This sounds like a great program, but 17 is such an odd number. Maybe they have 18 stalls and one is tack/wash/grooming or something? Or maybe it’s 17 horses and a COW?
Just very curious lol!
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I’m guessing it’s just what they could fit within the footprint they have available. I have no idea how much land they’re working with and if they’re starting from scratch or converting existing facilities, but I would assume the barn footprint also needed to include tie/grooming areas, a tack room, possibly an office, maybe hay storage, etc. Maybe it’s a shedrow, or some other style of building that’s not necessarily the standard barn with an aisle and stalls on both sides. IDK, I guess I wouldn’t bat an eye at an odd number of stalls!
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Love the concept but the ratio of horses to number of kids they want to serve worries me. Even if the vast majority are just enjoying horses from the ground, that sounds like a lot of handling and expectations for so few horses.
And the nose ring on the cow with a leadrope attached….yikes. I hope that there are well equipped experts leading the program because that feels like a really unethical way to handle a cow when a halter is an option.
It’s common practice in England for bulls. Probably the safest way to keep a cow from accidentally bashing their head on a kid while standing tied. If I was putting little kids on a cow’s back, I’d want that lead rope snapped to a nose ring for safety. Cows had short, strong necks. I’ve halter trained many cattle and the best trained cows can still get an advantage if they turn their head and shoulder you away. I never saddle broke a cow but I understand wanting extra brakes.
I think these urban programs are amazing. There is a strong Black cowboy/horse people culture that many people are not aware of.
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I agree that 17 horses for upwards of 1000 kids is probably not the best choice. Thats about 58 kids for 1 horse. I hope that there is a lot of hands-off education or they are hoping to buy more horses to spread the mental load.
I also hope they employ trainers (if possible) to help ensure that the horses are being properly handled, cared for, and appropriate tack and saddle fit is being considered. It’s certainly a great program, one that should be funded and supported.
They have to start someplace…hope they are able to get up and running.
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It said it was founded in 2015. Yes, they do have to start someplace but I hope they have a budget for more horses for welfare reasons.
You can serve that many kids through camp programs and school tours. I’m sure most kids are infrequent one time visitors. There are, no doubt, local barn rat kids as well. I’m sure those horses are well cared for.
My first boarding barn was in the middle of a busy suburb. If you count weekend visitors that I put on my horse for pony rides and neighborhood kids we stopped for and passed treats for them to feed our horses, we probably served that many people with a similar number of horses. That was a rundown looking barn but those horses were well groomed, exercised regularly, and absolutely adored. That was a healthy group of animals and their adoring kid owners.
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I’m sure the horses at the Detroit horse power center are quite cared for.
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I love urban horse programs. This is how we spread our passion. This how we maintain nice things, like trail access. This is how we survive in an increasingly expensive world. Share our love. I have never failed to stop for a curious person on the trails. I love sharing our horses with others. All our horses are expected to do pony rides. It’s a nice little break for them.
When I was a horse crazy 12 year old, this old guy rode through an industrial area on his grey horse. He gave my best friend and I little rides. He didn’t have to. He had better things to do, but he saw two curious kids and he responded nicely. That was my first ride. I swore I’d be like him and share when I got my own horse.
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I agree. I truly believe it is a wonderful program. I just consider equine welfare but that’s across the board for me. I’ve worked at camp’s, pack stations, and lesson barns across the board and I’m always advocating for higher quality if possible. So it’s not just this place specifically.
But I have followed them for a good long while and have seen them have amazing success with young people and that’s exciting. I hope they continue to get more funding and support and can grow to not only affect their city but encourage other cities as well.
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No you need that! I’ve had riding longhorns and you can’t control a bovine with any leverage like a horse. And, you don’t ever use a bovine for riding use or use with people if they don’t have the good temperament and tractability to start with. The nose ring is no big deal to them, but it’s like having a bit for a horse. You can’t control a bovine with a halter alone.
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My horse property was bordered by a subdivision on one side. I used to drive my grade pony, Salt, out into the subdivision and hang out in the park at the end of the trail. Pretty soon, we’d be surrounded by curious kids. Salt loved the attention, so I let them pet him one at a time as long as they were wearing real shoes. Some of the kids in flip flops ran home and changed into better shoes, and asked me to wait. I always did. I always wondered if any of those kids ended up taking lessons.
Rebecca
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We are in the middle of the city, the photo is from 23 years ago it is of one of daughter’s summer camp sessions that she held while in high school, it attracted a lot of attention partially from the tee shirts that each had to wear. The shirts were basically advertising for the camps that became a status symbol that the kids wore with pride everywhere.
We know some of the kids are still riding today.
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If you have picture of your riding longhorns, that would be cool. When I worked as a wrangler at a bison ranch, the owner’s son trained a longhorn to saddle. He’d ride around while we were getting horses ready. Funniest thing to see!
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I love that this program is in Detroit and getting traction. I showed in Detroit horse shows 50 years ago and later lived in Detroit. I wish them all the best and hope they get a TON more land and facilities! It’s so important for kids to learn about animals—especially large animals and farm animals.
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I donated two well trained cows to an urban farm program in Richmond, VA. The steer passed away but the cow is still going strong at 14.
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I’m looking for others, but the ex-boyfriend had 2 that lived here at my ranch—Bingo and Tater Tot. Here is one pic of Bingo at work downtown San Antonio at rodeo kickoff weekend. Tater is standing to his right but kind of cut out of the picture. Bingo was sweet. Both were used as picture steers for people to sit on and have their pictures taken. Tater was more of a get-on-and-ride steer. Bingo preferred to pretty much stay in one place.
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Outstanding! Thanks for the photo! Adorable kid and great outfit.
