Horse sense is people sense

School was in session for a small group of Douglas County kids, who learned lessons about the finer points of communicating with horses Sunday.

In addition to trust, patience and cooperation, these lessons facilitate self-awareness, self-esteem and the value of clear relationships, said instructor Tina Hutton.

Tall and thin with large dark eyes and a pair of wire-rimmed glasses perched on her nose, Hutton is animated, open and receptive to both kids and horses.

"I teach these principles to children in foster care, juvenile hall and those with mental health issues," she said. "Soon, I'm going to travel to the Navajo reservation, reaching out to the Navajo youth. The elders want their children to gain confidence."

By deepening understanding of the constant flow of subtle body language that is part of the horse's culture, people are able to read and better interpret the overwhelming amount of information horses offer, she said.

The kids picked up on it right away, approaching the animals quietly and giving them signals the horses responded to with an easy sigh, or a gentle flick of the ear. The lesson didn't end there.

"You need to give the horses enough information, to be clear on what you want," Hutton told her pupils who had gathered at a ranch off Foothill Road on Sunday.

"I thought it was great," said a very composed 10-year-old named Hannah Goddard. "It was exciting. When I come back, I want to ride Quincy."

Students rode either Mo and Quincy, two horses owned by Gardnerville high school student Hayley Douglas.

"It was really cool," said 8-year-old Piñon Elementary student Tim Blum. "I want to do it again."

Hutton incorporates breathwork, positive visualization and other techniques in a positive, supportive environment that promotes self-awareness and enhances self confidence, calm composure and self esteem, Hutton said.

"I'm passionate about spreading this information," she said. "And this funding (by the Angwin Family Foundation) makes it accessible, so kids don't have to pay."

Barbara Slade, a Douglas County resident and accomplished horsewoman in her own right, is president of the foundation.

"We bring in clinicians and pay them so the children can come for free," she said. "We have a general horsemanship focus, changing relationships between horses and riders."

This is the third year the foundation has funded these clinics, which total about six every year. Children learn about developing a relationship with the horses, but the skills learned can extend to relationships with each other and the environment, Slade said.

For more information, call her at 265-0901.

n Susie Vasquez can be reached at svasquez@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 211.