Program Information
The 4 Directions program teaches young ladies who they are and helps them define who they wish to become. This program is for girls ages 8-18 years old who are vulnerable to issues they may be facing in their environments including home, school, and social settings. The girls develop a special connection with the horse they are linked to. The horses have no standards required for the girls to meet, and they offer an ear for listening, companionship, protection of their hearts, and an escape from their troubles.
Method
Each young ladies is paired individually with one horse and one instructor for 90-minute sessions once per week. These sessions are designed to be adaptable to meet the distinctive needs of each teen. Instead of being lost in a group, every teen is nurtured by the instructor who shares in her individual challenges and victories. The sessions initially start out with ground work/relationship building and then progress to riding later on in the semester.
Groundwork
In the 4 Directions program, every young lady starts with groundwork. Groundwork includes grooming, learning social cues from the horse, mindfulness techniques, relationship building, and leadership skills. We start here, instead of riding, in order to foster the many benefits listed below. Though some students would rather jump straight in the saddle, we want the girls to learn respect, build relationships, improve social skills, and establish a firm foundation with a horse before anything else.
Benefits of Groundwork:
- Self-Confidence & Self-Esteem
- Building Relationships
- Leadership Skills
- Interpret Body Language & Social Cues
- Empathy
- Task Development
- Patience
- Resiliency
Riding
The second step in the 4 Directions program is learning how to ride a horse. Riding is a beneficial component in teaching these girls and young women how to form an unbreakable bond with their horse. Through the riding portion of this program, the girls find a willing companion and a friend with whom they share a connection unlike any other.
Benefits of Riding:
- Self-Confidence
- Empowerment
- Release of Fear
- True Connection with Horse
- Discipline and Safety
- Responsibility
- Love
- Everlasting Friendship
Program Downloads
