For six weeks, “Dreamer Equestrians” headed to Equi-Kids each Wednesday for a two-hour visit.
The weather was dry and sunny on their last day, April 23. That meant the opportunity to hop in the saddle and ride one of three horses — Summer, Titan or Gatsby — in the outdoor riding arena.
Equi-Kids senior riding instructor Candyce Boykin gave directions.
“Walk on! Reins in your left hand!” she exclaimed.
A mini horse show ensued as volunteers led the horses and their student riders around orange cones.
The seven students from the Seatack Elementary – An Achievable Dream Academy were selected by counselors and administrators to participate in the partnership between VBCPS and Equi-Kids. The nonprofit, therapeutic riding program is located in the Heritage Park neighborhood.
Four different groups of Seatack Elementary students in grades one through five are selected to participate in the six-week sessions during the year, including once in the summer.
Christopher Bracey is the school’s director of academic and student affairs.
“We look at the students and decide who would benefit from the six-week program,” he said. “We ask, how can this impact and enrich them?”
Parents complete an application process for the once-a-week program. A maximum of eight participants are selected for each session.
Students learn all about the equipment (such as saddles and bridles), how to be safe near horses and respectful of the horse’s space, the importance of wearing a helmet, how to care for horses, and lots more.
Horses are ridden each week with the assistance of volunteers, except for the introductory, week one lesson.
On the recent session finale, the group split in half with each taking a turn to ride a horse and mix a treat for their four-legged equine friends.
Program manager Haley Ward showed them how to stir oats, water, honey and molasses together before allowing each to feed the mixture to some of the horses in the stable.
“The horses get very excited about this stuff,” she told the students, “so hold the sides of the bowl tight.”
Sure enough, horses Braveheart and Diesel were excited to eat the sweet treat.
Volunteer Tricia Haverty grew up riding horses and is a retired preschool teacher.
“They come here very timid,” Haverty said of the students. “And after six weeks – they are saying – I got this!” Riding horses takes confidence and bravery, she said.
Catholic High School freshman Anna Campbell is also a Equi-Kids volunteer who loves horseback riding.
She said volunteering with the organization is a rewarding way to give back. “Seeing the children flourish and so happy is incredibly fulfilling.”
Equi-Kids program director Kathy Chitwood said students have benefited physically, mentally and socially from the VBCPS partnership.
“They learn proper behaviors and interactions with people as well as the horses,” she said. “In turn, they learn to interact better with people like their peers, families and friends.”
Chitwood said positive teacher feedback has included the fact that “kids retain information longer when we incorporate what they are learning in their classroom in school into our lesson plans at the farm.”
Bracey said students have “come a long way” thanks to the Equi-Kids collaboration.
“Teachers have noticed students’ improvement in many areas, including discipline and behavior,” he said.
The program is also a confidence-builder, he said.
“They take that back to the classroom.”
Equi-Kids provides lifechanging equine-assisted services to children and adults who have mental, physical, social or learning disabling conditions. For more information on Equi-Kids, visit http://www.equikids.org.
