Equine Center for Learning
Cause Area
- Animals
- Children & Youth
- Education & Literacy
- People with Disabilities
Location
2901 Wabash RdLansing, MI 48910 United States
Organization Information
Mission Statement
Connecting with a horse strengthens the body, fortifies the mind, and nourishes the soul. Our programming -- which is open to all Lansing residents and surrounding communities -- supports the development of fundamental life skills such as responsibility, empathy, self-control, and leadership.
Description
The Equine Center for Learning at the Lansing School District has offered unique opportunities to Lansing learners for many years. At the Equine Center for Learning we offer equine assisted services through field trips, therapeutic horseback riding lessons, independent horseback riding lessons and summer camps. Our herd - which consists of nine full-sized horses, three miniature horses, and two miniature donkeys - loves to make our students feel comfortable and safe, increasing academic engagement and fostering personal growth and life-long learning.
Equine assisted services helps people of all abilities. Riding and interacting with horses is a unique and enjoyable way to improve muscle tone, balance, fine and gross motor skills, responsibility, and confidence. Some students benefit from the horse's movement, while others gain motor and cognitive benefits from engaging in specific lesson activities. Lesson activities may include games on horseback, steering obstacle courses, verbal exercises, and muscle strengthening exercises.
Our volunteers are one of the program’s most valuable resources! We have many opportunities, from assisting with riding lessons, field trips, feeding and caring for our herd, and facility maintenance! We have seen from experience that volunteers can be instrumental in caring for our herd and making a positive difference in the lives of our students!