Our summer camp is well underway at Taking the Reins. Girls are getting to engage with creative things like making horses out of elements they have found on the property, which you can see the results of on our Instagram. They are also learning the basics of horse care, with the hopes of working their way up to things like riding.

We are lucky to have the partners and care team that we do. We capitalized on those connections when we had Dr. Bamert and our farrier Jason out to the farm to host special sessions during our workshop week on equine veterinary and farrier work. Our workshop week offered hands-on STEAM based learning with our animal herd and professionals.

Many of our seniors from our 2024 graduating class expressed that they wanted to pursue a career as a farrier. We know that girls seeing the lengths it takes to care for horses played a role in igniting that passion. At Taking the Reins, we expose our girls to the realities and commitments of horse care from the beginning of their journeys here. From the time in Cowgirl Corner until they graduate our program, we want to make sure the girls are versed with knowledge to take proper care of the animals on our farm.

Dr. Bamert taught the girls about horse anatomy, showed them how to view X-Rays, and let them participate in a vet check. Vet checks are commonly done when people are purchasing a horse, and as annual “check-ups” for our horses.

Taking the Reins’ farrier Jason also provided a session on this day. He taught the girls about different kinds of shoes and hoof anatomy. The girls got to assist in Cassie’s and Marbles’ (our minis) feet trimming. Each girl also got to take home their own horseshoes that had their initials stamped into them.

“It is really important to us that these girls learn the intricacies of horse care,” Liz Aulestia, Program Director at TTR said. “These horses deserve the best care. We want the girls to understand the value of responsibility in the care. It is great to see that this exposure has inspired some of them to pursue careers in the equine care industries.”

Taking the Reins values these opportunities to educate the girls who come to summer camp. By following the cliché of “knowledge is power,” we believe that arming these girls with the knowledge beyond horseback riding will ultimately make them more equipped horsewomen and members of our program.