Equestrians to help disadvantaged youth

Although not yet in a permanent location, a new Thousand Oaks equestrian program geared toward disadvantaged children is already making a difference.

HORSING AROUND––Hogan Family Foundation Chairman Ed Hogan poses with St. Francis Rangers Letty Bueno, left, and Mari Cruz, right, and their horse friends. The students are part of a program offered by the foundation to give disadvantaged children the opportunity to learn horsemanshipThe St. Francis Rangers program—established by the Hogan Family Foundation—is currently housed at Ventura Farms in Thousand Oaks. Eventually the program will move to the new Rancho St.

Francis, currently under construction on 22 acres in Hidden Valley.

The ranch will house the St. Francis Rangers and the 15 Hands Rescue Sanctuary for abused, neglected and abandoned horses. The facility is expected to be completed in the fall.

In the meantime, 24 horses and the youth horsemanship program are thriving at Ventura Farms under the guidance of Meaghan Shaffer, ranch manager and program director. The 15 kids between the ages of 8 and 17 currently participating in the program are the sons and daughters of ranch hands on the farm.

“These are kids who live in an affluent area, but they may be financially unable to have these opportunities,” Shaffer said. “This is a neat thing to offer them, to expose them to something new.” Shaffer teaches the children all about horses, how to groom and care for them, put on a bridle and saddle, and how to ride. They meet at the ranch on Saturdays and ride on local trails.

Carmelo Zavala’s three daughters are participating in the program and the Thousand Oaks father has noticed a big change in the girls, ages 17, 12 and 7. They’ve become more responsible helping out at home, he said. And their attitudes, he said, have improved.

“I’m proud of all three of them,” said Zavala, a horse trainer at Ventura Farms.

Shaffer plans to expand the program to additional days over the summer as the students have more time. She also hopes to take the group to horse shows, including one in August in Simi Valley and another Thanksgiving weekend in Burbank.

Some kids like the shows while others prefer just riding, she said.

For details on the program, visit www.stfrancisrangers.org.