Donate now to help kids and horses.

Centaur Rising has a long-term commitment to youth.  We have a commitment to you, the potential donor, that we will evaluate our effectiveness in developing young people in such a way that they can make an even longer-term impact upon people and horses in the future.

Mission

Centaur Rising teaches youth how to successfully develop a horse, thereby enabling them to better understand and improve themselves and to more effectively interact with others.

Objectives

*Program costs are largely supported through participant fees.  Some children receive full or partial scholarships.

Participants

The typical participant is a local child age 7 to 15 who has “always loved animals”, but is not generally interested to team sports.  While often unusually sensitive and caring, the child may be lacking in assertiveness and communications skills.  Without intervention, a potential participant lacks the confidence to effectively control a horse – or much of anything else in his/her life.  Numerous children with backgrounds of abuse, neglect and abandonment respond well to equine programs, as do children with neurological, attention-deficit and anger-management challenges.  Learning to communicate effectively with horses quickly expands confidence, perseverance and clarity in all aspects of any child’s life.

Results

While numerous former students have devoted their lives to working with horses, our programs have influenced students in ways that go far beyond horses.  Surveys of former students have shown how our programs have helped them in their adult lives as parents and professionals.  (See quotes below.)

Numerous awards at the local, regional and national levels further attest to the success of our training programs.

“I learned how to work really hard, to find the depth of myself, how to see a project through to the end, how to look at a problem from many different angles.”

“… I am a more feeling person, more empathetic, a better parent, kinder, gentler, more patient and understanding.”

“I developed confidence knowing I could do anything….”

“I learned to take feedback constructively… ”

“Horses helped me to realize that if I work on something for a long time, I may not see progress day to day; but then there’ll be a breakthrough.”

“I never had time to get in trouble...  I was less influenced by peer pressure than my friends.”

“My life is simpler, more organic [as a result of working with horses as a child]. I appreciate nature and the out-of-doors.  So much of life today is digital and electronic.  Horses provide balance.”

Options for Giving

If you know of a child who could benefit from our programs, please tell their family to complete a scholarship form.

"Contact Us" if you want to discuss your thoughts about sponsoring an equestrian student.  You may give money on line through "Donate Now"  Or you may mail a check to the address to the left.

A sponsor may choose to be recognized or remain anonymous. 

Make a difference in a child’s life.  Thank you for considering your generous support of our youth programs.