Horses Helping Youth Program

The standard service offered by the Horses Helping Youth program at the Hughes-Jones Centre is: two hour group sessions of learning and physical participation in the care and upkeep of a horse facility. These sessions are not focusing on the advancement of a rider's ability (i.e. with competition as the goal) as much as working on competency and safety while gaining tools such as leadership, self-esteem, self-confidence, empathy, responsibility, accountability, goal setting / achievement and respect for self and others.

Prior to hands on work with the horses, students will have to: clean the stables, water and feed the horses, ensure the tack is in good repair, walk the arena to ensure it is safe for the horses and deal with general farm upkeep (sweeping, fencing, stacking hay, de-cob webbing, filling grain carts, cleaning buckets, veterinary first aid etc.). After working with the horses students will be, once again, responsible for the well being of the horses (cooling them down, grooming, putting tack away etc.).

While dealing with the horses we will focus on our safety and their care i.e. grooming, exercise, nutrition etc.. Much can be learned while working with an animal ten times your size - control, body placement, body language and communication are some of the more common themes.

After the session students will have a chance to talk about some of the 'problems' they had with their horses and together we will brainstorm on solutions for next time.