Local charity offers horsemanship program

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A new equine therapy program is being offered by a local charity to help children gain confidence and new skills while working with horses.

The eight-week program, called Running with the Mustangs, is being offered this fall at a location near Carseland by the charity Friends of Inner Equine Journeys. Each session focuses on different skills, including verbal and non-verbal communication, setting boundaries and anger management, explained founder Lori Thompson.

“There is no riding involved; it’s horsemanship and doing things on the ground,” she said, adding that working with horses can be life changing. “It’s amazing when they get around horses and start interacting with them. Horses mirror your actions and thoughts and feelings, but it goes way beyond that. We see the kids bond with the horses.”

Thompson has offered the program out of Chestermere for seven years through Inner Equine Journeys, a business. But the cost of the program made it out of reach for some. 

“The worst part is some of the kids that need it don’t get the help, because they don’t have the money for it,” she said.

So, she decided to establish a charity, Friends of Inner Equine Journeys, to offer a subsidized program funded in part by a grant from Wheatland County. The program cost will be more manageable for many parents, at $80 for the eight-week course or $10 a session.

There are about 10 spots available for youth aged between 12 to 16 from throughout Wheatland County to participate in the program, starting Nov. 7. Each two-hour session will be conducted in a heated, indoor arena, so winter weather is not an issue.

Participants can wear a mask throughout the work, and all other standard COVID-19 precautions will be met, she said.

Interested parties can call or text Thompson at 403-988-0774 or email (equines@platinum.ca).