Jena FrickWhen walking down Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in West Baltimore, the last thing you would expect to see is a corral full of horses. But for 10 weeks, that’s exactly what neighbors saw as they passed by the University of Maryland BioPark.
Through a partnership with City Ranch, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Community Engagement Center was able to bring a free horseback riding program to West Baltimore youths ages 10 to 15 in the spring.
Children were taught horseback riding, horse care and grooming, general horse equipment maintenance, and lessons in leadership, listening, critical thinking, and self-control. 
Children were given access to horseback riding lessons who may not have otherwise been able to have that experience. 
The horseback riding program was offered for 10 weeks to West Baltimore children 10 to 15 years old. 
Through a partnership with City Ranch, the UMB Community Engagement Center brought a free horseback riding program to West Baltimore youths ages 10 to 15 in the spring. 
City Ranch and UMB’s Community Engagement Center partnered to offer the horseback riding, which was held at the University of Maryland BioPark.
The program was designed to teach youth basic horse skills through safe and fun hands-on activities. This unique program gave 24 Baltimore youths an opportunity to participate in a number of activities, including horseback riding, horse care and grooming, general horse equipment maintenance, and learn lessons in leadership, listening, critical thinking, and self-control.
The horseback riding program came about when faculty and staff were brainstorming ideas for new programming that could be safely implemented in person for youth in the surrounding community. It also provided a unique point of access for children interested in learning about horseback riding. The horses were brought into the city, reducing travel for students over the 10 weeks.
