Brian & Jill

Jillian (Butela) Hanson grew up in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, just south of Pittsburgh. She's been in love with horses for as long as she can remember, but finances never allowed her to have her own horse. She was in the 5th grade when a family moved their horse into her uncle's old cow barn behind her home. God is so good! Cindy Gallo and her mom Dolly did so much to foster Jillian's love for horses. Cindy taught "Jilly" how to ride in return for working in the barn cleaning the stalls, feeding the horses and otehr misscellaneous barn chores. They were always patient, always encouraging, and always eager to help her understand whatever they were doing.
Everything has its season however, and a change of jobs coupled with Jillian's entering into High School created a conflict of schedules. Her time at the barn began to fade- but not her desire. God had another door in mind though and Jillian found a horse camp to attend one week out of the summer. She had no idea that God was setting her down a path that would lead to so many changes! When she was 16, God was more tangible to her that she'd ever experienced. That summer at camp, she discovered the full amount of His love and how He offered it through the people and horses she was around. The experience as life changing. Her time there helped guide her life away from a road that would have been long and painful. God let her know that someday she would be a part of providing a place for people to come and enjoy His presence amid horses, the outdoors, and the opportunity to know that His love is unconditional. He loves us for who we are.
Jill went to work for Dorothy Dearborn, the creator of the Progressive Horsemanship Program, that she had attended. Dorothy's approach went far beyond how to safely teach kids how to ride. Her passion for people spilled over and helped for the program that Jillian and Brian now teach.

Brian Hanson grew up in Westfield, New York near Lake Erie. He also worked for Dorothy at PHP. For Brian, there was a time in his life when the path he was heading down was no longer fulfilling. Like many of us, the things he was doing left him empty and searching for more. The grace of God landed him at summer camp interviewing for a staff position working with the horses even though the horses he owned growing up left him more scared than anything and his relationship with God was lacking. The "Big Guy," as Brian calls Him, knew the bigger picture in his future. Brian witnessed that summer something in the kids eyes that he wanted a part of. Jesus was a real, breathing, living element in their lives...and Brian was forever changed.
Dorothy taught him about horses, but more importantly, she helped him believe in himself. So, he set out to trust her, himself, and God to create a place where others could find the unconditional love that he'd found that summer. In 1995, he and his 120 pound sheepdog, Rags, headed south where horses could be ridden all year round. They lived in a camper, and he worked third shift so he could work at a farm during the day and learn more. Eventually, he lived in a tack room (yes, a tack room complete with mice) so that he could afford to go back to camp the following year; the passion in his heart would no longer take NO for an answer! A period of testing over the next few years brought him closer to God and to a positon where God's timing finally lined up with Brian's desires.

Brian & Jillian married in 1999 and bought their farm. At the time, it was more than a fixer upper! It took over a year to get things to a place where they could have their first student. It is a true witness, that blood, sweat, tears and a number of answered prayers have had more to do with deepening a relationship with The Big Guy in their lives, than with the farm itself! God is, and has been, so good all the time. And He is giving back to them through what they see happening in the adults and children who God brings to His Barn today.