Taking the Reins

Founded in 1998, Taking the Reins' (TTR) mission is advancing Girl Power through Horsepower. TTR encourages girls to act boldly, with courage and confidence, through experiences with horses, farm animals, and nature. As the only gender-specific equine program in Los Angeles, our holistic approach and agency mission is built around the belief that this educational and natural environment supports adolescent development. Research demonstrates that a gender-specific setting allows for greater self-expression/risk-taking, particularly for girls, leading to greater confidence, self-esteem, and leadership. Since TTR's inception, over 4,300 teenage girls, ages 8-18, have flourished through Taking the Reins programs. TTR owns and operates its 1.4-acre urban farm in Atwater Village on one site with 13 horses. TTR offers a beautiful rural setting to urban girls just minutes from their day-to-day, concrete-bound city environment. 

TTR core programs serve nearly 500 youth annually, including Equestrian, Seed-to-Skillet, Youth Education Services (YES), and CowGirl Corner Programs that promote responsibility and the importance of working together and leadership. Through the Equestrian Program, teens learn horsemanship, including riding, barn safety, equine science, horse nutrition, and health care. In our S.T.E.A.M.-based Seed-to-Skillet, teens experience gardening, land and environmental stewardship, and nutrition/healthy cooking classes. In our Youth Education Services Program (YES), qualified TTR students participate in college-prep activities, college tours, and life-skills workshops and have access to scholarships and college tuition. In CowGirl Corner, girls 8-10 experience gardening and caring for farm animals. In addition, to support positive child development, TTR hosts its Learning Center Project (LCP), in partnership with local schools, for boys and girls 9-13. As a school field trip destination, TTR students engage in experiential learning activities and enjoy healthy outdoor activities.