What is Hope Rides?
At Hope Rides, our mission is to open doorways of hope and create opportunities for personal growth through connecting horses with people.
Hope Rides is a registered 501 (C)(3) non-profit organization that provides horse related programs that mentor important life skills to youth. The horse provides an opportunity to learn life skills such as patience, respect, discipline, gratitude, accountability, willingness, and collaboration all of which are skills that are associated and transferrable to everyday life.
The interaction with the horse provides an opportunity for individuals to acquire a multitude of skills that are associated and transferable to how we relate and conduct in everyday living. An example of this is can be seen when we examine verbal and non-verbal communication. In this process a mirroring affect takes place between horse and human which supports the process of learning how emotions and actions directly affect our level of success at achieving goals and communicating with others. The horse provides an opportunity to learn skills on many levels including a willingness to be open, trusting, cooperative, grateful, respectful and disciplined, all of which are innate to the human experience. Hope Rides programs are designed to encourage participants, broaden perspectives, and infuse hope for the future.
Who Qualifies:
Youth ages 5-18 who have a desire and interest to learn more about horses.
General Rules and Expectations:
- 5-18 years of age.
- Complete required paperwork and forms prior to the start of programming.
- Appropriate attire consists of long pants, closed toed shoes and socks. A hat is recommended as we do spend periods of time outside under the sun.
- During programming there is no use of electronic devices.
- Hope Rides in conjunction with our host barn locations are smoke free, drug free, alcohol free environments. All associates and participants are required to follow those standards while participating in Hope Rides activities. Failure to comply with these standards is grounds for immediate dismissal from grounds and program.
- Accountability and attendance. Session and program slots fill quickly at Hope Rides and for that reason we maintain a wait list. If you sign up for a session or program slot and are unable to make it, we RESPECTFULLY ask that you call ASAP to let us know so that, if possible, we can offer that available open slot to a waiting child.
The program takes place throughout the year, breaking for periods over holidays and winter months. Sessions include opportunities to learn skills that advance horsemanship as well as personal development. Programs are intentionally designed to tie the learning of horse skills directly to important life skills. This provides an opportunity for participants to learn, practice and explore how mastery of these skills can benefit and enrich their lives. The ability to successfully acquire the skills requires practice and commitment. Hope Rides is much more than just a riding program. We connect kids to horses, using what we learn from horses to further learn about ourselves and those around us. We explore this learning through hands on instructed in both ground work and riding time, service related activities and field trips throughout the community.
All equipment, safety gear, and props used in conjunction with programming are supplied by Hope Rides. Participants are responsible for appropriate dress meaning long leg jeans and closed toed shoes that can be worn for work and dirty activities. A hat for head and neck protection is recommended for time spent outside working under the sun.
There is no fee to participate in our programs. The only requirement is that an individual want to attend. To inquire about how to schedule or get a child involved at the ranch please email the office at info@hoperides.org Although programming is free, Hope Rides does incur costs to provide free programming, it is for that reason that Hope Rides accepts donations of any amount at any time.
Space is limited and at any point in time we maintain a waitlist so we encourage those interested in programming to take the time to contact the ranch to learn more about steps involved to apply for programming at Hope Rides.
Please contact Hope Rides at Telephone: 612.310.6350
Email: info@hoperides.org or visit www.hoperides.org
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