Tammy Romanczuk had been around and working with horses since she was 10 years old and has always understood that horses can have a special impact on people’s lives.
However, it was not until 2020 that she truly saw the difference horses can have on those dealing with non-verbal autism and she created Bit of Faith Ranch in Ponte Vedra Beach shortly after.
“My son, now 19, has been severely impacted by autism and had only said a handful of words his whole life,” Romanczuk said. “I always took him on rides with me walking alongside the horse and I would always say “up, up, up,” and “down, down, down,” every time we went on a hill, it’s just something I did. But one day I don’t know why, but I forgot to say it and the next thing I heard was my son saying “up, up, up.” It was an amazing moment.”
After sharing that precious moment with her son, she knew there was something special taking place and that horses were at the center of it.
“I knew how difficult it can be to find a place that can properly accommodate those with the more severe forms of autism,” she said. “We have riders from 5 years old to 45 years old.”
Starting the nonprofit up during a pandemic was not ideal, but she found that it actually created a unique avenue for the organization to help because it offered people a form of assistance that could be performed outside in a time when everyone was looking for ways like that.
“In a way it actually helped get our name out there,” Romanczuk said.
In the two years since starting the operation, she continues to discover the various benefits that can come from horses on those with autism.
According to Romanczuk, the nonprofit is more than just a riding program, as about a year ago it established its “mustang volunteers” initiative, where those with autism can help the staff tend to the horses.
The initiative was created because Romanczuk realized that horses could have an effect beyond just riding them.
“There’s just something about brushing them and just being around the horses that can be so calming,” she said.
Romanczuk believes horses have a knack for understanding the situation and reading the moment.
“It also takes some really special horses to do this as well, which is what we have here at Bit of Faith Ranch,” Romanczuk said.
Horses have to have a sense of patience and calmness in their approach to the situation, just as people do.
The nonprofit has three horses currently and because they offer their services free of charge for all families, they rely heavily on donations and volunteers.
Donations can be made by clicking on the donations tab at bitoffaithranch.org and for more information about how to get involved with the nonprofit call 904-373-0195 or email contact@bitoffaithranch.org.
“We try to serve the whole family, because it impacts the whole family,” she said.
