This is a great article to learn more about what UCLA Watts Leadership Institute is all about!
Kids and Horses Inc.
What Makes a Therapy Horse?
First off, contrary to some beliefs, therapy horses are not perfect. People in our industry our very aware that the perfect dream horses does not really exist; however, there are some pretty special equine partners out there that are ready to make a difference in the lives of so many.
Job Description
Therapy horses have to be used to being pulled out for lessons throughout the day. Unlike a lot of other horses, they aren’t able to do a long ride and rest for the remainder of the day. Often they have two to three lessons scattered throughout the day’s schedule. On top of that, they have to be used to different riders getting on their backs every day and having a variety of handlers tack and lead them. Therapy horses are commonly surrounded by a small army of people and are exposed to a variety of toys, props, noises, over the topline activity, etc. Not every horse can do this, but we sure do love and appreciate the ones that are ready, willing, and love their jobs.
What are we looking for?
Our program is currently on the look-out for some new equines to join our herd. Here is a small list of what we are hoping to find. We are open to some discussion on the size and age standards.
~ Perfect age range for us (at the moment) is between 10 and 20 years old.
~ Size-wise we usually look for 14-15hh. We appreciate the stocky horses that can carry adult-sized riders, but we also enjoy having some narrower horses for our little riders. We are on the hunt for a Draft/Quarter Horse cross!
~No major health problems or lameness issues.
~We aren’t usually picky about breeds of horses. It all depends on their background and temperament, but you won’t usually find any of the typically high-strung breeds on the property. So far, we have had good luck with ranch and trail horses, and we have had a couple of retired three-day eventers work phenomenally with our clients.
~We appreciate horses that are versatile, solid, quiet, calm, tolerant, patient, good with people, able to accept a lot of sensory input (toys, noises, etc.), and not typically spooky.
How does it work?
We usually lease all of our horses from their owners. The horses are brought to the ranch for an assesment. Our equine manager and her team of staff and/or volunteers go through some steps to decide if we should accept the horse into the trial program. The horses than go through a 60-90 day trial in which they are exposed to what a day of lessons look like through mock lessons and one-on-one sessions with the horse team. From there, the horse may or may not graduate into becoming one of our prized therapy horses. All of our horses are well-taken care of and loved on daily.
Do you have a horse that you think might make a good therapy horse? Fill out the form below and let us know!
Street Poets
These are the programs offered by Street Poets. They harnesses the healing power of poetry and music to build community and inspire the next generation to write, rap and dream a new world into being for us all.
Journey Out
Journey Out received a grant to support and help sustain their newly implemented Survivor Advocate program, which employs a Survivor to help train clinicians on identifying victims of human trafficking, as well as provide crisis response and follow-up case management services to identified victims of human trafficking at their bedside (in clinical settings). Journey Out also provides basic need (food, clothing, hygiene products, and PPE) resources to clients, particularly those who we place in transitional housing. They expect to serve approximately 300 victims of human trafficking over a 12-month period. The mission of Journey Out is to help victims of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking leave a life of abuse and violence, overcome their fears and empower them to reach their full potential and achieve their goals. Journey Out also received a grant from the Leo Buscaglia Foundation in February 2020.Half of the staff at Journey Out are survivors themselves that desire to help others have their own survival stories. Many of the members who have gone through their program also come back to volunteer and help. They see the value of caring for others as they were cared for in the Journey Out program.
Parentis Foundation
These young scholars are THANKFUL for their Parentis Foundation reading mentors! #guidingthenextgeneration #readersareleaders #weareexperiencecorps Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley (BGCCV)
Click here to learn more about Parentis Foundation.
Friends of Mark Twain Middle School
Friends of Mark Twain Middle School 
received a grant to fund the continued operation of the Seeds to Plate program for one year. The mission of the Friends of Mark Twain Middle School (MTMS) is to enhance and support the programs and facilities at MTMS in the Los Angeles Unified School District. This volunteer organization is comprised of parents, legal guardians, school staff and faculty and community members. One of their programs is Seeds to Plate, a garden based education program that operates at MTMS. It is currently serving approximately 750 students. Friends of Mark Twain Middle School received a grant from the Leo Buscaglia Foundation in 2020.
Jubilee Consortium
Join us in welcoming Junmey as the Program Director of Jubilee Year Los Angeles!
We are excited for Junmey’s new journey of guidance, discovery and curation of community with JYLA.
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Access Books
We’re incredibly pleased to share that the wonderful pair, author Cindi Alvitre and illustrator Carly Lake, will be visiting one lucky school this December 8th in promotion of their work “Waa’aka’: The Bird Who Fell in Love with the Sun”—a rendition of an indigenous American creation story. We look forward to seeing and hearing from you!@sea.lake Compton Unified School District Los Angeles Unified School District #cindialvitre #carlylake #accessbooks #AllinforKids #schoollibraries #librarylove #activehealthyinformed #HealthierTogether #bookworm #readingtime #bookgiveaway #booksforlearning #booksforjoy #bookcollection #picturebooks #readingismagic #givingthanks #InternationalBookGivingDay #bookgivingday #communitystrong #authorvisit
Fit 4 the Cause
Received a grant for rent/occupancy/utilities, fitness instructor salaries, program staffing and home studio tech including lights, Zoom and cameras for remote classes. The funds will help F4TC to serve 750 individuals in 2021 free of charge through weekly fitness classes. Fit 4 The Cause provides diverse exercise and nutrition education programs for low-income communities, many of them with special needs. They serve thousands of beneficiaries including vulnerable children, at-risk teens and fragile seniors in Ventura, Simi Valley, Conejo Valley and the San Fernando Valley. They continued to keep their communities together during the pandemic, offering virtual classes daily. They hope to transition back to on-site classes as the pandemic lessens.
Sages & Seekers
Hear from one of our Seekers, Helen, on her #sage, Sue.
“You have taught me to be more patient and kind to my own peers and work on helping them through their everyday struggles.”
Interested in participating in Sages&Seekers? Sign up for our Fall 2023 Program today – check the link in our bio.
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