Riding Through: When Obedience Opens the Door for God to Change Lives

Faith Conversations with Sarah Rose | Guests: Bill and Tammy Dennert, Founders of Riding Through

What happens when God places something on your heart that seems bigger than anything you could accomplish on your own? Do you step forward in faith, or do you allow uncertainty to hold you back?

Sometimes, God's greatest assignments begin with something as simple as listening to the radio.

In this episode of Faith Conversations, I had the privilege of visiting with Bill and Tammy Dennert, the founders of Riding Through, a faith-driven program in the Black Hills of South Dakota dedicated to helping people find peace, hope, and healing through a unique form of sensory therapy.

Their story is about so much more than horses or therapy. It's about hearing God's voice, responding in obedience, and watching Him open doors that seemed impossible.

And perhaps most importantly, it's a reminder that when God calls us to something, we don't have to understand every detail before taking that first step.

Rejoice in Today, Even When Things Are Upside Down

One of the first things I wanted to know was how they came up with the name Riding Through.

Bill explained that it all began with Tammy's grandmother and the family's RT livestock brand. The brand features an upside-down T, which inspired a beautiful message they now live by:

"Rejoice in today even when things are upside down." — Bill Dennert

Oh, how I love that!

Isn't that what faith is all about?

Life doesn't always go according to our plans. Sometimes circumstances turn upside down. We face uncertainty, disappointment, loss, and unexpected changes.

But our circumstances don't change who God is.

We can rejoice not because everything is perfect, but because we serve a God who remains faithful even when life doesn't make sense.

Philippians 4:4 reminds us:

"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice."

A Radio Interview That Changed Everything

Bill is a veteran who served during Desert Storm. Although he returned home physically healthy, he has always carried a deep compassion for fellow veterans who continue to struggle with the effects of their military service.

One Friday, while driving home from work, Bill heard a radio interview about a program in Warner, South Dakota, that was helping veterans through a unique form of equine-based therapy.

Something stirred inside him.

He sat in his pickup, unable to leave until the interview ended.

Then he called Tammy.

He told her, "We need to do this."

Her response?

"Okay."

Just like that!

No elaborate business plan. No years of debating whether they were qualified. Just two people willing to explore what God was placing on their hearts.

At the time, Tammy was attending training for a therapeutic riding program. She had already been asking herself how they could help people experience deeper, lasting benefits through their connection with horses.

And then Bill's phone call came.

What appeared to be two separate experiences suddenly began coming together.

I love how God works like that.

Sometimes He's preparing one person while simultaneously preparing another. We don't always see the connections until the moment He brings everything together.

When God Provides Exactly What You Need

By the time Tammy returned home from her training, Bill had already scheduled their first training session in Colorado.

There was just one problem.

They needed money to pay for it.

But God had already made a way.

Bill explained that their family had previously purchased and rebuilt an old semi-trailer to haul cattle. When they no longer needed it, they sold it.

And the amount they received?

Exactly what they needed to pay for the training.

Not approximately. Exactly.

Bill and Tammy saw that provision as confirmation that they were moving in the direction God wanted them to go.

As I listened to their story, I couldn't help but think about how often we wait for every detail to fall into place before we are willing to move.

We want the money first.

We want the assurance first.

We want to know exactly how everything will turn out.

But sometimes God is asking us to take the first step and trust Him with what comes next.

Proverbs 3:5–6 tells us:

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

Bill and Tammy didn't have all the answers.

They simply believed God was leading them, and they were willing to follow.

Making Healing More Accessible

As Bill and Tammy learned more about the therapy they wanted to offer, Tammy recognized an important challenge.

Not everyone can ride a horse.

Some people have physical limitations. Others may be afraid of horses, have allergies, or be unable to ride because of weight or mobility restrictions.

But what if there were another way?

That question led them to develop something remarkable: a mechanical horse designed to reproduce the specific movement used in their sensory therapy program.

They now have a patent pending on their invention.

Their approach, known as Draper Sensory Therapy, involves gentle, rhythmic movement while a participant rides backward with their eyes closed. Bill and Tammy describe the experience as helping people reach a deeply relaxed and focused state.

They shared that participants have reported improvements in calmness, sleep, concentration, and emotional well-being. They work with people experiencing challenges such as anxiety, trauma-related symptoms, and other difficulties.

Their mechanical horse also allows them to adjust the movement to individual participants and bring their program to locations beyond their ranch.

What struck me wasn't simply their creativity.

It was their willingness to see a barrier and ask, "How can we make this available to more people?"

They could have accepted the limitations.

Instead, they looked for another way.

Isn't that a beautiful picture of serving others?

Note: These are the Dennerts' descriptions and reported experiences. The medical effectiveness and proposed neurological mechanisms of Draper Sensory Therapy have not been independently established here. It should not be considered a replacement for qualified medical or mental health care.

A Veteran's Story of Hope

One of the most powerful moments in our conversation came when Bill shared the story of a Vietnam veteran who had struggled with night terrors for approximately 50 years.

For decades, this man had relied on reading Scripture during the night to help him cope with the memories that haunted him.

When he first tried the mechanical horse, something unexpected happened.

After a few rounds, Bill asked how he was feeling.

The veteran said he didn't want to continue.

Why?

Because he felt as though he was back in the jungle.

The experience had brought painful memories to the surface.

Rather than simply continuing, Bill stopped, listened, prayed, and talked with him.

Eventually, the veteran agreed to try again.

After another short session, Bill asked what he had experienced.

The man's answer was extraordinary.

"I was seeing Jesus."

Bill shared that the veteran described a vivid image of Jesus and wanted to continue.

According to Bill, at the time of our conversation, it had been approximately two years since that veteran had experienced another night terror.

What an incredible testimony of what this man experienced!

As I listened, I imagined the weight of carrying those memories for so many years.

And I thought about the power of having someone willing to sit beside you, listen to your pain, pray with you, and walk alongside you.

We don't always know how God will work in someone's life.

But we can be willing vessels.

We can show up.

We can love.

We can pray.

And we can trust Him with the outcome.

A Widow Finds a Moment of Comfort

Bill also shared the story of a woman who had lost her husband after caring for him through hospice.

She was struggling with grief, guilt, and depression.

During one of her sessions, Bill was walking nearby, quietly praying that she would experience comfort and peace.

When the session ended, the woman shared something deeply personal.

She said she had sensed her husband's presence and could smell his cologne.

For her, it was a meaningful moment of comfort in the middle of overwhelming grief.

Bill and Tammy see experiences like these as reminders that their work is about much more than operating equipment.

It's about caring for people who are hurting.

And it's about recognizing that behind every person who walks through their doors is a story.

A family.

A struggle.

A hope for something better.

God's Work, Our Hands

As Bill and Tammy continued sharing, I was struck by their humility.

They don't speak as though they have accomplished everything through their own strength.

Instead, they repeatedly point back to God.

Tammy described the uncertainty they felt when they first began helping people.

Were they doing it correctly?

Were people really benefiting?

Would their efforts make a difference?

But as participants began sharing their experiences and the changes they were noticing, Bill and Tammy grew more encouraged.

Tammy summarized their calling in four simple words:

"God's work, our hands." — Tammy Dennert

I love that statement.

Because isn't that what we're all called to do?

God has given each of us different gifts, talents, experiences, and passions.

Not so we can simply hold on to them.

But so we can use them to serve others.

First Peter 4:10 reminds us:

"As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

Maybe your gift isn't working with horses.

Maybe it's teaching, encouraging, building, organizing, leading, listening, writing, or simply being present for someone who needs you.

Whatever God has placed in your hands, He can use it.

The question is whether we're willing to offer it back to Him.

The Blessings Keep Coming

Bill and Tammy are continuing to expand Riding Through.

When we spoke, they were building a facility that would allow them to offer sessions indoors, rather than depending on South Dakota's unpredictable weather.

And once again, they shared how God has provided.

Money earned through their cattle work has helped fund construction.

Individuals have stepped forward with donations.

Others have contributed toward sessions for people who cannot afford them.

Bill explained that they had not needed to borrow money for the building up to that point.

What I found especially meaningful was that some people weren't simply donating toward a building.

They were giving so that someone else could experience hope.

Someone they might never meet.

Someone whose life they might never fully understand.

That's the beauty of generosity.

When we give, we often have no idea how far that gift will reach.

A person who finds peace may become more present for their spouse.

A parent who begins sleeping better may have more energy for their children.

Someone who has been struggling may find the courage to take another step forward.

And the impact can continue into future generations.

We may plant the seed, but God knows how far the harvest will reach.

Helping Veterans and Anyone Who Needs Support

One of the things I especially appreciated about Riding Through is Bill and Tammy's commitment to making their services accessible.

Bill shared that supporting veterans is deeply personal to him.

As a veteran himself, this work is one way he wants to give back.

During our conversation, they explained that:

• They offer a free introductory ride so people can experience their approach.

• Veterans receive sessions at no charge, as resources allow.

• They work with people facing financial challenges and seek sponsors when needed.

• Their typical program includes ten sessions, although scheduling varies by individual.

• Their mechanical horse allows them to travel to other locations when arrangements can be made.

They also emphasized that their program is not limited to veterans.

Their desire is to help people from many different backgrounds who are struggling and searching for greater peace and stability.

For current program details, scheduling, and eligibility, visit www.ridingthrough.org.

For anyone facing a mental health crisis or thoughts of suicide, immediate professional support is important. In the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

What Is God Asking You to Do?

As our conversation came to an end, I kept returning to one thought.

What if Bill had turned off the radio that day and ignored what was stirring inside him?

What if Tammy had said, "That sounds nice, but we don't have time"?

What if they had decided the training was too expensive?

What if they had looked at all the obstacles and decided the assignment was too difficult?

Think about the people they might never have met.

The conversations that might never have happened.

The encouragement that might never have been shared.

Their story reminds me that obedience isn't always comfortable.

Sometimes it requires stepping away from what is familiar.

Sometimes it means investing our time, money, and energy into something we don't fully understand.

Sometimes it means trusting God when we can't see the entire road ahead.

But here's what I've been learning in my own journey:

God doesn't ask us to have everything figured out. He asks us to trust Him enough to follow.

And when we do, we may discover that our obedience was never just about us.

There are people connected to our purpose.

People who need the gifts God has placed inside us.

People whose lives may be touched because we were willing to say yes.

Ephesians 2:10 reminds us:

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

Rejoice in Today

I want to leave you with the beautiful message behind Riding Through's name:

Rejoice in today, even when things are upside down.

Maybe life feels upside down for you right now.

Maybe you're facing uncertainty.

Maybe you're carrying pain from your past.

Maybe you feel God stirring something inside you, but you're afraid to move.

I want to encourage you.

Don't allow fear to make your decisions.

Don't assume that because something seems impossible, God isn't calling you into it.

And don't underestimate what He can do through one willing heart.

Bill and Tammy's journey began with a radio interview, a phone call, and two people willing to say yes.

Look at what has grown from that simple act of obedience.

Your yes to God may become the answer to someone else's prayer.

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the incredible ways You work through ordinary people who are willing to trust You.

Thank You for Bill and Tammy and for the compassion You have placed in their hearts to serve others.

Lord, I pray for every person reading this today who may be struggling with fear, uncertainty, grief, or the pain of their past.

Remind them that You see them. You love them. And they are never alone.

Help us recognize the gifts You have placed inside each of us. Give us the courage to step forward when You call, even when we don't understand every detail.

May we never allow fear to prevent us from becoming who You created us to be.

And may our lives become instruments of Your love, grace, and compassion.

In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.

Learn More About Riding Through

Bill and Tammy Dennert are the founders of Riding Through, a faith-driven sensory therapy program located in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Learn more about their mission, the services they offer, introductory rides, and ways to support their work:

Website:www.ridingthrough.org

About Faith Conversations

Faith Conversations with Sarah Rose is part of Fearlessly Unshackled, a ministry dedicated to sharing authentic testimonies of God's transforming love and power.

Through real conversations with people from all walks of life, we share stories of faith, hope, obedience, healing, and the freedom found in Jesus Christ.

Because every testimony matters, and every story has the potential to encourage someone else.

Don't just live. Come alive and live Fearlessly Unshackled!

Learn more at sarahannrose.com.