The Todd County 4-H program offered arena riding and horse club activities to youth during the pandemic. Twenty-two youth attended 4 open riding days providing more than 6 hours at the Wild Brez Arena this year to experience horse educational activities, fun riding classes and team work through horses.  The pandemic was hard on kids mentally and physically, but the bond that develops between the horse and the child offers huge psychological benefits helping reduce anxiety and cope better emotionally.  Life experiences through horse back riding teach perseverance, how to deal with fear, as well as developing hard work.  This year's horse club meetings focused on fun, social skills, team work, confidence and horse knowledge.  An end of year focus group provided the following results:

100% met and interacted with new friends while at horse club. 

20% attended a horse show beyond the county club meetings due to an increase in confidence while riding

87% gained a sense of belonging to a club. 

99% gained an understanding of proper saddling, grooming and mounting horses.

77% learned about proper feeding and care of horses.  

The ability to ride and control a big horse can give a child a huge confidence boost and improve their self-esteem. Every little success, the praise they receive for achievements and the experience itself can be incredibly rewarding.  Riding can establish a lifelong passion for horses from simply being in close contact with the animals to grooming and learning about the care that the horse needs.