In May of 2005, Horse Sense for Teens -at- Risk conducted a one-day pilot program for a small group of girls enrolled in the Teen Pregnancy Prevention project, sponsored by the Novato Youth Center, in Marin County, California.

The teens response to our pilot was so positive that the Center wanted to provide our program to an additional 30 of their participants (boys as well as girls) in Spring, 2006.

We are pleased to announce that 90 teens from the Novato Youth Center’s Pregnancy Prevention Program are plan to attend Horse Sense for Teens-at-Risk™ in 2008.

These adolescents come from the five Novato middle and high schools and range in age from 13-18. Most, if not all, are very recent immigrants from Mexico, Central and South America. Many have fled with their families from extreme poverty, physical abuse and emotional turmoil. They arrived in a foreign country only to struggle with the challenge of a new language, an unfamiliar environment, social and cultural isolation.

In many cases, trust is broken and self-confidence buried, concealing the awareness of the unique gifts and talents that make each of us special.

Horse Sense for Teens-at-Risk™ is designed to help adolescents develop self-confidence, increase their awareness of the larger world around them and expand their sense of possibility with a unique blend of action-oriented, equine-guided exercises and reflective, indigenous practices. One of the primary objectives of the program is to give each student skills as a peer guide/mentor. participating a variety of opportunities throughout the day to learn and experience what it means to be a leader, and to see that leadership comes in many forms. By observing the interaction of a herd, participants begin to discern and reflect on the role of a leader in providing for the group, as well as the importance and unique value of each member of the group for the safety of the whole.

One of the simplest ways to help teens access their own intuitive knowing and natural creativity is through a drum journey. Drum journeys have been used as a path of reconnection to the self in traditional cultures for millennia. This is experiential learning so there is no "right" or "wrong" way to do it. The non-verbal drum journey speaks directly to the right brain, which "thinks" in sensory and emotional terms. It readily produces metaphors and imagery, which spill over to the spirit horse masks the teens then create.

Following the art session, participants individually present and describe to the rest of the group both their art piece and the imaginal journey that led to its creation. Describing the symbols and pictures on the mask makes it easy to talk about feelings. For many of the participants, this is the first time they have ever been asked to express themselves before a group in this way or been acknowledged by others for their creativity.

In the individual work with a horse in the round pen, each participant has the experience of getting a 1,300-pound animal to follow him/her lead based completely on the trust and confidence he/she has in him/herself. This is, without a doubt, an incredibly powerful experience of leadership at a direct, visceral level. At the same time, the other members of the group are invited to comment on what they observe, providing an opportunity to learn/practice leadership.

There is a 2-½ hour guided trail ride provided on the second day of the class. The trail ride emphasizes partnership with the horse and promotes body awareness and listening skills. Students work in teams to groom and saddle the horses and prepare them for the ride. All participants have the responsibility of wearing proper attire, being on time and cleaning up after themselves and their horses. No prior experience with horses is necessary.