Comprehensive Life Skills (CLS)-
Classes are held on Fridays during the school year. Students from Douglas County School District and Carson City School District rotate on these Fridays. Every other year, students from Incline Highschool are served as well. This program helps prepare young adults with disabilities for the demands of integrated employment, independent community-based living, and post-secondary training opportunities through person-centered and individualized programming.
Time is spent working on building life skills such as: trust, non-verbal communication, listening, following directions, and teamwork. These skills are practiced within the group, as well as in activities utilizing therapy horses.
Washoe Tribal Youth-
Children from the Washoe Tribe spend time in the summer coming to the ranch as part of their enrichment program. The Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California Tribal Youth Program serves youth ages 8–21 via its focus on (1) data management, (2) rehabilitation, (3) therapeutic approaches, and (4) strengthening cultural identity and family engagement.
The children come to Kids & Horses and participate in a variety of activities that incorporate: equine assisted activities, arts and crafts, community guests such as the Suicide Prevention Network, and building life skills. Many of the children in this program also come with siblings and caregivers to engage in quality family time.
Rite of Passage-
This organization provides programs and services that empower youth and families to succeed within their community. Individuals in this program come to Kids & Horses for Equine Assisted Learning opportunities. Areas focused on include education, self-growth, leadership, and positive mental health.
Some of the participants will also be eligible for our Stable Moments (R) program that will provide one-on-one mentorship for kids in foster care and those that have been adopted. Children will be paired with a mentor, and will also participate in Equine Assisted Learning activities with our therapy horses.
Leadership and Resiliency Wilderness Program-
This program is provided to individuals who are in Juvenile Probation. The teens in this program have been court ordered to attend a 1o-week summer program where they learn about leadership, positive choices, health and fitness. Students come to our ranch and assist with chores as part of their community service requirements. They also spend time with our therapy horses and engage in Equine Assisted Learning activites.
The main goal with Equine Assisted Learning is to teach life skills through guided horse interactions. The skills worked on include: building trust, self-confidence, communication, respect, motivation and problem solving.
Memory Café-
Kids & Horses Memory Cafe is a place for anyone experiencing dementia and their care partner. Family, friends, or paid caregivers are welcome, along with the individual experiencing memory loss. The individual may have a formal diagnosis or may just be worried about/experiencing changes in cognitive abilities. Either way, this space allows individuals and their care partners to connect with others, share experiences, build friendships, and learn to live well within their community with dementia.
We are partnered with Dementia Friendly Douglas County to build this new program for our community. Our staff and volunteers will be trained through Dementia Friends and many have also been through trainings for our other memory loss program with Connected Horse (R).
Connected Horse (R)-
Kids & Horses partners with Connected Horse to offer powerful workshops to individuals with memory loss and their care partners. Based on research conducted at UC Davis and Stanford Universities, these workshops resulted in significant improvement in mood, increased positive perception of social support, and greater awareness and appreciation of the relationship between the person with memory loss and their care partner. The power of the human horse connection helps participants to feel relaxed, confident and more happy in the moment. It can also teach self compassion, stress reduction strategies, communication skills and mindfulness practices.