Bridge Called Hope: Stories of Triumph from the Ranch of Rescued Dreams

by Kim Meeder

From the author of Hope Rising, comes a collection of more than twenty inspiring, true stories from the Ranch of Rescued Dreams, where horses and children help to heal each other. 

Hope is like the stars—always there, yet shining brightest in the blackest of nights. It is like the dawn, always rising anew. Hope is for everyone, and that includes you. This collection of more than twenty true stories unveils the heart of true strength and the character of genuine courage. Experience for yourself the kind of love and hope that change a person from the inside out. Because sometimes, just believing in someone is enough for them to start believing in themselves. It’s the galvanizing truth that no matter how deep your pain…God’s love exceeds it still.

“During the darkest days I’d ever known, I was introduced to the unconditional love of a little horse and a merciful God, and my life has never been the same,” says author Kim Meeder. Her book proves that hope is not only for us to keep, but also to give because sometimes just believing in someone is enough for them to start believing in themselves.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Horses, Animals, Biography, Inspirational, Christian Non Fiction

247 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Kim Meeder is the cofounder and director of Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch, an organization that rescues abused and dying horses and pairs them with children in need.

Kim’s first book, Hope Rising, propelled the ranch to win the national Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award and launched her extensive public/motivational speaking schedule at schools, churches, and governmental conferences across the United States. She and her husband, Troy, have been married for twenty-five years and live in Central Oregon. The size of their family fluctuates each year with the number of horses and kids that they rescue.

Reviews

[Ginger]

Loved all the stories within this book. I won’t lie….I needed some tissues while reading this. So many uplifting stories…..some are sad, while others just leave you with “a feel good feeling”.
There are some Christian aspects to this book, such as praying, etc. I don’t think one would find this “preachy”.

[Becky Norman]

The grammatical errors...and excessive...and incorrect use...of...ellipses drove me to distraction. Although I appreciate the intent and work of the ranch, the same criticisms I had of the other books applies here. Namely, I didn't understand the point of some of these "stories" at all and found the author had to really stretch to make some of these allegories fit with a Christian "moral to the story."

[Jessica]

Just a few days ago, I finished reading a book by Kim Meeder, called Bridge of Hope.

Kim Meeder and her husband Troy run a ranch called Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch, in Oregon. They rescue abused, mistreated and dying horses; help them recover, and then pair them with children in need.

This book is full of touching, inspiring, and real stories about horses and the way they have touched the hearts and lives of hurting children and youth. It is written in a very easy to read style and often include words of wisdom, such as ‘Hope is like a sky full of stars…whether we see them or not doesn’t change the fact that they are there. Truly, it is not until the night is at its very darkest…that we see them shine the most clearly.’

In one story, Kim rescued this tiny neglected horse, which others would’ve thought was beyond hope, and loved it back to health. This same horse loved its way into the heart of a young man who had never known what it was like to be loved before… and changed his life.

The stories in this book really reiterated to me the fact that true Christian love will find a way into people’s hearts which by other ways would be impossible. And that nothing, or no one can ever go beyond hope.

I found this book to be really worth reading, and although it’s hard to summarize, it is a really good book, suitable for youth and adults.

[Andrea]

This book was just ok it would have been better without all the religious stuff. I didn't know the book was about religion I thought it was going to be about horse rescue stories.

[Samara]

8/10

This book was so powerful. I have a huge weak spot for animal stories, fiction or non-fiction and this one was particularly good. Shows how hope can rise out of the ashes of even terrible situations and become a masterpiece formed by God. The children in these real-life stories are so broken and yet they find solace in God's most majestic creation (in my ever so humble opinion lol), the horse. Makes me want to start an equine therapy ranch lol.

Just be warned, the stories are hard and many are about abuse (to both horse and human).

[Julie Havener]

Well written this book will move your soul. If it doesn’t you’re dead. Stories of horses, dogs, children, adults and ranches will fill up your heart till you feel like exploding. Thank you Kim for sharing your passion and your many gifts.

[Lyndsay]

I enjoyed this book more than the first. I love how the ranch became a home to many.

[Kim Hoover]

A beautiful story. Any horse lover should read this gem!!

[Val]

Another amazing book. Cried through this one too.

[Abby Breuklander]

Love love and love this one!

[Karla]

Filled with passion.

[Bonnie]

Just like Kim Meeder's first book Hope Rising, this book is filled with stories that reveal the unlimited possibilities that sharing hope can bring to the lives of others.

[Jessica]

5 ⭐️

[Stephanie Sewell-Erickson]

Easy read true account of a couple that purposed to unite traumatized, rescued horses with traumatized children. I had no idea that horses and children could connect so deeply. Great story!

[Deb Jordan]

Good Book

[Sherry]

This book is a second in a series. The first is entitled, "Hope Rising". I loved both books. They are so inspirational and embody their titles of "Hope". They are the true stories of troubled children brought to Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch to connect with the horses there. The connection between human and these beautiful animals is undeniable. Healing comes to both child and beast as they learn to trust and forgive the inhuman treatment they have both endured. A must read for any animal lover such as myself.

[Danae]

Just as in Hope Rising: Stories from the Ranch of Rescued Dreams , many of these stories made me cry.

I was disappointed by a few errors that should have been caught by an editor, and there were a couple of sentences that I found confusing. I don't remember having those issues with the previous book.

But, same as the first, it's filled with wonderful stories and I enjoyed it.

[Susan Miller]

Inspirational stories about hope, healing, the power of prayer and God's infinite goodness helping others with the help of horses. Horses have a wonderful way of letting people see what they need in the subtle nuances of their body language. This ranch helps build a bridge between the horses, many of them rescued from less than ideal situations, and people that also need to be rescued from different situations. A nice compilation of stories that resolve around the ranch.

[icecheeks411]

I really like this book. I first read it at a summer camp I worked at. It was a youth ranch for under privalliged kids and the goal of the ranch is to achieve something like Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch in this book. This book is really insparational and just makes me smile (and sometimes cry). The Hope really is Rising, from the spark, from the flame and from the ashes.

[Karin]

It was an interesting book about how horses are rescued from abusive homes and rehabilitated. It's also about children who bond with these horses and learn to love and have hope and belief in themselves.

It lost a point because it was way too religious. It did not sell itself as a religious book but as a horse or children-whose-lives-are-affected-by-horse book.

[Lisa Ostreim]

I really enjoyed this book. True to the title, this book is filled with stories of hope. From the first few sentences on I was completely drawn in and imagining the ranch in my mind with each chapter I read. I was so encouraged and intrigued by reading this book that I now have a dream of going to the ranch and hopefully volunteering someday.

[Kiya Cratty]

This book is so very encouraging to any who have struggled in life from deaths, to illnesses, from loss of homes, to missed friends and more. It is a book that almost anyone I'm sure can relate too. And it is so very moving.

[Jan Sydnam]

A must read for horse lovers. Kim is a talented author that brings home the emotion of each event as she and her husband care for horses that teach young and disabled riders an opportunity to learn about real love.

[C.J. Darlington]

Another inspiring book by Kim Meeder. My favorite stories are the ones showing how horses touch the lives of the kids at the ranch. Occasionally Kim will wax eloquent a little bit longer than the story might need, but there's spiritual meat in her words that can impact greatly. Recommended.

[Donna]

Can't say enough about this book and her other like it, Hope Rising. The emotional healing that takes place for both abused/neglected horses and children is captured in this book. It is a book I will treasure and re-read through the years.

[Suzanne]

Number two book.

[Stephanie]

This book is for anyone who loves horses and stories of hope, healing and the miraclous power of God's love.

[Alicia]

The unconditional love of horses towards children who are hurting and the joy and love between them..... a must read also.

[Cherise]

i have only read 2 chapters but i love how the people and the horses connect.

[Audra]

This book left me deeply touched. It will move you through all ranges of emotion and leave you wanting more of Kim's true stories.