Barefoot Performance Horsemanship
Youth Leadership Program
This youth program runs in conjunction with our trimming courses, and showcases my other passion, horsemanship. When our school horses aren't helping students learn to trim, they are helping struggling youth find themselves, their inner voices and their dreams.
In order to better support this program, I have created the Inspire with Horses Youth Development Society. The purpose of this society is to build a community of members that can work together to apply for funding to support these youth. Would you like to help support our cause or join our community? Contact me.
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"No matter where you're from, your dreams are valid"
- Lupito Nyong'o
Our Youth Leadership Program is a personal growth and equine led self development program for Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth that struggle with trauma that has manifested into addictions, criminal activity, and both mental and emotional health challenges.
In order to provide these essential life skills and services, I have partnered with Sandra Hinter (Sam), an Ojibway Metis woman whose career revolves around working with Indigenous youth in the community. Sandra has completed her Masters of Clinical Social Work and has always considered herself a bridge between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous. She brings to the table a diverse set of experiences, and the skillset needed to help these youth work through their trauma, addictions, and mental and emotional issues.
Sam also brings to the table many years of horse experience. Sam has owned and shown many horses in the past and is always interested in improving as a horseman. Sam is currently enjoying spending time with, riding and training her newest horse, Chico. She also spends time with her older, retired gelding Buckskin (Buck). Buckskin also sometimes sneaks out of retirement to help us in the youth program if we have a particularly nervous youth that needs the extra care that Buck can provide.
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Working together Sam and I guide the youth through this program where they will learn to set goals, explore their personal boundaries, build relationships, problem solve, learn to trust/be trusted in a partnership, and demonstrate leadership skills both independently and in a group environment. All the while interacting and working with the horses - who are really our guides. Getting these youth off the streets and into a constructive program that teaches them these important life skills has proven so beneficial. They look forward to coming and have made changes and commitments in their lives in order to attend.
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Below is an outline of our 8-module system. These modules run in order as the skills build upon one another. Each youth attends once a week for 8 weeks. In addition to these 8 modules, we also offer one non structured day per month where the youth can come and interact in a positive environment with their peers in group led horse activities. This day is more of a social day – in a safe space with safe boundaries, where they can reflect on the program and experience positive peer engagement.
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Life Skills and Leadership Curriculum
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Module 1 • Creating safe environments and building confidence in new places • Exploring personal boundaries, understanding limitations |
Module 2 • Establishing trust, relationship building skills • What is leadership? 
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Module 3 • Learning to lead • Expanding comfort zones • Introduction to goal setting, building a success ladder 
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Module 4 • the PRACTICE philosophy •PRIDE •RELATIONSHIP •ACTION •CONFIDENCE •TEAMWORK •INDEPENDANCE •COURAGE •ENVIRONMENT |
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Module 5 • Practicing leadership • Goal tracking • Trust, relationship check in |
Module 6 • Future planning • Re-assessing boundaries as relationships evolve |
Module 7 • Never ending self improvement • Leadership in a group setting |
Module 8 • Celebration of achievement • What is pride and how does it impact self worth? |
As the youth work their way through the program, we have a clear goal. To teach them these important life skills, and to measure their progress along the way. Our objective is to improve their abilities to problem solve, set life goals, plan for their future, and learn to create healthy relationships around themselves. All of this is done via interaction with the horses in a casually guided environment. The outcome of this program is happier, healthier youth, that can learn to exist within the community in a productive and harmonious way.
"Horsemanship is the art of mastering our own movements, thoughts, emotions and behavior. Not the horses."
- Mark Rashid
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Above you saw the breakdown of the life skills and objectives that we teach, below is a week to week breakdown about how the horses help to guide and teach these skills. you can view the equine activities curriculum and how it fits into the objectives of our 8-module program below.
Equine Activities Curriculum
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Module 1 •Barn rules •Horse psychology and herd dynamics •Haltering and grooming •Introduction to groundwork •Stick and string control •Leading game fast and slow, creating personal space •Yoyo game back and forth |
Module 2 • HQ disengagement • HQ and FQ yields • Driving along fence • Sideways at fence • Touch it game, cone/barrel 
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Module 3 • Saddling • Circle game - send, allow, bring back • Transitions on circle • Active neutral • Pony ride 
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Module 4 •Circle change of direction - back up, draw, send •Squeeze game over jump/pole •Riding and guiding - direct and indirect reins have a plan •Using seat for impulsion |
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Module 5 •Controlling direction, eyes up, looking ahead •Body position, hands and heels down •Checking in on the partnership, trust and confidence. •Steering like a boat •Weave and figure 8 patterns |
Module 6 •Increasing speed with your energy •Decreasing speed with your energy •9 Step back up •Introducing the trot online •HQ and FQ yields in the saddle |
Module 7 • Trotting independently • Rising trot, finding the rhythm • Guiding at the trot, keeping balance and looking ahead 
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Module 8 • Trotting over poles • Bullseye on the circle in and out • Weave and figure 8 patterns at the trot 
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Thank you for your support!
Our program runs on Provincial, Federal and community funding. We also accept funding from local businesses who want to make a difference for youth in their communities.
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SPARC BC funded our program from July 1 2022 - October 2022. Thank you for your support, it is truly changing lives!
Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society in partnership with the Reaching Home Federal Grant funded our program for February and March 2022. Their generosity and support allowed us to develop this program into something even greater then we ever imagined!
Tolko Vernon funded a complete 8 week program for 5 youth! We are so grateful for their continued support! Inclusive businesses like Tolko help our communities to thrive!
