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Hi Dave!
Gosh! I don't know where to start! I was sort of "tricked" into the world of abused children about 12 years ago. My kids had all "left the nest" leaving their horses behind and I felt uncomfortable selling them as they had all done their best and had given my kids thousands of hours of enjoyment.
So I started giving free riding lessons to the kids in the neighborhood and at church. A friend at church suggested that I have the "kids from the shelters out" as they were always looking for activities.
THAT....was the "beginning of the end," (I just didn't know it.)
There are basic five levels to human/equine bonding. I saw, right before my eyes and inadvertedly, innocently ruined my first case of third level bonding between a nine year old severely abused little boy named Gregory and our old QH mare named Nikkita (Nikki.)
Everyone assured me it "wasn't my fault" but that didn't change the guilt that I felt. I shut down everything for several months, did a lot of "soul searching," and finally decided to have them out again but to use that "healing power" of the Horse (and prevent any possible counterproductive, negative experiences.) From there, I continued to "build a better mouse trap" and developed the only IIE program in the nation designed sprecificaly to help severely abused, abandoned and neglected children.
(THAT.......and a dollar gets me a cup of coffe.) :-(
The deeper I got into their world, the more it became evident that society treats abused children as though they were lepers.
When in truth, they show a greater propensity for self-destuctive and antisocial behavior than all other children put together.
Oh well......
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Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh well...... 
