Pictured above: Our rider Brayden on his first visit to SpiritHorse. With hard work and perseverance, he can now ride his horse Cash and sit unassisted when he stops! Check out that smile!
SPIRITHORSE AT BULKELEY HIGH SCHOOL A UNIQUE VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM ON A FARM SETTING SpiritHorse Therapeutic Riding Center in Canton CT is pleased to announce a unique collaboration with Bulkeley High School. SpiritHorse is located on 40 acres of bucolic farmland with expansive panoramic views, Our students were given the opportunity to experience learning in an alternative to the traditional classroom setting. Twice weekly, students were transported by school bus where they learned barn and animal care, and the focus was on teamwork and building connections. A collateral benefit is that students are able to build safe connections with their peers and adults, which in turn translates to success both inside and out of school. Job coaches are all trained to provide support to our students in this therapeutic milieu. Benefits to Students: • Received training and support in animal care (therapeutic horses and ponies, goats, and chickens), barn care, landscaping, and gardening • Learned how to prepare gardens, plant, cultivate and harvest cut flowers and vegetables, care for chickens, and collect eggs • Learned and strengthen English language and literacy skills outside of the traditional classroom • Received a stipend at the end of each cycle • Worked in cooperative teams that support one another • Improved regular school attendance and school performance.
We welcome other schools to collaborate with us on programs that can benefit our community!
SPIRITHORSE NEWS
Bulkeley Students Bring New Meaning to Thanksgiving
(Photo Credit: Lauren Schneiderman/Hartford Courant) Bulkeley students started the holiday season early by sharing a Thanksgiving meal together at the SpiritHorse Therapeutic Riding Center in Canton through their involvement in the SpiritHorse program. For many of these students, this was their first Thanksgiving meal, and all of the students appreciated the opportunity to reflect on the bonds of family and friendship. To read more about this event, click the link below: For Hartford Students, A Generous Thanksgiving Lesson
Our annual Horse & Rider Show is held in October. We have over 36 riders participate in this annual event. Each rider shows family and friends the hard work they have been doing all riding season. Everyone enjoys refreshments on this spectacular day! It was a great way to celebrate our Anniversary at our Horse & Rider Show! Many come and cheer on our riders as they show us how hard they have worked during the year! Tours of our new barn and visiting our therapy horses and ponies are the other highlights of the day! Check out our many photos on the Gallery Page! Stay tuned for this year's Horse and Rider Show date coming this fall!
SpiritHorse Therapeutic Riding Center of Canton is now an approved vendor for the Girl Scouts of Connecticut! Our Girl Scout Programs run all year. See our programs page for details of this exciting new partnership!