Montana Center for Horsemanship Grant Award to Launch Pilot Horsemanship Program with the Montana Youth Challenge Academy

Dillon, Montana, December 27, 2021 —  will launch a new Natural Horsemanship education program with the Montana Youth Challenge Academy in Dillon, Montana. The pilot program is made possible by a grant from the Bill & Rosemary Gallagher Foundation, whose focus is education. MCH, an equine education nonprofit has launched an appeal for a match up to $5,000 to implement a range of programs that include natural horsemanship, equine and Ag industry career development, packing and equine photography and filmmaking.

The Montana Center for Horsemanship is known for having the nation’s first and only Bachelor of Science Degree in Natural Horsemanship, affiliated degrees and new academic degrees currently in development in collaboration with Montana Western (University). The Center also recently launched an annual conference, as well as hosting the annual UMW-MCH Colt Sale in April, and other symposiums, workshops and clinics.

This pilot program with the Montana Youth Challenge Academy, will introduce MYCA cadets ranging in age from teens to twenties, to natural horsemanship with a greater understanding of the horse industry. Cadets will also learn about equine careers, outdoor recreation with horses and mules, the ag industry and equine arts.

“This is a significant step for MCH and natural horsemanship education,” according to Director of Development and Communications, Janet Rose. “Our mission is education, knowledge, and perpetuating traditions of the American west and the La Cense Method of Natural Horsemanship. This grant makes it possible to develop more equine and ag programs for our youth, and introduce them to everything horse. The $5,000 grant gives us a significant kickstart. We hope that matching funds enable us to bring more resources to programming that will strengthen and expand the impact.”

Director of Horsemanship Education, Eric Hoffmann, has already introduced the MYCA cadets to horses and horsemanship at the Center through hands-on volunteer opportunities and peer to peer instruction. This funding will greatly expand the partnership, teaching and training opportunities.

Rose adds, that the cadets will also be able to participate in other programs hosted by the Center including the fall Conference – The Natural Horsemanship Revolution scheduled for September 8-10. The Conference, presented in partnership with Montana Western, will also feature the EQUUS INTERNATIONAL Film Festival, bringing filmmakers from around the world, face to face with the students and cadets. The Conference will bring some of the world’s leading horsemen and horsewomen to the Center with a focus on Natural Horsemanship and the horse-human relationship. To learn more or to donate to the Gallagher grant match appeal, please visit https://www.montanacenterforhorsemanship.org/get-involved/ways-donate

The mission of the Montana Center for Horsemanship
To help every horse and person make the most of their respective lives
To enable horses to learn effectively and experience “horse happiness” through the process of
Natural Horsemanship
To help individuals achieve personal and professional success in the equine fields

NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Janet Rose Photos Available Upon Request
406.925.3270 For Immediate Release
Email: [email protected]

MONTANA CENTER FOR HORSEMANSHIP
MAKES PLANS FOR 2^nd INTERNATIONAL NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP CONFERENCE

Dillon, Montana, December 27, 2021 — After a successful inaugural Horse, Human and Nature, international natural horsemanship conference presented by the Montana Center for Horsemanship, in partnership with Montana Western, plans are now underway for the 2^nd conference in 2022. The public Conference, held in Dillon, Montana this past September, offered attendees a global snapshot of natural horsemanship in ground-breaking ways. Hundreds of delegates and attendees from across the U.S. and as far away as the Middle East, were immersed in NH presentations and keynotes. The three-day conference was diverse – from natural horsemanship demonstrations to Dr. Temple Grandin on humane livestock handling, horse behavior, ranch tours and award-winning equine films.

Temple Grandin, a renowned animal behavior researcher and scientist, and an autism spokeswoman spent three days with attendees, demonstrating her own experiments for students and horses. Grandin emphasized the importance of understanding how horses see the world. Dr. Barbara Baker, the world’s only zoo leader to introduce natural horsemanship into a zoological setting as a tool for managing exotic wildlife, mesmerized the audience with stories of life changing horsemanship and similarities between wild elephants and horses.

William Kriegel, co-founder of the Montana Center, and founder of France’s Haras de la Cense, Europe’s leading equine education center, inspired attendees with the history and foundation of the La Cense Method Natural Horsemanship. Eric Hoffmann, Director of Horsemanship Education at the Montana Center, led his students in live NH demonstrations. As Grandin observed students and horses, she emphasized the consistently quiet, calm nature of horses in the 4-year degree program. “These horses,” Temple said, “are calm – no swishing tails, head throwing or feet stomping. You can tell these horses are being handled and trained really well.” Hoffmann stressed this was a hallmark of the NH degree programs offered by the Center in a unique, one-of-a-kind partnership with the University of Montana Western. Montana Western is the only school in the nation to offer an accredited BA degree in natural horsemanship.

From horse enthusiasts to horse owners, ranchers, community leaders, filmmakers, and students from across the region, nation, and world, the Conference also featured EQUUS INTERNATIONAL Film Festival, presenting award-winning global horse films including this year’s Best of Festival – “UNREINED” about one of the top Israeli equestrians who crossed political borders and human boundaries to train a Palestinian equestrian team. “500 Miles,” was named Best Documentary Short, for its moving story of horses helping veterans. “A Horse, A Convict, a Chance for Change, featured Joe Misner, a leading mustang trainer, using natural horsemanship with inmates to train wild mustangs. Misner now trains in Montana through the Wild2Ride Academy. During the conference, he inspired cadets from the Montana Youth Challenge Academy, with his experience of changing people through horses.

The Montana Center for Horsemanship is now gearing up for next year’s international conference, bringing equestrians, horse lovers, educators, researchers and scientists from across the globe. “The Natural Horsemanship Revolution,” public conference will be September 8-10, 2022, featuring a wide range of the world’s natural horsemanship and equestrian leaders, trainers, educators and scientists, including award winning films from EQUUS International Film Festival.