Farm work serves as therapy for kids
In the past two years, the nonprofit Happiness Through Horses has expanded to three locations, helped 50 children and hopes to qualify soon for Colorado Gives Day.
Kim Swaney of Longmont co-founded the nonprofit with Fort Morgan teacher Shauna White to help preteens and teens struggling with trauma or emotional or behavioral issues build their confidence by working with horses.
Before the group separated from United Charitable Programs in March 2016, Happiness Through Horses worked with Inner City Slickers to put on four day camps per year.
Now, Swaney said, the organization has expanded to three ranches, partnered with 11 barns, got a horse trainer on board and filled the various year-round programs with kids from Boulder, Weld and Larimer counties.
She plans to create an offshoot youth leadership program and a mentorship program to further grow the organization.
On Tuesday, a group of teens and preteens gathered at Rockin’ Moon Ranch to muck out stables and groom horses in a hands-on therapy session.
The group was part of the organization’s Happiness Club. They get together at one of the ranches, talk about leadership, conflict resolution or another tough topic, then get to work caring for the horses. At the end, if the weather is good and the horses are in the right mood, the kids saddle up and ride.
“It’s a mix between Girl Scouts and 4H,” Swaney said. “We talk about how everybody is feeling that day … and we do a lot of trust-building. Trust is a big deal because most of these kids need a mentor that can listen to them.”
She said that the kids she works with have a myriad of issues or trauma from having a parent die, being in the foster care system or witnessing domestic abuse.
“These kids all have something in their past and working with horses is a great way to center your- self and ask, ‘How can I be my best self for these animals today?'” Swaney said. “You have to leave everything in the past in the past and move forward and be present.”
Tim Kutscher, 10, walked by Swaney carrying a bucket full of dirty hay from one of the horse stalls.
“This is our fourth one and there’s more in there to take out,” he cried happily as he passed.
Kutscher moved on to grooming one of the horses, explaining to anyone that would listen that he didn’t want to brush the horse too hard because he was afraid of hurting the stallion.
“I like to go over it with my other hand after I brush him because, see the hair is still sticking out after, and I want it to look nice,” he said.
Swaney said that the next step for her nonprofit is to increase their annual revenue to $50,000 to qualify for Colorado Gives Day. She hopes to do that, in part, through the first Happiness Hoedown from 3 to 8 p.m. April 29 in Loveland.