The Bearspaw youth equestrian program celebrated its final day of classes on April 11 at the Bearspaw Equestrian Centre.
Kids were encouraged to invite friends and family to the “mini rodeo” to see how the participants had advanced since they started in January.
The program focuses on teaching First Nations youth everything from basic horse care to rodeo activities such as pole-bending and roping.
“[In] the beginning they don’t really know what to do,” said Levi Bearspaw, one of the program’s instructors.
“Now they know what they’re going to do.”
The program is seen as a way to occupy the kids in the present, as well as setting them up for the future.
“That way they can stay away from trouble, stay focused,” said Bearspaw.
“it’s about rodeo, and horse training. I’d like to see this generation here doing that in the next 20 years.”
Many of the children started off afraid to even go near a horse.
The kids have shown incredible progress in the course of the three-month program.
“Half of them we almost lost in the first week, they were just so intimidated being around horses,” said Gregg Garvie, program instructor.
“Some of them have definitely gotten just so brave.”
The program is expected to start up again soon though classes will be reduced from twice a week to just once.
A non-specified sporting activity will fill the Thursday spot that the second riding class occupied.
