Teaming Up for Youth & Horses Mentoring Program

Have you ever ridden a horse?  Do you remember the mix of excitement, fear and awe?  Starting January 29th, Reach Potential is teaming up with Sunnyvale Public Safety and Dreampower Horsemanship to launch our Mentoring program with at-risk Sunnyvale teens getting their first experience on a horse with their mentor by their side.

Why horses?  Not only will they provide a common bond for each youth and mentor as they learn how to ride, train and manage their horse for nine weeks, but a horse will mirror the confidence and leadership of the youth… and there’s nothing like learning leadership development with a partner who outweighs you by 1400 pounds!

Teens and horses ask the same question– do you believe in me? (though they’ll rarely say it with words)  Horses want to know if their caretaker or rider believes in them.  Are you confident?  Can you lead me?  Can I trust you?  The lessons for an at-risk youth are powerful.

Having a dedicated Mentor is powerful too.  A teenage boy will do drugs, fight and steal for belonging and acceptance.  A teenage boy will also work long hours, study hard and serve others when he has belonging and acceptance from someone who cares and believes in him!

This is why we’re excited to introduce at-risk teens to a horse for 9 weeks and a caring adult Mentor for a year (or more)!  Can you help us scale our mentoring program to impact more youth?  We hope you can offer your support (click here to give)– even if it’s only $10 a month for 2011.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to help us place a dream in every heart and a diploma in every hand!

Related posts:

1. Sunnyvale Leaders Launch Mentoring Initiative
2. A Lunch Hour a Week Impacts Lives