Detroit Horse Power’s vision is to give under-resourced youth a safe and enriching space that furthers their future development. Horses teach children critical traits, including perseverance, empathy, responsible risk-taking, confidence, and self-control. 

In 2015, Detroit Horse Power incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and launched two pilot summer camps serving 18 youth. Since then, Detroit Horse Power has brought over 500 Detroit youth to partner horse barns outside the city for free summer horse camps and an after-school program. Our programs teach kids how to ride and take care of horses and offer exposure to guest speakers representing various equine professions. But the most important lessons are what horses can teach kids about themselves: the confidence that comes from riding, taking responsibility for another living being, not giving up when things get hard, and more. These lifelong lessons that our kids learn through their horse experiences will help them succeed in school and in life.

At the same time, Detroit Horse Power has been searching for the right vacant land site within Detroit’s city limits to build an urban equestrian center. This future facility will increase the scale and accessibility of Detroit Horse Power’s youth impact program and strengthen the Detroit neighborhoods where students grow up. In October 2019, DHP reached an agreement with the Detroit Public Schools Community District and is now preparing to begin construction on a transformational urban equestrian center on a 14-acre demolished school site.