We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Douglas Rohrabaugh a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Douglas, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

I believe that my parents did right by encouraging me to follow my dreams and providing me with the love, support, and guidance to do so. The best tool my parents provided me with was allowing me to participate in the scouting program. I joined the Pack 1412 at Huron Park Elementary School in the fall of 1984 as a TIger Cub in the Cub Scout program. For the next four years I enjoyed an amazing adventure with my parents and fellow Scouts. Together we built and raced Pinewood Derby Cars, participated in Raingutter Regattas, and had fun with the Father & Son cake bake in the spring. We toured the police and fire stations, helped people in our community, learned the importance of teamwork and even went camping with the pack. While I thought I was just having fun with my family and friends, I was really learning things like the value of hardwork, the joy in doing a good turn daily and the importance of helping other people at all times. I “crossed over” to the Boy Scout program in 1988 and joined Troop 1407 in St Clair Shores, MI. I was not part of the 3% of Scouts who earn the rank of Eagle but I proudly earned the rank of First Class before life took my on other adventures.

By encouraging me to follow my dreams and providing me with the tools to succeed which I learned through the scouting program, my parents set me on a life long path of service. Over the years I have enjoyed volunteering for organizations such as the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Wheelchair Hockey League (WCHL), and Volunteers Assisting the Disabled (VAD). I have served organizations including: Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society; Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society; and The Goleden Leos of Texas A&M University-Commerce. I have served as a member of the Commerce, Tx city council and am currently a member of the Ortonville, Michigan Lion’s Club. I am truly blessed to wake up each day and be a part of changing lives through the healing power of horses here at O.A.T.S. and that is thanks to my wonderful parents, Jacob (Jake) and Gail Rohrabaugh.

Douglas, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a graduate of the Texas A&M University System with a Masters degree in Political Science. From I very young age I learned the importance of helping other people. I enjoy seeing the best in people and helping others to be their very best. Here at O.A.T.S. I get to help people through the healing power of horses. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing equine assisted services to individuals of varying abilities. Our program has been in existence for 25 years thanks largely to the support and hard work of our amazing voluntees. Here at O.A.T.S. help is always appreciated and never expected. We strive to provide a safe and happy environment where individuals are free to be themselves without fear of being judged. We provide an encouraging atmosphere where clients and volunteers are challenged to learn new skills while having fun and enjoying the company of others. We are a family here at O.A.T.S. and that is what sets us apart from many other facilities.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

I think that the most helpful tool one can possess to succeed in anything they are doing is a positive attitude. As human beings we are faced with challenges each and every day. Sometimes we are faced with, what we believe to be, overwhelming obstacles and can find ourselves with our heads hung low. We know the answer is not at our feet but the weight we are carrying, all of the stess and anxiety, resides in our shoulders and we hang our heads.

The world can seem so small when our field of view is only a few feet. In this miniscule world our troubles seem larger and there is no where to look for solutions to these problems. Just by lifting our head a couple of inches, our world expands. We can begin to see the different paths that are available to us. Lift your head a little more and we are able to see an even bigger world full of possibilities. The troubles are still there but we have the opportunity to either work though or work around those obstacles which once seemed to stop us in our tracks.

When we keep our head up and look for the possibilites of a brighter tomorrow, the sky is the limit and success is inevitable.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

There is no doubt that, given the opportunity, I would certainly choose the same profession. Nonprofit management allows for me to give back and help others. It allows me to collect what I once read as an “emotional pay check”. It is not a financial bonus or anything I can take to the bank. It is payment deposited directly to my heart and soul. The feeling of knowing I helped to make a positive impact on the lives of others. This is more than a profession. It is a passion for making this world a better place.

Here at O.A.T.S. we accomplish that by changing lives through the healing power of horses.
Our herd of over 20 horses, combined with the expertice of our Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors, help individuals struggling with cognitive, physical and emotional challenges. We are making strides while putting smiles on faces and we love to see it here everyday at O.A.T.S.

Contact Info:

• Website: oatshrh.org
• Instagram: o.a.t.s_equinetherapy
• Facebook: O.A.T.S. Offering Alternative Therapy with Smiles
• Linkedin: Offering Alternative Therapy with Smiles, Inc. – O.A.T.S.