Healing Hearts with Horses
Trail Rides for children
Our Goal is to
provide riding opportunities for
disadvantaged and underserved children of our community. We strive to
provide the joy of a horse to kids who have so little, and children who have
lost so much.
While some of us have had the chance to experience the joy and serenity that
comes from riding a horse, many will never have that opportunity unless we
provide it for them. For the past eight years, CHAPS and the MPF have been
creating programs and raising money to provide rides and equestrian
experiences for veterans and disadvantaged children.
For the past 8 years, the rides have been provided at Wunderlich County Park, which is graced with the last public horse facility in San Mateo County. In order to enhance and expand the program, we have relocated to Jasper Ridge Farm on Webb Ranch in Portola Valley. Jasper Ridge has a covered arena which allows riding on rainy days and hot sunny days. Additional horses and wranglers are also available from Webb Ranch to allow more kids to ride.
Over the years, CHAPS and the MPF have raised funds for rides from very
generous grants provided by
WHOA! (Woodside Horse Owners
Association). Other supporters include members of the community, the Woodside Community Foundation, Nordstrom's
and Google. More than 1034 rides and
equestrian experiences for veterans and children have been provided.
Veterans and children have the opportunity to interact with horses in ways
that feel most comfortable. For most this involves riding, sometimes in an
arena, and sometimes on a trail. For others, this might be interaction that
involves grooming, learning how to lead, saddle, care and relate to horses.
The joy and happiness on faces of these veterans and kids brings tears to
our eyes.
The best thing for the inside of a person is the outside of a horse. CHAPS
invites the community to partner with them in programs that facilitate the
healing that comes through interacting with horses. Together we can make
children's dreams come true and recognize our veterans for their sacrifice.
Healing Hearts With Horses - CASA kids
Healing Hearts With Horses provides free trail rides and lessons for children in the County CASA program (Court Appointed Special Advocate program. These are foster children that have lost so much, and truly enjoy the
opportunity for a lesson or a trail ride. The
program began in 2012 and in the years since, 492 rides have been provided for the kids . Here are a
few notes from their sponsors/advocates
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Watching my CASA child with his pony was truly a
heart-warming experience. My little guy was just one month out of a home
where he suffered physical abuse at the hands of his father. To see this
little boy put aside his fear upon meeting "Nutter", and then gently groom
him and talk with him, gave me hope that he is going to be OK.
Our trainer, Mandy, was so patient and positive, and she was able to
encourage him to ride. The look of pure joy on my CASA child's face as he
circled the ring with his pony is something I will always remember, as will
he.
I am so grateful to Excel Equestrian and the CHAPS program for what they
bring to the CASA children of San Mateo County- it is such an important
program. Thank you very much for what you do, and for the difference you
make in children's lives. Please feel free to use any part of this letter,
with my name, to further enrich your program.
Warmly,
Nancy Bue
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As a CASA, I look for activities that
will help to build confidence and impart a sense of accomplishment to the
kids I volunteer with. Excel Equestrian's horseback riding program is
exactly that. The ten year old boy I advocate for loved the time he got to
spend with the horses, and he was a natural as a rider. He gained so much
confidence through working with the horses and the staff at Excel, and
looked forward to his next opportunity to ride.
-Anaika
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My foster child and I had a wonderful experience, and we
can't thank you and your staff enough.
Excel Equestrian offers a wonderful opportunity for foster youth to
experience an intimate bond between the horse and themselves. They are
taught step by step care and preparation before and after the ride, they
learn how the horse can sense movement and emotions, and ultimately they
experience the reward of riding. In the end, the child walks away with a
sense of accomplishment and pride. They feel trust and know they are safe,
and have connected emotionally with something much bigger than they are.
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Thank you guys so much for a wonderful time! I have been
with my CASA buddy for over six months and I have never seen him so calm and
focused before. Now I understand why they use horses for therapy. We had a
really great time. Justin and Mandy were highly professional and very kind
at the same time, a feat hard to accomplish. They warned us that the lesson
would depend on how comfortable my CASA buddy felt with the horse because he
is very young, and Mandy definitely progressed the lesson catering to his
comfort level and the speed with which he picked up what she taught him. By
the end of our session, my CASA buddy was riding the horse on a trail,
holding the reigns himself! He is so excited to come back and I am thrilled
that this was made possible. Thank you so very much for today.
Thank you,
Natalia
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The foster children's riding program at Folgers Stables is providing an uplifting experience for children at risk in our community and who love horses.
The child that I sponsor thru CASA of San Mateo County is living in a home situation that is cramped, without sufficient funds and whose family has been pulled apart with siblings living in 3 different locations.
Unfortunately, this girl suffers from depression and helplessness and is at risk of harming herself. One visit to CHAPs has given her hope and something to look forward to. She went from being quiet and withdrawn to wanting to learn more about horses and planning to volunteer at the stables after her 5 lessons are completed.
Watching her interact with these gentle creatures, I can see that she needs to focus on someone or something outside of herself and this program provides that. Most of the programs thru CASA focus on younger children but this one suits a 14 year old better. I hope that CHAPs is able to continue this program for years to come.
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Healing Hearts With Horses - SAL - Sheriff's Activity League
This program is just getting started with 7 rides in 2016. The Sheriff's Activity League provides recreational opportunities for disadvantaged children in the County. The CHAPS and MPF are raising funds to provide free trail rides for these children.
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