Fundraiser aids equine-assisted youth programs

Kids and horses are a natural combination, say those who have witnessed the transformative powers of an equine partner.

At Silver Buckle Ranch in Brush Prairie, equine-related activities have been developing young people since 1977, focusing on developing life skills such as respect, responsibility, trust, citizenship and compassion through horsemanship.

Today, the nonprofit organization serves around 600 youth each year in their six-week signature program, Ranch Hands, for participants ages 5 to 17, as well as camps, classes, lessons, volunteer activities, birthday parties and special events.

Teen Wrangler Horse Rescue Project is a new 16-week program launched this summer, which pairs youth in the Restorative Justice program of Clark County Juvenile Court with mentors and instructors, to rehabilitate rescued horses in the custody of Gresham-based Sound Equine Options (SEO).

The youth learned communication and team-building skills while working in teams to prepare the horses for their new homes. It’s an intensive program; youth engaged in hands-on horse training and ranch chores four hours per day, four days per week. In fact, some of the participants logged over 200 hours in the program. The three rescued horses will be offered for sale in SEO’s upcoming “Lucky 7” program auction.

Board member Peggy Neikirk described the personal experience which drives her commitment to the Silver Buckle Ranch mission. Her oldest daughter “got in every kind of trouble,” she said, including juvenile arrest, drugs, and a teen pregnancy. During those trying years, a professional client mentioned his child’s horse, and Neikirk replied, “Horses are expensive.”

“No,” said the client. “Horses are cheap.” He went on to explain that the expenses were “a drop in the bucket” compared to what a friend had paid for their child’s drug rehabilitation program.

“I went out and bought a pony for my younger daughter,” said Neikirk, and horses became a central part of their family life.

Neikirk watched her daughter learn communication, responsibility, patience, and diligence, she said, and she believed that horses should be part of every child’s experience.

“It’s why I got involved at Silver Buckle (Ranch),” she said. “Kids don’t have the ability to have this kind of experience. If you talk to mentors, they can’t believe the change.”

“Even ‘good’ kids learn and grow so much, and get learning they can’t get anywhere else,” Neikirk said. “This keeps the experience affordable for families. They learn life lessons along with horse lessons.”

Silver Buckle Ranch will be raising funds for equine-assisted youth programs at their second annual Boots and Bites Dinner and Auction 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17. A barbeque dinner catered by Mill Creek Pub in Battle Ground will be served ranch style in the indoor arena, along with live and silent auctions and country rock music by the Briana Renea band. There will be line and regular dancing in a fun atmosphere, said Neikirk.

Cow Pie Bingo was a big hit last year, said Neikirk, and will return. Cow Pie Bingo is a gamble on a cow, or a cow pie to be more precise. The ground within a square pen is painted into a bingo grid. Players place their bet on a square, or several squares, and a cow is released into the pen. Gamblers watch avidly to see where the cow will do her business, and the square where the cow pie lands wins the Bingo prize.

Last year’s winner had some cow savvy, said Silver Buckle Ranch board member Jody Benson. He “understood cow behavior and guessed where it would poop,” she laughed.

Youth members of Silver Buckle Ranch’s programs will demonstrate the skills they have learned, and introduce visitors to the real stars of the ranch programs, the horses.

Auctioneer and cowboy poet Don Hanley will oversee the live auction, with items like a two-night getaway at Mount Hood and golfing at Royal Oaks Country Club. Members of the Clark County Fair Court will be assisting at the event.

Silver Buckle Firewater, an alcoholic punch, was “wildly successful” last year, said Benson, and will be served again at a no host bar.