Malia and her own horse

Malia is interested in Equine Therapy for her future. How does equine therapy work?

Malia Malanchuk  Hi everyone! My name is Malia Malanchuk, I am a fellow in the EXSEL Discipleship Program. I was born and raised in Lancaster, PA. The past two years I have been serving as a wrangler in the Horse Program, I have absolutely loved my time here at the springs with the horses and wrangler staff.

When I was a junior/senior in high school I was looking for colleges but couldn’t get onto college campuses do to covid and I didn’t want to decide on a college without seeing the campus. I decided to explore gap year programs, I looked into YWAM and Word of Life but decided against those. My family friends Lee & Marcie DeRemer told me about the EXSEL program so I came and visited and loved it and two years later here I am as a fellow!

My plans after EXSEL are to stay here as full time staff and continue working with the horses and training them while taking classes at Liberty University for Psychology and a minor in military resilience. I hope to pursue Equine Therapy and work with mental illnesses, veterans and at-risk children. Growing up, my grandfather had a horse farm, he had me up on a horse before I could even walk. So to say that I’ve been around horses my whole life is not an understatement. I was a manager at Nookside Stables for three years and am so grateful for that experience.

Serving as a wrangler these past two years has been quite the learning experience. I’ve learned so much about how to use horses in a ministry, to train horses, and bring people to Christ through horses. I had the unique opportunity to go to Utah for a two week horse training program this fall semester! Man I wish I could go back! It was the most amazing two weeks, I was incredibly sore afterwards from riding 12 hours a day but I truly learned so much about horses and what it would look like for me to pursue a career in the equine field. Some of my hobbies are: horses, reading, music, watercolor painting.

Our horses are a community affair. Would you consider donating for hay, farrier care, repairs to tack, medication, or even sponsoring Freya or your favorite horse? Please join us on the the horse adventure!