About Hope, Horses & Kids

Touching lives one hoofbeat at a time

Hope, Horses & Kids (HHK) aims to connect with the youth of our community by providing affordable access to horses. Our programs include Equine Assisted Learning (EAL), Horse Powered Reading® (HPR), and Teen Leadership. All of our curriculum improves student confidence, self-assurance, verbal and non-verbal communication, focus, mindfulness and coping strategies. The HHK barn provides a safe space to learn while engaging in fun group activities and games using the horses as our equine partners.

Since partnering with Rancho Cielo, we have helped many disengaged young people gain key life skills, and have given them the tools to support their future careers. We provide our students with the skills to set and meet goals, and to be able to cope, thrive, and achieve whatever they set their mind to.

Why horses?

Horses naturally experience emotions similar to people, creating a dynamic experience that fosters healing through genuine connection and empathy. Horses mirror the energy they perceive from the client, allowing the facilitator to truly see what is going on beneath the surface.

We have noticed in particular with our teenage clients it’s especially helpful to get their feet off the ground and into a saddle. The connection is initially established on the ground, but the real vulnerability rises, and trust is developed when horseback. Being in the saddle quiets the mind and can dim the noise of outside pressures that can be so prevalent and detrimental to the young mind.

“Horsemanship from the ground up”

You will often hear us say "We are not a riding school, we teach horsemanship from the ground up." This is because we want to teach all the important life skills it takes to be a responsible and capable horseman. There are many ways horses build character in children. When caring for a horse, a child will very quickly learn that they need to take responsibility for them. The best way to really bring about this responsibility is to make sure they take care of all the work involved in doing so.