Detroit is known as the Motor City, so the name of the encouraging nonprofit Detroit Horse Power is a good fit. As car performance can be rated in ‘horsepower,’ young people, too, can get revved-up by experiencing the marvelous nature of horses.
“Detroit Horse Power uniquely addresses two persistent problems facing the Motor City: the shortage of opportunities for metro Detroit’s vulnerable populations (especially children) and the abundance of vacant land. Through riding and caring for horses in a safe and enriching space, program participants learn valuable skills that set them up for future success. Our facility, built on repurposed vacant land, will contribute to the city’s renewal and be a center for community events and equestrian services.”
Leading this positive project is David Silver, the founder and executive director. A former teacher and competitive horseback rider, David has a heart for Detroit’s kids. “It’s all about the life lessons that horses teach us, which for us boils down to five traits (PERCS) … perseverance, empathy, responsible risk taking, confidence, and self-control. We love everything we get to do with horses, but for us, it really comes down to those five characteristics, how horses can make us better people.”
We asked David to unpack the outreach’s meaning of ‘responsible risk-taking.’ “It’s all about stepping out of your comfort zone, but doing it in a safe way. So, naturally, some of our students might be nervous or afraid to approach a horse or to become horseback riders,” David adding, but if reluctant, “you could miss out on your new favorite thing and a really important learning opportunity.” And there’s also a flip side to that. “Some students are little cowboys-in-waiting and want to jump on their back and ride off into the sunset the first time they meet a horse.” So, there’s a lot of sharing about safe riding and being around horses.
The young people ride for free and there are a number of current locations where they can take part in a safe ride outside the urban setting. And much more to come.
In our complete podcast interview below you can share in the excitement Detroit Horse Power is bringing to kids, and the valuable seeds being sown for a better future.
Detroit Horse Power Vision
Detroit Horse Power's students are proud to share their vision for our future urban equestrian center, coming soon to Hope Village:
