INDIANAPOLIS — Tucked between neighborhoods in Camby, you'll find Amazing Grace Equine Therapy.
"We are a terribly well-kept secret, and there are so many people we can help," founder John Lambert said.
Amazing Grace offers an alternative to talk therapy for people with a wide range of disabilities and people who are struggling with mental health challenges.
It's all thanks to about a dozen horses who call Amazing Grace home.
"Horses have sensitivity beyond our comprehension," Lambert said. "They really do."
No one knows that better than 28-year-old Lucas Kuniej and his horse, Joe.
"They have a really special bond," said Lucas' mother, Sonja Lehman.
Lehman said Lucas has been riding Joe for about 10 years. She said they've been close from the very beginning, but especially after Lucas, who is autistic, tragically lost his older brother, Nate.
"Which was really traumatic for everybody, obviously, but mostly for Lucas because they were best, best friends," Lehman said.
According to Lehman, Lucas really shut down after Nate's death. However, Lambert said Lucas was a different person around Joe.
"When he went to the barn that day and pulled a chair up outside Joe's stall and started talking to Joe about Nate, it was very special," Lambert said.
Lambert, who has been in a barn much of his life, credits Lucas' attitude change to the healing power of horses.
"It is not about things that I've read or studied," said Lambert said. "It is what we've witnessed here over the last 14 years. What they've found through research now is the fact that when you're in the presence of a horse, your brain chemistry changes, and it happens to change back to how you were prior to experiencing that trauma."
Because of that, Lambert said the healing process can start in a matter of minutes.
"The healing can happen, not three weeks down the road or three months down the road, but that very instance," Lambert said.
Lambert said he knows, firsthand, the power of that healing, after experiencing trauma of his own.
"I knew that I got the peace that I was looking for from the horses," Lambert said.
Amazing Grace Equine Therapy is certified through Eagala, the global standard for equine-assisted psychotherapy and personal development.
Lambert and his team can pair a client with a mental health professional and a certified equine therapist.
"This is a medical facility and a mental health facility," Lambert said.
Lambert is one of the certified equine therapists at Amazing Grace.
"It's gets me up every day," Lambert said. "I'm just so driven."
In additional to the mental health services, the barn also offers therapeutic riding for people of all ages with a wide variety of disabilities.
"We are fearless here on who we can help," Lambert said.
"It's been a huge blessing for us to help Lucas to continue with his development," Lehman said.
Lehman said the benefits for Lucas are much more than physical strength and cognitive abilities.
"One of his biggest challenges, because of the autism, is the emotional connection," Lehman said, "and it just opens up his world for him."
Lehman admits she didn't recognize the full potential of equine therapy at first.
"I didn't know what to expect," Lehman said.
Now, however, 11 years later, Lehman said her son is full of joy.
"I am just very grateful to John and this program," Lehman said. "We will continue coming here as long as we can."
Currently, Lambert's staff at Amazing Grace consists mostly of volunteers.
"We would be nothing without our volunteers," Lambert said. "These people are dedicated. They work so hard."
Lambert said the barn is always looking for additional volunteers. For those who cannot donate time, Lambert said there are other financial ways to support the mission at Amazing Grace.
Lambert said his team is also looking for more mental health experts who would be interested in learning more about equine therapy.
"We like to invite people to come out to the facility and watch a session or watch a lesson, so you really understand what's happening here," Lambert said.
For Hoosiers who may be interested in receiving services at Amazing Grace, Lambert said the best way to reach out is by filling out the online form.