youth Ranch

 “Soft as possible, firm as necessary” is the message behind New Beginnings Youth Ranch in Clark Range. With various programs available, all are geared toward at risk youth. “We believe in today’s society, with the economy, with the strain on families, all youth are at risk”, states owner, Mike Archambault. Indeed, we are living in a questionable world, and as adults, we are often unsure about the stability of our own futures, so imagine the uncertainty many children must feel, even in the very fortunate of homes. New Beginnings Youth Ranch offers youth an opportunity to look deep into their hearts and bring out their soul. Through the matching of a participant with a horse of similar personalities, The Front Porch witnessed the amazing transformation of attitude and emotions between both the horse and youth alike, and it was nothing less than spectacular. This is something you must witness to grasp the full effect of the work being done at New Beginnings Youth Ranch and they invite you to come by anytime to see for yourself the program at work. The current program offered, The East Tennessee Youth and Yearlings Mustang Challenge, is one of many challenges and an exciting opportunity for both horse and participant alike. Designed to promote  one of our nation’s historical icons, the “American Mustang.Currently, youth ages eight through eighteen have the opportunity to be matched with a yearling Mustang and will have approximately three months to gentle the horse, teaching it ground skills and handling. What makes this program so unique is the way the horses become wonderful “teachers” of the youth. A horse’s temperament and emotions are up front, they will accurately reflect the youth’s personality right back at them. If treated unjustly, a horse will return the emotion, If a willingness to change and adapt to the needs of the horse, it will forgive. The program offers not only a perspective the youth often are not privy to, almost as a parent with child, but life lessons that will carry on well into their future and gives them the understanding, through the horses reactions, of how others react to them out in the “people world” based upon their actions. The Mustangs arrived at Cedar Creek Cattle Company, the home of New Beginnings Youth Ranch, on July 18th, where excitement was abundant as the beautiful horses were guided onto the property. On October 10th, the “Day of the Challenge” the youth will have the opportunity to show their horse, and compete with other participants at East Fork Stables, Wonderful prizes have been provided to award these determined youth for all their efforts and willingness to make changes in their lives. On this day, the participant also has the choice to keep their Mustang or re-adopt (transfer), their Mustang to someone else through an auction bid. The youth that transfer their Mustang will keep all proceeds, minus a $25.00 transfer fee. Working with the added attention of Mike Branch, a volunteer with the Bureau of Land Management, this program has the ability to meet the needs of the youth and Mustang alike. “These are our kids, and out of the nineteen that are participating, eleven are local.” Mike emphasizes. New Beginnings has received local sponsorship from the Fentress County Drug Coalition, Fentress County Chamber of Commerce, Green Realty and more. But, the program needs continual support in order to keep the momentum going and kids coming. New Beginnings, along with their current supporters offers a challenge to others to “step up” and join them in their crusade to, ‘Give hope where there may only be despair”. “We hope the Mustang Challenge become a permanent program at New Beginnings Youth Ranch. Through this program we meet the needs of the youth and the horses alike, and that is very important to our local community, the youth, their parents and  families, and the Mustangs, all who are our future...