Starting this weekend, eight youths from the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi will saddle up to learn all about horses at the Spring Creek Equestrian Center in Three Oaks.
It’s all part of the Spring Creek Horses Help Foundation’s ongoing effort to develop character and confidence in young people by helping them bond with the horses. The foundation’s Sally Bogert tells us they’ve worked with schools, churches, the Boys and Girls Club, and more.
“Kids come to the barn for three hours for four generally consecutive Saturdays,” Bogert said. “During that time, they learn about horse behavior, how to care for a horse, and how to ride. That’s what we teach. But what they really learn is responsibility. They build confidence. They learn teamwork, resilience, and empathy for animals.”
Bogert says throughout the classes, the volunteers show the kids how to keep the horses calm, and it’s inspiring to see how the children can change.
“The kids really open up during this. It’s really exciting to see a child who’s shy the first time they come, and by the fourth time they come, their only question is, ‘When can I come back?'”
Bogert says she’s excited to work with the Pokagon Band Center of History and Culture to sign up young people and work with them. The tribal youth will also learn about how horses revolutionized the Native Americans’ methods of hunting and transportation and affected their lifestyles and standards of prestige and wealth. Their first class is this Saturday.
You can learn more about the Spring Creek Horses Help Foundation right here.
