There are people in this world who embrace new beginnings and reinforce the notion that change and growth are within reach. Former prison inmate turned country music-crossover superstar, impassioned advocate, and inspirational public figure Jelly Roll 
is one of those people.

I know about second chances, Jelly Roll tells us with a reassuring tone, they changed my whole life. Capturing the hearts of millions with his hauntingly relatable song Need a Favor to his newest album, Beautifully Broken, filled with tracks titled I Am Not Ok and Winning Streak—an honest depiction of the battle against addiction—Jelly Roll brings peaceful harmony to the masses through every lyric he pens, every verse he sings, and every genuine story he shares about his journey of transformation. To look him in the eyes is to feel an overwhelming sense of one’s worthiness for forgiveness and compassion. And he doesn’t 
take his second chances for granted.

With a pay-it-forward mentality, Jelly Roll utilizes his platform to help lift others. From visiting prison inmates across the nation so he can help spread the love, to urging congress to take action on the U.S. fentanyl crisis, stating, I was a part of the problem, I am here now standing as a man who wants to be a part of the solution, to inspiring billions at the CMA Awards on a global stage with his aspirational acceptance speech, preaching, The windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror for a reason, because what’s in front of you is so much more important than what’s behind you, Jelly Roll has a philanthropic heart and a gracious mind.

Jelly Roll doesn’t waste his pain. He amplifies redemption from the mountaintops so the world knows it’s within reach.

Throughout the West, the environment encapsulates a feeling of untamed freedom, where man and nature exist as one. Here, the land and animals have become as much a part of the human spirit as our kin. When it comes to well-being, there is an interchangeable connection, rooted in empathy and trust, between people and animals, specifically horses. And there are communities of people throughout the West that understand and utilize this connection to help heal and rehabilitate horses and humans alike, including Mustangs of America Foundation.

Devoted to eradicating cruelty toward mustangs and burros, Mustangs of America Foundation is committed to informing the 
public about mustang and burro adoption and training programs while providing the support and resources necessary to ensure the long-term betterment of the animals.

With a community of animal advocates—from professional horse trainers and clinicians to the Bureau of Land 
Management—Mustangs of America Foundation actively supports inmate training programs, pairing inmates with mustangs for mutual rehabilitation, promoting relationship building, patience, trust, the value of life, self-love, overcoming fears, empathy, and hope for the future—for the horses and the prison inmates.

This is a program that heals hearts. [The horses] touch [the inmates’] emotional side, the side that's hardened, the side that they have not shown, explains Lynda Sanford, director and founder of Mustangs of America Foundation. And she’s not alone with this way of thinking. A horse's heart is [more than] three times the size of a human heart, Jelly Roll explains, so the concept is, especially as a prisoner, that some of these dudes are surrounded by the most love they've ever been around.

Programs like these benefit society as well. The public benefits because these guys aren't going to re-offend, Sanford explains. It's given them a new hope. And our hope is that with what we're doing outside of the program, that will at least help a few along the way, especially the ones who want to go into the horse industry.

The ways of the West have created unity throughout history. Spanning centuries, working cowboys have battled against extreme weather, natural predators, and bureaucratic troubles to keep their legacies alive. With strength in numbers, the Western community thrives today because they band together.

This circle of safety among the Western community extends beyond geographical limits. Sharing the beauty and healing power 
of the West with the rest of the world isn’t new. While equine therapy became a formal practice around the early 1900s, the therapeutic value of riding horses has been documented as far back as in ancient Greek literature. Out West, the cowboy lifestyle has inspired this practice to go a step further, sharing rodeo life with those who need it most.

Since the early 1900s, prison rodeos have introduced inmates to Western values. Through rodeo events including bareback riding, inmates are given a rare opportunity to feel a part of society outside of the prison walls while gaining a sense of pride showcasing their skills working with, and connecting with, the animal athletes. A connection they have never experienced up to this point. We're talking about guys who have committed crimes, Sanford explains, some guys who have never been loved or know what love is, and then they connect to these horses.

As an inmate behavioral incentive program, the early days of prison rodeos were not open to the public. But by the time the 1960s rolled around, to raise money for the inmate welfare fund, admission tickets were offered to the general public. Initially, spectators watched from the beds of their pickup trucks or foldout chairs. Over time, as prison rodeo popularity grew, arenas were built—with some prison rodeos seating over 10,000 attendees. Today, inmate participation is voluntary, and the rodeo continues as an incentive to reward offenders with good behavior.

Whether through prison rodeos or horse training programs, the benefits of connecting horses with inmates are undeniable. I believe in animal assisted therapy, explains Sean Good, a Mustangs of America program participant who has been incarcerated for the last 13 years. And despite our mistakes that we've made as criminals and convicts, there's a lot of people in here that still have a lot of heart. And programs like this, the ranch and the horse program, provide us an outlet or a means to a way of success.

Programs like these allow inmates to find connection. The thought of an organization coming together, a foundation, to come in and try to do this with guys like that, I think it's nothing short of remarkable, Jelly Roll tells us. It's humanizing people that are dehumanized a lot, and it's proven a lot about second chances. And I think those horses are showing those men [boundaries]. Imagine inmates experiencing that. Who else needs a better lesson on boundaries than us convicts?

Out West, the rules are simple: work hard, hold your own, and help your neighbors. Following these core principles transforms welcome guests into valued members of the Western community. For me, it's about the guys getting out of here and having hope, explains Sanford. I don't want them being branded for the rest of their lives as past inmates.

Nothing feels more isolating than rock bottom. I know what it's like to be in that lonely place, explains Jelly Roll. I know what it's like to be an inmate. I know what it's like to be in the system. I know what it's like to feel like nobody's there for you. But life’s winding roads and uphill battles complete us. It’s impossible to fully appreciate pure joy without ever experiencing pain. Every hard-earned scar marks a life well lived.

Though it may not feel like it in the moment, it’s not where we’ve been that defines us, it’s where we’re going. I love when people say they made a 360. I think it's more like a 180, Jelly Roll tells us. I think it's more like I turned my back completely on what was and went completely on what's new.

Each chapter of the book of life is a gift. Each page of our story is worth turning. And each creature on this Earth is worthy of redemption.