Leadership is not just about becoming the captain of a sports team or even the CEO of a company!  It is about navigating life with mental resilience and confidence, and learning to walk in the shoes of those we want to build trust with. Our mini horses at the Mane Mission Ranch in Sedalia, CO are the perfect teachers to help kids understand what it means to be a true leader and resilient self-advocate.

Sign your child up for one of our 3-hour camps this summer (along with a 30-minute parent debrief)…select an 8-11am camp on June 17, June 20, June 21, June 24, June 27, June 28, July 8, or July 11.  No fee required. Donations welcomed! Priority given to youth with higher needs.

A donation per child by parent/guardian is requested but not required. If you can donate extra for a scholarship fund so that other youth can participate, please do!

Minimum Requirements:

• Youth is late elementary to early middle school age.

• A completed application will be received. Click button above.

• A parent agreement will be signed and submitted.

• Youth will demonstrate respect to mentor, animals and facility.

• Parent will arrive at scheduled start time and stays for 30 minutes.

• Parent will stay or arrives before scheduled end time to transport youth home.

Mini horses are the perfect teachers to help youth learn how to lead and navigate their lives.  In this half-day summer camp, kids not only learn how to lead mini horses with Empathy, Health, Safety and Grit, the mini horses teach them the power they have to choose these life skills for themselves!

EMPATHY

Every mini horse has a unique personality.  As we patiently see from their eyes and match our energy with theirs, we earn the right to begin building a trusted connection.  The mini horses teach kids the importance of seeing from someone else’s perspective and the strength created through authentic connection with others.  The most effective leadership starts with an empathetic mindset.

GROWTH MINDSET

Mini horses will require their young handlers to lead them with confidence and grit in order to learn new, sometimes hard things.  While leading a mini horse through an obstacle course, kids will learn why it is important for them to have a growth mindset in navigating their own life.  Mini horses will teach them to view the word “fail” as only a first attempt in learning on their own pathway to success!

HEALTH

Unlike people, mini horses cannot care for themselves.  Without the power to choose, they rely upon people to groom them, keep them fed, watered, and exercised.  By learning basic husbandry skills, kids explore what it means for them to be healthy.  The mini horses teach the importance of good sleep, healthy food, physical exercise, time spent outside away from electronic screens and face-to-face social time with friends and loved ones.

SAFETY

One of the greatest responsibilities mini horses teach kids is to protect them from unsafe situations.  These animals need someone to care for their medical needs and to make sure their surroundings are safe both physically and emotionally.  In turn, the mini horses teach kids how to use their power of choice to create their own physical and emotional safe space.  Mini horses can’t choose this for themselves, but kids can!