Horses Offering Opportunities for the Future, Inc.

Horses Offering Opportunities for the Future, Inc. (HOOF KY), a 501(c)3 organization, connects the healing power of the horse to at-risk and emotionally challenged youth ages 9-18 who come from lower socioeconomic zip codes identified by the research study, Greater Louisville Project:  A Focus on Poverty. Since its founding in 2010, HOOF KY has served over 600 youth whose backgrounds place them at risk for social, educational, and occupational failure. We provide week-long Equine Academies annually for 60 total participants each in a safe and controlled environment. We have partnered with the Louisville Equestrian Center (LEC) to develop a competency-based equine program that teaches horse riding, equine education and care, and barn management. Participants come from other non-profit agencies that serve the disadvantaged.  As participants arrive, they are divided into teams led by trained counselors and non-compensated HOOF KY volunteers, including board members. They rotate stations throughout the day and are taught to ride by ARIA certified instructors who also build relationships and provide positive role-modeling. While many summer camps provide a week of transient feel-good experiences, HOOF KY academies emphasize responsibility and teamwork, critical skills for success that the participants carry with them to school and the work world.  Many of our participants are exposed to family disruption, abuse, violence and poverty that lead to distrust, poor self-image, and a lack of personal empowerment. Given you cannot fool a horse, our youth quickly learn to drop their emotional defenses and develop respect, discipline, and responsibility if they are to earn the trust of a horse. We have chronicled many teary-eyed vignettes that illustrate the human/horse dynamic that has blossomed from the structured, challenging and compassionate HOOF KY environment. And, of course, every academy must conclude with an Awards Ceremony. Each participant receives a certificate of completion, framed photo with his/her favorite horse, a personalized award, and lots of enthusiastic hugs.

The horses are waiting.  

Who We Are

Since 2011, HOOF KY connects at-risk and disadvantage youth, ages 9-18, to horses and lets horses work their magic to break down the emotional walls these young people have hidden behind for years. Our goal is the harness the healing power of horses to uniquely touch the human spirit and diminish the barriers of distrust, isolation, and manipulation. Participants soon learn that they can not fool a horse which translates into their learning respect, responsibility and dependability.
Through this human/horse connection our participants develop personal empowerment which positively re-shapes their life choices and leads to successful life styles. HOOF KY provides enriching summer academies for 60 youth annually and has served over 450 youth to date. We have partnered with the Louisville Equestrian Center to develop a competency-based curriculum that teaches riding, equine education, and barn management in a safe and controlled environment. Participants are taught by certified American Riding Instructors Association instructors and trained counselors who provide positive role modeling and lots of encouragement ... and hugs.