Recognizing the need to enrich the lives of inner-city youth, the nonprofit organization Horses in the Hood provides children from the South Central community of Compton with the opportunity to attend horse camp in the Santa Monica Mountains.
By Dena Feingold / Special to The Malibu Times
World-class rider and trainer Ira Della Monica stands in the center of the dusty arena surrounded by children atop their horses. One glance and it would appear that this was an average group lesson where riding techniques are taught. But this was a different day in the sunny Santa Monica Mountains.
The 12 children are from the Douglas Park Apartments in Compton and are spending their spring break at the Mill Creek Equestrian Center located in Topanga Canyon. The five-day horse camp, sponsored by the nonprofit organization Horses in the Hood, teaches responsibility, communication skills and horsemanship, which help to build the children’s self-esteem and confidence.
During the daily 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. camp hours, volunteer instructors teach the fundamental basics of horse care and English-style riding with group lessons on school horses donated by the facility.
“They learn how to mount and dismount, post, tack, hold reins, steer, walk and trot, and brush and pick their [the horses] feet,” Lisa Cohen office said, manager of Mill Creek.
In addition to riding skills, the children also learn safe handling procedures and how to feed their horse.
Shannon Mills, mother of straight-A, fourth-grade student Sierra Mills, 10, observed her daughter daily and is impressed with her progress. “On the first day, she was scared, now she’s a pro,” Mills said.
Sierra learned how to walk and trot in both a posting (when a horse is trotting and the rider moves with the rhythm of the horse) and two-point position (a jumping position where the rider stands upright and forward using their legs and stirrups to support their body). “I had a fun time and I hope that I can come back,” Sierra said.
Jaide is seven years old and is the smallest rider at the camp. The second grader is paired with Annie, a large, tan-colored draft horse. “I like that she’s big,” Jaide said. “I am going to tell my teacher and whole class that I rode the biggest horse in the barn.”
Retha Patterson, who is known as Mrs. P at the Douglas Park Apartments and is Jaide’s grandmother, accompanied the young girl each day to camp, and said the difference in the horses and Jaide’s size doesn’t matter.
“They are both bossy,” Patterson said with a laugh. “Maybe that’s why they get along.”
The children attending the camp are between the ages of seven and 12 years old and are required to submit an essay as to why they want to attend. The first 12 children to turn theirs in are selected for the session, while the others are put on a waiting list.
Michelle Fletcher, coordinator of Resident Services of the Housing Corporation of America, a non profit agency that helps to provide quality, affordable housing either through HUD or Section 8 with an emphasis on social programs for the youth, runs the social programs for the Douglas Park Apartments.
“These children are still in their formative years,” Fletcher said. “Most of them have never even seen a horse, hawk, squirrel or a lizard, and most had not even seen the ocean except for the drive up the coast on the way to camp.”
This is the second year HCA has worked with Horses in the Hood to send underprivileged youth to the camp.
Kathy Kusner, founder of Horses in the Hood, was the first licensed female jockey in the United States and is an Olympic silver medalist. Funded by donors and sponsors, Kusner wanted to create a program to serve the poorest and most troubled communities.
“I want the kids to have a nice time for five days,” Kusner said. “If more comes of it, great.”
When the children arrive at the camp on Monday, each one is given a camera. On Thursday, their cameras are collected, the film is developed, and the children are given their pictures during an all-you-can-eat pizza party on Friday.
Seven-year-old Tyetianna’s favorite part of camp was learning how to groom her horse.
“I had a great time and I wish I could bring my horse with me,” she said.
Since 1999, Horses in the Hood has worked with organizations and after-school programs like Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Florence Griffith Joyner Elementary School, The Martin Luther King Foundation Program and A Place Called Home. As of 2006, they have sent 526 at-risk youth to 46 horse camps.
Mill Creek is a full-service boarding and training facility and provides rental discounts for the nine Watts-based organizations they serve throughout the year.
More information about Horses in the Hood can be obtained online at www.hhla.org.