Joshua Swarts turned to animals when friends and family distanced themselves from him. For over 10 years, he struggled under the hold of a drug addiction. Striving to escape its clutches, he sought healing through his love for horses. Rescuing animals guided Swarts on his path to recovery. “Knowing that you’re needed makes it easier to find hope for a better tomorrow,” he says.
In 2018, Swarts started Horse Pals Atlantis, a rehabilitation programme for injured horses. An extensive part of his project is the inclusion of children. When kids are exposed to gangsterism in the area, they risk falling into the cycle of drugs. Swarts’ goal is to prevent them from going down that path by giving them a purpose. He currently mentors 20 children of different ages, enabling them to nurture horses like he does. They learn to wash, feed, and restore the sick animals back to health. “You don’t need a special qualification to teach kids to care,” Swarts says.
With these responsibilities, the youngsters are able to cultivate compassion. Tending a love for animals has a humbling effect that reins in negative influences. “Caring for horses is not only me taking care of myself, but my community as well,” Swarts says. This rotation of healing energy has started a revolution in all their lives. By not letting his past define his future, Swarts is restoring faith in himself and inspiring positivity for others.
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