Despite the frosty temperatures Saturday, more than 35 youths from Seine River First Nation boarded a bus and headed to Running Horse Ranch, located in Miscampbell Township just west of Fort Frances, for the opportunity to ride horses and develop new skills.
By Heather Latter, Staff writer
Despite the frosty temperatures Saturday, more than 35 youths from Seine River First Nation boarded a bus and headed to Running Horse Ranch, located in Miscampbell Township just west of Fort Frances, for the opportunity to ride horses and develop new skills.
The outing was part of a initiative called “GEN7” offered through Motivate Canada, a Canadian charitable organization that specializes in improving the lives of young people.
“Equine therapy hits home for a lot of our people because of the connection to horses. They are gentle and understanding, and we use that to teach leadership,” noted Kent Brown, a “messenger” of the GEN7 program, which aims to encourage aboriginal youth to live an active and healthy lifestyle through sport, physical activity, and other means.
He said the participating youths, aged five and up, learned about healing and respect.
“And for some it was their first time riding,” Brown said. “There were a few who were getting over some of their fears.”
“Horses mirror your mood,” echoed Darcy Whitecrow, a volunteer who helped initiate the activity.
“If you’re confident, then they’ll be confident.”
“I was thrilled,” enthused Rhonda Snowshoe, owner and operator of Running Horse Ranch.
“Every time we did a trail ride and seeing the kids faces, they couldn’t get enough of those horses.”
She stressed her top priority always has been to give people an opportunity to ride.
“The kids—and even adults—on the reservation, a lot of them have never had the opportunity,” Snowshoe remarked.
By Heather Latter, Staff writer
Despite the frosty temperatures Saturday, more than 35 youths from Seine River First Nation boarded a bus and headed to Running Horse Ranch, located in Miscampbell Township just west of Fort Frances, for the opportunity to ride horses and develop new skills.
The outing was part of a initiative called “GEN7” offered through Motivate Canada, a Canadian charitable organization that specializes in improving the lives of young people.
“Equine therapy hits home for a lot of our people because of the connection to horses. They are gentle and understanding, and we use that to teach leadership,” noted Kent Brown, a “messenger” of the GEN7 program, which aims to encourage aboriginal youth to live an active and healthy lifestyle through sport, physical activity, and other means.
He said the participating youths, aged five and up, learned about healing and respect.
“And for some it was their first time riding,” Brown said. “There were a few who were getting over some of their fears.”
“Horses mirror your mood,” echoed Darcy Whitecrow, a volunteer who helped initiate the activity.“If you’re confident, then they’ll be confident.”
“I was thrilled,” enthused Rhonda Snowshoe, owner and operator of Running Horse Ranch.“Every time we did a trail ride and seeing the kids faces, they couldn’t get enough of those horses.”
She stressed her top priority always has been to give people an opportunity to ride.
“The kids—and even adults—on the reservation, a lot of them have never had the opportunity,” Snowshoe remarked.
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