Debra Avery has been a horse lover since she was a little girl in San Diego. Her family couldn't afford a horse of its own, so Debra borrowed rides at the local horse-riding center, gaining the confidence only found atop a horse. Years later, Debra remembered those early days, and the lessons she learned with the horses at the riding center, and wanted to help other young women get the benefits of connecting with horses. "I always wanted to run a horse program for girls like me," says Debra. "I wanted to help them gain the courage to be around a horse and to care for a horse."
One day at the Los Angeles Horse-riding Center, as Debra rode beside fellow rider Judith Hopkins, she mentioned an inheritance from her father-in-law and her desire to use it to serve disadvantaged girls. Judith had the same dream -and a name for the organization.
They founded Taking the Reins (TTR) in 1998. The organization serves more than 400 young women per year in after-school, weekend, and summer programs that feature horse riding and care, gardening and even competitive horse showing. Most participants live below the poverty line and often have not had reliable housing for more than six months. Few have previous horse experience.
TTR uses farm and ranch experiences to teach responsibility, leadership, teamwork, and self-confidence. Director Dr. Jane Haven says, "A large number of our girls are somewhat lonely. I can't count how many of them have found their first social friends thanks to sharing this hobby and activity. Horses bring them out in such a wonderful way."
Jane also sees members of TTR program excel in school-100 percent of young women involved for four years or more have graduated from high school. Ninety-nine percent of those participants have gone on to attend four-year colleges.
Debra sees a more obvious impact—after a few weeks in the TTR program, the young women sit a little higher on horseback. "There's just something about sitting up on the back of a horse that gives them a boost of confidence."
