Providing trauma-informed horsemanship programs for children and teens in foster care- promoting confidence, connection, and future direction- all at NO COST to the participants
The Power of Horses
Neuroscience shows that human horse interaction significantly reduces cortisol, increases oxytocin, and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, thus creating a measurable shift in body regulation.
The steady presence of a horse invites the body to settle, breath to deepen, and the mind to soften.
As prey animals, horses are naturally alert, aware, and quick to sense even the smallest change.
Many kids in the system carry that same heightened neurobiological alertness — a survival response shaped by environments that didn’t always feel safe.
Horses recognize that vigilance instantly. Instead of reacting with pressure, they meet it with steadiness, clarity, and faith.
In that shared understanding, something begins to shift.
The body loosens its grip. Thoughts quiet.
Physical, mental, and spiritual health start moving back toward alignment.
Science calls it co-regulation.
We call it connection.
That kind of grounding doesn’t just stay in the arena—
it goes into school, relationships, and the future they’re building beyond the barn.
What We Do
Future Strides provides structured, relationship-based horsemanship programs designed specifically for the needs of youth in foster care. This is not recreational riding. It is a guided program built on predictability, consistency, and choice — the steady rhythm every child deserves but not every child has known.
Our sessions follow a clear rhythm that helps participants feel grounded, oriented, and safe.
The barn becomes a stabilizing force . Here, structure becomes safety, and safety becomes connection. Each session feels familiar, predictable, and built on trust.
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Groundwork is where every partnership at Future Strides begins. Before riding is introduced, kids learn how to safely approach, handle, and communicate with their horse from the ground.
Through grooming, leading, and simple connection exercises, participants learn how connection shapes cooperation. These moments help kids practice skills such as:
asserting themselves without aggression
asking for and respecting boundaries
giving calm, clear direction
adjusting their energy and body language
practicing patience, follow-through, and consistency
Groundwork offers achievable, confidence-building wins that help kids see themselves as capable and confident. It establishes the communication and trust needed for every step that follows — showing each child that they can lead with clarity, steadiness, and kindness.
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Mounted work is introduced only when a child is ready. Riding at Future Strides is not about performance or perfection; it’s about helping kids feel supported as they try something new.
Once in the saddle, participants learn simple, intentional skills that strengthen balance, focus, and communication. Sessions progress at a pace that honors each child’s comfort level, allowing them to explore:
staying centered in their body
following patterns and directions with confidence
coordinating movement with another being
making choices and adjustments while feeling supported
experiencing success through calm, controlled steps
Mounted horsemanship gives many kids their first chance to feel capable in motion — Mounted horsemanship gives many kids their first chance to feel capable in motion — with room to learn, breathe, and try again.
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Every child at Future Strides is met with steady support—creating consistency they can trust. Our instructors walk with each child, offering calm guidance as they grow. As trust builds, we introduce small milestones that reflect both horsemanship progress and personal growth. We prioritize staying connected so each child feels supported beyond the arena. The barn becomes a place where kids can take things—one stride at a time.
WHO WE SERVE
Future Strides currently supports children and teens in foster care ages 5–18, and all sessions are offered at no cost to families.
Referrals are simple: caregivers or caseworkers fill out a short form, we reach out within a few days, and then schedule a relaxed meet-and-greet at the ranch so the child can get comfortable before weekly sessions begin.
If the program is full, we place new referrals on a waitlist and contact families as soon as openings become available
To start the process, click Refer a Child below — it only takes a few minutes, and we’re here to help with any questions.
