A nervous system at rest
Grooming, breathing, and the slow rhythm of the barn help an anxious body settle. Being near a calm horse is one of the gentlest ways we know to teach a child what calm actually feels like.
Riverside, California · open sky, room to roam
Well‑being, grown at the barn.
Horsin Around Foundation gives kids room to breathe. Out here, phones go quiet, shoulders drop, and a thousand-pound animal teaches patience, trust, and calm just by being present. It is nature as medicine, one afternoon at a time.
Our mission
We help kids reconnect with nature, animals, and themselves.
So much of childhood now happens behind a screen. Horsin Around Foundation offers the opposite: mud on your boots, sun on your neck, and the steady heartbeat of a horse under your hand. Time with horses asks a child to be gentle, honest, and present, and it quietly gives back focus, confidence, and peace.
Every child who visits the ranch is met where they are. There is no pressure and no performance. Just grass to walk, a horse to know, and grown-ups who have the time to listen. For many kids, it is the first place all week that simply feels safe.
How horses help →
100%
Programs offered at no cost to the families we serve
Wide open
Pasture, quiet trails, and room to run, wander, and just be a kid
0
Screens, notifications, or hurry allowed at the barn
Our approach
Why horses, and why it works
Horses live entirely in the present. They respond to how we feel, not to what we say, which makes them honest, patient teachers. Our approach turns that natural feedback into four kinds of growth.
Confidence that is earned
Leading a horse, mucking a stall, learning a new skill. Each small, real accomplishment stacks up. Kids leave standing a little taller because they did something that genuinely mattered.
Connection without words
For a child who struggles to talk about hard things, a horse asks for none of it. Trust is built through presence and care, a language every kid can speak.
Responsibility and care
Animals depend on us. Showing up for a horse, feeding, brushing, and paying attention, teaches empathy and follow-through in a way no worksheet ever could.
“Some kids arrive carrying more than any child should. Out here, with a brush in their hand and a horse leaning into them, you watch the weight come off, one slow stroke at a time.”
A note from the ranch
What we offer
Programs built around each child
Every visit is unhurried and hands-on. From real horsemanship with the herd to real skills in the workshop, kids learn from grown-ups who have the time to teach. These are the ways they can join us.
Our flagship program
The Young Builders Initiative
Building skills. Building character. Building futures.
Our workforce development program equips underserved youth and young adults with practical, hands-on skills that prepare them for employment, entrepreneurship, and lifelong success. Through experiential learning, participants gain real-world knowledge while developing confidence, responsibility, leadership, and a strong work ethic.
We teach the value of the skilled trades, and something bigger underneath them: that a meaningful career can be built with your hands, your creativity, and your determination. Participants complete real projects from start to finish, applying what they learn while building confidence, pride, and practical experience.
Beyond the trade
Workforce development is about more than preparing for a job. It is preparing for life. By pairing skilled trades with mentorship and character development, we help young people grow the integrity, accountability, resilience, and service mindset that carry into their careers, families, and communities.
Ask about joining the program →
Ranch Days
A full, unplugged afternoon at the barn. Kids learn to groom, feed, and lead the horses, then wind down with quiet time in the pasture. No phones, no rush. Just fresh air and something real to do.
Groom & Grow
A gentle, weekly rhythm for kids who benefit from consistency. The same child, the same horse, every week, building the kind of trust and routine that helps a nervous system feel safe.
Quiet Hours
Calmer, low-sensory sessions for kids who need space and stillness. Slow walks, soft grooming, and time simply sitting with the herd. An unhurried way to unplug and reset.
Families, schools, and youth partners are all welcome to reach out. Get in touch about a visit →
Get involved
It takes a whole barn
Hay, farrier visits, staff, insurance, and the care of gentle horses all add up. Because programs are free to families, we run on the generosity of people who believe kids deserve a calmer place to land. Here is how you can help.
Give
Fund a child's season on the ranch. Every gift goes directly to horses and kids.
Donate now →Volunteer
Lend a hand with the herd, the grounds, or a program day. No experience needed.
Volunteer with us →Sponsor
Schools, clinicians, community groups, and business sponsors. Let's bring kids to the barn together.
Become a sponsor →Make a gift
Your gift buys hay, and so much more
A single donation keeps a horse fed, a stall clean, and the gate open for a child who needs somewhere calm to be. Choose an amount that feels right. Every dollar stays close to the ground.
Prefer to give another way? Contact us. We welcome checks, in-kind gifts of feed and tack, and monthly support. Checks can be mailed to 3410 La Sierra Ave, Suite F, Unit 114, Riverside, CA 92503.
Horsin Around Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit · EIN 33-2820134. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Contact
Come say hello
Want to bring a child out, volunteer, or just learn more? Send us a note. We read every message and would love to tell you about the herd.
- Email info@horsinaroundfoundation.org
- Phone (323) 574‑0707
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Mailing address
3410 La Sierra Ave, Suite F, Unit 114
Riverside, CA 92503 - The ranch Visits by appointment