LuAnn Perez of Shingle Springs, California is a woman with a mission; dedicated to the enrichment of the lives of local children. The owner of the Equine Outreach Foundation, Perez teams up kids and horses so they can experience the excitement of hands-on opportunity as well as the beauty and responsibility of working with horses. She allows children to enjoy mastering new skills that are all vital components of the Equine Outreach Foundation's program.
Geared towards motivating children ages 8-18, the foundation offers a year-round horseback riding program. The program is offered primarily to children in foster care and is also available to selected children who would otherwise not have the opportunity to ride.
The goals of the curriculum which are learning to rise and care for a horse, teach kids some of the very essential skills they'll need to succeed as adults. This includes a strong sense of responsibility as well as the ability to honor a commitment. The program even teaches children the importance of loyalty, as well as organizational skills and patience.
According to Perez, “I started Equine Outreach Foundation in 2000 because I felt that my own experiences with horses as a child profoundly affected my future outlook as an adult. I grew up on a cattle ranch in Kansas and rode nearly every day. Horses taught me to be compassionate, intuitive, consistent and to appreciate the benefits of being responsible for something other than myself. Horses require space and resources to be properly maintained and I realized that many kids today would simply not have a chance to become involved with these wonderful, responsive animals. I started Equine Outreach Foundation to address this need.”
Perez is currently working with four children with each lesson consisting of a two-hour time period. Share Perez, “Kids participate in all aspects of learning about horsemanship. They catch the horse, saddle him, and learn to ride.” Perez herself teaches the Western style of riding although there is English style of riding available as well. Her most outstanding students participate in El Dorado County sponsored horse shows.
“I want to keep my Foundation activities very small and personal and really help the student enjoy the incremental gains they make in their riding skills,” shares Perez. “Kids who have experienced a loss, such as the death or separation from a parent, especially benefit from the program.”
The horses the foundation has acquired ate very well trained retired show horses that were donated to the foundation. Horses are a lot smarter than most people realize, and if a horse is exhibiting bad behavior, it's often because it is not properly trained.
The program provides weekly riding sessions for children. Each child rides under the supervision of a riding instructor in an arena in sessions designed to advance their skills and meet his or her individual needs. Students who exhibit proficiency in basic skills may even be eligible for more advanced activities such as trail riding or participation in gymkhanas.
As the kids progress, they acquire additional life lessons in doing one's own personal best in both teamwork and sportsmanship. “The horses I use enjoy the lessons and the kids and it's fascinating and rewarding to help develop a partnership between a child and a horse, “ comments Perez. “The most rewarding thing is seeing "light bulb" go on a kid's head when he or she understands the cause and effect relationship between his or her actions and how the horse responds.
Perez usually starts her day heading out to her barn to muck stalls and feed and often ends her day the same way. Perez says with a smile, “On lesson days, the kids help me tuck in the horses. I'm lucky to have a grassy pasture which is a horse heaven and in good weather that lessens my work load.”
The sense of accomplishment that come s form mastering new skills, the camaraderie of interacting with other riders, staff and volunteers is truly a rewarding experience for everyone involved.
Caring for horses will enhance these children's lives and help all of us build a better future.
The Equine Outreach Foundation is a non-profit organization and is currently accepting tax-deductible donations. They are also in need of volunteers to help continue to make this program a success.
Lessons to kids who do not have the financial resources to keep horses or pay for lessons are absolutely free. Children and parents are interviewed to determine their suitability for the program.
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