SPRINGBANK— Fostering a serene ranch that connects those in need with equine healing, ROARR is looking to ramp up its youth programming over the summer.
Robinson Outreach at RiverCross Ranch (ROARR) looks to help relieve the stress, anger and other extreme emotions in youth and elderly visitors through equine-assisted learning, said executive director Janet Robinson.
Young people who attend the ranch are referred to ROARR through community partners, she said, and the charity has seen an increased need for their programs during COVID-19.
Youth who attend the program learn communication, leadership, teamwork, problem solving and other skills that might have been missing in their lives before visiting ROARR.
“A lot of the youth that we’ve worked with have dealt with trauma and there can be a block there, especially with that communication piece,” Robinson said. “It is really based on using their experience with the horses to learn life skills to help them manage.”
Many youths who visit the ranch have often been living with extreme emotions like anger or stress— The horses can sense this and provide comfort and connection.
The 10 horses, six regular-sized horses and four miniature horses, who call the ranch home are donated to ROARR, Robinson said. She added the ranch serves as a second chance for many of its residents.
This summer ROARR has partnered with Horse Spirit, an equine-assisted learning-based program. The program is rooted in cultural awareness and breaking down biases.
ROARR is planning on hosting six youth programs with ten participants each and a selection of senior's programs over the summer if COVID-19 public health measures allow.
“The idea is to break down barriers, especially based on biases,” Robinson said.
The Horse Spirit program will be open to Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth. ROARR will be working with the Stoney Nakoda First Nation, Blackfoot First Nation and Piikani First Nation to help facilitate the program.
The day camps will include working with horses, a drum circle, therapeutic art and other activities. When youth first arrive at the ranch, they will begin working with ROARR facilitators to learn the rules of the ranch.
“We don’t do riding everything is based groundwork,” Robinson said.
Piikani First Nation Elder Pat Provost will oversee the cultural teachings at ROARR during the Horse Spirit program. Provost grew up on the rodeo circuit training and racing horses. The experience provided him with an extensive background in horsemanship.
Provost developed an equine assisted experiential learning program with his son Ty. Together they deliver cross-cultural activities grounded in culture and spirituality. The Horse Spirit programs aim to build cultural literacy in participants by developing the ability to participate more fluently in relationships with Indigenous groups, building an understanding in cross-cultural communication, working more effectively with Indigenous organizations and people and assisting in the development of self-awareness in intercultural situations.
Youth who participate in the program will also learn about making a connection with the equines, Robinson added.
“That’s the biggest part of the program, and that’s what have these kids wanting to come back— They connect with the horses,” Robinson said.
The week will wrap up on a Friday with a focus placed on reflecting on their experience at the ranch and what they have learned from working with the horses.
ROARR also hosts seniors' programs— Many of the seniors who visit the ranch have been doing so since 2017 when ROARR first launched.
When seniors arrive at the ranch, they are greeted by ROARR miniature horses and then come into the home to enjoy a special hot lunch. During the summer ROARR has also offered seniors summer camps that allow them to do a variety of activities with the horses with an emphasis placed on connection.
“It gives them a chance to socialize outside of where they are,” Robinson said. “They just light up and they're so happy to be around the horses.”
Fostering these connections has been challenging during COVID-19 as seniors have been unable to visit the ROARR ranch.
Overcoming the adversity they faced, ROARR collaborated with senior community partners and brought the horses to seniors' homes in Cochrane. Visits included trips to Big Hill Lodge, Bethany Cochrane and Points West Living for window or courtyard get-togethers with residents.
ROARR launched five years ago and was inspired by Irene Robinson who originally lived at the ranch. Irene called the Springbank area home for her entire life, raising horses and her three sons in the area.
There came a point when Irene reached an age where she could not live on the ranch full-time so she moved into a seniors' facility.
“It was breaking her spirit not being out here, so the boys would take turns bringing her back out here [to the ranch],” Robinson said. “She started with bringing one friend with her and they would come and do tea out here so that they could see the ranch, and then it was a few friends … And then it was busloads and then it was a big planned thing.”
As the ranch's popularity grew, her sons became committed to creating an organization that would honour Irene’s love of horses, people and fostering the connection between the two.
ROARR became a registered charity in 2017, and since that time they have been running and expanding the programs available at the ranch.
ROARR’s summer youth program will be receiving a boost this year thanks to a $5,000 grant from Canlin Energy.
It was important for Canlin Energy to sponsor the charity, said operations administrator Kaili Dale, to help the organization to continue to grow and help youth through equine-assisted learning.
“As a kid growing up, I know the special connection you can have with horses,” Dale said.
Helping get youth programming going again was important because of the critical impact it can have on a young person’s life. She noted the chance for connection is all the more important for youth given the social isolation many may be experiencing during COVID-19.
“We focussed a lot on youth, with things that we funded from scholarships to different things in the community,” Robinson said. “It’s amazing that ROARR can provide an opportunity to people that might not otherwise have that option.”
