#41: Equine Programs
While the majority of the animals under HAWS’ care are looking for a forever home, the members of HAWS Herd are permanent residents at the SCA. Their purpose is to help teach children and adults what horses are all about and how to humanely care for and interact with them.
Equine Explorers is our original equine program, an introduction to horses and their care for kids in 6th through 9th grades. Since then, we have expanded to multiple different horse programs including our ever-popular summer camps. Topics covered include basic safety and body language, grooming and leading, basic horse needs and nutrition, and different riding disciplines.
Other age groups did not want to be left out, so we have hosted a horse program for adults, as well as Jr. Equine Explorers for the younger kids. We also feature our horses at our kids’ birthday parties held at the SCA! In the past, Skittles, our Chincoteague Pony, has even been the subject of his own book club.
Along with our horses, we have five resident goats who love to be the center of attention! Because of that we hosted our first Goat Yoga sessions this fall where ages 7 and up have the opportunity to relax and learn more about HAWS Herd.
Not everyone has the opportunity to experience and interact with horses and goats so our goal is to give people the chance to do just that in a safe, fun manner! We’d love for you to join us – learn more at hawspets.org/humane-education.