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Spirithorse riding center

A unique inclusive riding program for everyone
"Empowering lives through horses"

HEY!

Horses Empowering Youth!

HEY is a new program at SpiritHorse. In this program we partner with Camille Creek Community School in Napa. The Juvenile Court and Community School programs serve the educational needs of students who are under the protection of authority of the juvenile court or those who are referred from school districts due to truancy, behavioral issues or expulsion. The school's mission is to empower our county's most disenfranchised youth toward a productive future through restorative relationships, targeted instructions, and inspiring opportunities for growth.

In HEY, we align our empowering missions together for the sole purpose of investing into these youth.

Taught over the year with each class day divided up into physical interaction with horses (feeding,
grooming, groundwork, and riding practice). The participants touch on each one of the different school curriculums but through horses. Topics include science, math, history, literature, physical education, art, and life-work skills.

The participants work with different horses each time teaching them to adapt and work with a multitude of personalities.

Their day concludes with a creative writing exercise that is shared with the group the following week.

While the curriculum is important, perhaps the most important aspect of HEY! is the way it nurtures strong resilient young people. Training and relating to horses on a regular basis develop compassion, problem-solving, and communication skills, while building leadership skills and self-confidence.

As part of the program, different guest speakers are brought in to teach and even inspire the students with different career paths in horses, some involving college, trade school, or no further education at all but instead only grit and determination.

Up to this point, we have run this pilot program at no cost, but this is not sustainable. We want to keep this program going and to even expand. In order to do so, we need sponsors and donors. If you are interested in partnering with HEY! Please contact us today. If you are ready to give, please click the button below. Thank you for your support!

Recent studies conducted by the Institute of Heart - Math provide a clue to explain the two - way "healing that occurs when we're close to horses. According to researchers, the heart has electromagnetic field larger than the brain: a magnetometer can measure the energy field larger than the brain: a magnetometer can measure the energy field of the heart that radiates from 2.4 meters to 3 meters around the human body. While this is certainly significant, perhaps more impressive than the electromagnetic field projected by the heart of a horse is five times larger than that of a human being (imagine an electromagnetic sphere around the horse) and it can influence straight into our own heart rate. Horses are also likely to have what science has identified as a "coherent" heart rate (heart rate pattern) that explains why we can feel better when were close to them. Studies have found a coherent heart pattern or HRV to be a solid measure of well-being and consistent with emotional states of calm and joy- that is, we exhibit such patters when we feel positive emotions. A coherent heart pattern is indicative of a system that can recover and adapt to stressful situations very efficiently. Many times, we just need to be in the presence of horses to feel a sense of well-being and peace. In fact, research shows that people experience many physiological benefits by interacting with horses, including lower blood pressure and heart rate, higher beta- endorphins (neurotransmitters acting as pain suppressors), decreased stress levels, decreased feelings of anger, hostility, tension and anxiety, better social working and greater feelings of empowerment, confidence, patience and self -efficacy.

about spirithorse

SpiritHorse Riding Center of the San Francisco Bay Area is a 501(c)3 non-profit and was founded in January of 2012 by Charlotte Dougherty. This program is an all- inclusive riding program open to riders of all abilities. Our lessons, camps, and classes are designed to improve the lives of children and adults who are facing developmental, emotional, social, and physical challenges.

We are proud to be a licensed SpiritHorse International Center that strives to provide opportunities that help our community members build self-confidence and feel empowered! We operate 2 facilities, located in American Canyon and Napa California. Mostly run by volunteers; SpiritHorse is a safe place where everybody belongs. Our horses are the most valuable members of our team.

one non-profit

AMERICAN CANYON
We have been located in American Canyon, at the corner of Eucalyptus Drive and Wetlands Edge Road since 2015. What was once a barren field is now home to up to 10 horses and our petting farm animals (Ms. Donkey, Trevor the goat, and Gypsy our sheep.

Serving the community

- In 2019 we served 355 children and adults through free day camps for special needs, homeless families, kids with cancer, women in drug/alcohol rehabilitation, and Fremont School of the Blind amounting in over $55,000 in scholarships!

- In 2020, even with COVID-19 shut downs that completely shut down our programs for a limited time, we were still able to offer free day camps for foster youth, military families, women in drug/alcohol rehabilitation, and special needs riders amounting in over $63,000 in scholarships!