GRANTVILLE, Pa. — Saddle Up Harrisburg and Prairie Fire Farms' primary objective on Friday was to provide inner-city children with valuable exposure to the equine industry. Through hands-on experiences that involve saddling up on a horse, kids can gain knowledge of the industry.
“In the age that we live in, we want to make sure that we present all options to our children, not everyone is gonna be LeBron James, and not everyone is going to be an artist. We want to make sure that they know that there are other options available to them,” said Wileen Amy-Scott, the co-director of Saddle up Harrisburg.
Both organizations aim not only to offer children a chance to explore opportunities within the equine industry but also to provide parents with insights into potential activities for their kids.
“We never thought we could do this as a sport, now we’re talking about it as an option,” said Natalie Nkurunziza, a mother and Harrisburg resident.
Amy-Scott said there is a strong emphasis on encouraging inner-city children to develop an interest in the equine industry, as they may have limited exposure to agriculture in their surroundings. The aim is to ensure that children are aware of the range of opportunities available to them beyond traditional career paths.
“Statistically speaking, we are less than one percent of sports, while the Olympics are going on right now there has never been a Black equestrian in the world,” said Amy-Scott.
Many parents and children aspire to establish a foothold in the equine industry, recognizing the value of exposing children to diverse experiences to uncover hidden talents
“As parents, it’s a good idea to expose your children to as many things as you can because you never know who’s got talent where,” said Eric Nkurunziza, a father and Harrisburg resident.
For more information on how to enroll your child or get involved, click here.