The north fields of The Children’s Home on Thursday afternoons are home to horses. Instructors from City Ranch, along with the animals and equipment, allow TCH residents the opportunity to participate in comprehensive lessons on riding and education on the care of horses.
“Building character and pointing children towards the positive parts of life is our goal. Horsemanship is the methodology that will show children that they can achieve.”
The founders of City Ranch, Ahesahmahk and Jean Dahn, have spent nearly 30 years working with children. They feel that children need to be challenged and a comprehensive equestrian program in an urban setting will do that. Most other programs around the country take the children out of the city, but City Ranch brings the horses to The Children’s Home campus.
“SAFETY IS THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT PART OF OUR PROGRAM. Our risk reduction policies and procedures will follow the recommendations of the North American Horseman’s Association.”
Learning to interact with a horse requires skills and abilities that must be developed so that children can learn and have fun through the experience. Residents learn about the impact horses have on the local, regional and national economies. They learn how to keep a horse healthy through diet, exercise and preventive medicine. These lessons will connect to the importance of personal health. These topics will be door openers to character discussions, behavior
modifications and practices that lead to achievement. The program reinforces the need to have solid critical thinking skills, reading and math skills, along with problem solving abilities.