Windhorse News and Events
You're invited to bid on Dancing with the Stars, an original art piece created by renowned Montana artist Jennifer Lowe and donated to support the equine-assisted youth empowerment programs of Windhorse Equine Learning. Proceeds from the auction will directly benefit our programming, giving more youth in Gallatin and Park counties an opportunity to experience the magic of hands-on learning with horses. We are so grateful to be able to offer this 26" by 40" framed painting for open bidding online beginning October 14th and closing at midnight October 27th. Mark your calendars for a chance to own this gorgeous painting while benefiting a beautiful cause.
We’ve been working hard behind the scenes on a surprise… Windhorse is excited to present you with our sponsored license plate featuring one-of-a-kind equine art, created specifically for this project, by beloved local artist, DG House.
Please give a warm welcome to our newest board member, Michelle Griffith!
Michelle permanently relocated to Bozeman from Colorado in 2022. She holds an MBA, and has had a successful career in finance, product pricing, and strategic leadership. Most recently, she worked at FLIR Systems as the Senior Director of Corporate Product Strategy. She has also volunteered with several therapeutic riding programs, and served on the Board of Directors for Hearts and Horses, a PATH-accredited therapeutic riding center in Colorado.
We can’t help but smile at all these beautiful happy faces from our annual benefit event, Cowpokes and Cocktails. What an incredible night! The evening started with an amazing performance by Cory Furlong of RCR Horsemanship. Cory demonstrated Liberty work with horses, showing how you can form deep trust and partnership without using ropes, halters, or other aids. Later in the evening, Henry, a student at Windhorse, and his mother Margaret shared how working with horses at Windhorse has helped tremendously with Henry's mental health. His story was poignant and his delivery was hilarious. We are grateful to Henry for being brave and sharing his journey with us.
Windhorse will be hosting an Open Barn on Friday May 3rd from 4-6pm to celebrate Give Big Gallatin Valley. Join us for games, refreshments, property tours and a special horse kissing booth...
April is National Volunteer Month, and we want to thank all our amazing, hard-working, talented and dedicated volunteers for all that you do.
Mark your calendars for One Valley Community Foundation’s Give Big Gallatin Valley: a 24-hour celebration of giving from May 2-3
Witness the beauty of freedom in motion as Cory demonstrates liberty horsemanship at its finest. Cory will perform for us with her team of horses, and will show us the techniques she used in developing their ability to do tricks and perform at liberty.
Chapin was always an anxious kid. Read her story and watch our video to see how our program Mindfulness with Horses helped transform her life for the better.
We are excited to announce that the amazing Missy O’Malley will be returning to MC our event, as well as The Bountiful Table serving gourmet food once more. We also look forward to the return of the exceptional bartending from 406 Mobile Bar, which generously donates their labor for this event. Little Jane and the Pistol Whips will return to our event after a two-year hiatus and we can’t wait to hear their special brand of western Americana. Bring your dancing shoes!
We will miss Dennis’ leadership at Windhorse and are so grateful for his service and support for the youth in our community.
Fortunately, recent studies have shown that volunteering with people (or a cause you care about) can actually mitigate depression and anxiety issues.
Windhorse Equine Learning operates on the generosity of donors and volunteers who believe in the power of equine-assisted learning (EAL). Your support can make a tangible difference in the lives of these children, helping our students cultivate character, motivation, purpose, and a profound belief in themselves and others.
We’re excited to announce that Windhorse is spreading its wings with an amazing pilot program alongside Summit School!
This summer, Windhorse Equine Learning is implementing a program called Horse Powered Reading®. This program integrates horses with social-emotional learning and reading instruction.
Enter to win a gorgeous piece of Western equine art, and support the programs of Windhorse Equine Learning.
Join us this year for our signature event, Cowpokes & Cocktails on Saturday, August 19, from 5:30-9:30pm, for a festive evening of wining and dining in support of Windhorse programs for kids. We have some very exciting entertainment planned!
Calling all young horse enthusiasts! Windhorse is proud to announce a special trick riding performance and demonstration by a collection of amazing and talented young riders. On Friday, August 18, from 5:30-7:00pm, teenage trick riders from across Montana will come together at Windhorse to show us all how it's done!
Windhorse Equine Learning is hosting an Open Barn on June 15th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Join us for drinks and appetizers, tour the facility, and watch demonstrations from our kids!
This year, Give Big starts at 6pm on May 4 and ends at 6pm on May 5. As you consider which nonprofits you would like to support that day, please consider Windhorse Equine Learning. Our giving page is https://www.givebiggv.org/organizations/windhorse-equine-learning. Thanks for Giving Big!
Is your teenager stressed out and anxious? Windhorse Equine Learning offers a six-week course specifically designed to alleviate your teen’s anxiety through working with horses and practicing mindfulness skills and yoga. They will learn strategies to cope with their feelings "in the moment," as well as participate in exercises with horses that reduce stress and create calm.
Please join us at our open house, Thursday, June 16, from 5:30-8:00pm. You can tour the facility, meet our horses, staff and board, and watch demonstrations by our students. We'll have beer, wine and appetizers for you to enjoy while you learn more about our programs to empower youth through hands-on learning with horses. The address is 3477 Johnson Road in Bozeman. We hope to see you there!
Welcome to Maddy Bremel, our new Windhorse Program Coordinator! From teaching classes to running our summer camps, Maddy will be involved with every aspect of our youth programs.
Take a moment to think about how hard these past years have been in your own life. Now imagine you're a child or a teen, absorbing uncertainty, experiencing anxiety, and struggling to process your emotions day in, day out.Windhorse helps youth build confidence, alleviate anxiety, learn emotional skills, boost resiliency, and find joy during troubling times. Our mission is more critical now than ever – the Covid pandemic has left so many kids feeling anxious and confused. Time spent in connection with horses is both calming and confidence-building.
Ever wondered why we chose the name Windhorse? The word originates from the Tibetan term Lungta. Lungta is said to be the unlimited energy of basic goodness.
Helping kids is a team effort, and we're so grateful to our team of dedicated volunteers. As we head into our "off season," we'll be introducing you to some of the amazing people who make Windhorse possible. First up is Dina Warren!
Ready to hit the dance floor for a great cause? Save the date for Windhorse Equine Learning’s Kick Up Your Heels for Kids Barn Dance Benefit, Saturday, September 18, at the beautiful Foster Creek Farm. The evening includes a Country/Western dance lesson, dancing to live music from Little Jane and the Pistol Whips, a tasty western meal by Crazy Mountain Catering, silent auction, lawn games and more. Foster Creek Farm is located at 2577 Foster Creek Road in Belgrade. Tickets at https://events.eventgroove.com/event/Barn-Dance-51978.
It's time to GIVE BIG in the Gallatin Valley! Give Big is an annual 24-hour community day of giving which takes place from 6:00pm on Thursday May 6, to 6:00pm Friday, May 7. During that time, visit
www.givebiggv.org/organizations/windhorse-equine-learning to donate to Windhorse Equine Learning. Help us reach our goal of $10,000 and 70 donors! We have received a generous match of $5,000 from the Helori M. Graff Charitable Foundation, so all gifts will be matched 100% up to $5,000! Please tell your friends and family members about the important work we do and ask them to join us in helping to make a difference for kids in our community. Thank you!
Summer is around the corner and we’re all eager to get our ponies out on the trail or in the outdoor arena! While you are participating in your favorite riding activity this summer, you can also support kids in our community in the first annual Windhorse Summer Saddle-Up. It’s a 2-month riding challenge with prizes for the individuals and groups that log the most miles on the trail or in the arena.
In each Windhorse class level, we teach a different social/emotional skill. We start with leadership, because it's a foundational skill in working with horses, and we continue with partnership, responsibility, trust and empathy. This year, when we started our classes a few months late in early June, we decided to discuss resilience. It was a teaching moment.
To help alleviate some of the stress and anxiety brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, Windhorse began offering a class this summer for middle and high school youth with anxiety. The class included interactions with horses and taught strategies for coping with anxiety, including breathing techniques, meditation and journaling. The goal was for these youth to find relief from their anxiety through mutual understanding, support from peers and mentors, being in the presence of and learning how to work with our gentle horses, and learning skills they can use to alleviate their anxiety outside of the Windhorse setting.
Windhorse has been given an incredible opportunity by world-renowned sculptor Deborah Butterfield to sell one of her small sculptures and keep a portion of the proceeds. Debbie is a Bozeman artist whose work is in major museums all over the world. Her iconic cast bronze horses can be found at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden of the Smithsonian Institution and the Art Institute of Chicago, to name a few. This is a special opportunity to own a Deborah Butterfield sculpture and support an organization that is empowering youth through the magic of horses. Please contact Darcy at darcy@windhorseequinelearning.org or Cathy at chaggertypegasus@gmail.com for more information. A great big thanks to Debbie for her amazing generosity!
