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In May, Second Chance Cheekye Ranch welcomed a group of Grade 10 students for the first Leadership, Land & Horse Stewardship program, and the experience left a lasting impact on everyone involved. Designed and facilitated by Desirée Sher, an equine-supported coach at the ranch, the four-day program immersed students in the rhythms of ranch life through hands-on stewardship, mindful interaction with horses, journaling, yoga, and time spent connecting with nature. Students helped care for the ranch by mucking paddocks, filling hay nets, and supporting the spaces the horses call home. But somewhere between the work, the river walks, and the quiet moments in the paddocks, something deeper began to unfold. And the students slowed down. They formed meaningful connections with the horses and learned about consent-based interaction by observing how horses communicate through body language, boundaries, and presence. As one student shared during the closing circle: “I loved that we let the horses choose what they wanted to do- and they chose us!” By the end of the week, several students had completed volunteer applications to return to the ranch, and one student shared that she wanted to donate her allowance to help support the care of the horses. What emerged over the course of the week became so much more than leadership or outdoor education. Students experienced presence, compassion, relationship-building, nervous system regulation, and a deeper understanding of stewardship through connection. We are incredibly grateful to the horses and our wonderful volunteers, Phil and Kellie, who helped make this experience possible. Programs like this remind us of the powerful role horses and nature can play in helping young people slow down, connect, and care more deeply, for animals, the land, and one another. “It truly was a transformative experience for both me and the students. I can’t seem to find the words to express the gratitude I have for the ranch and the experiences it provides the human visitors and the animal residents. It is truly a miraculous space.” ~ Coach Desirée Sher For more information on SCCR Workshops & Tour click here.
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