The Boys & Girls Clubs of Yellowstone County has partnered with Chinook Horses to provide an incredibly beneficial program to Club Members!

Kenzie, Director of Mental & Behavioral Health, has been working with Abigail Hornik, founder of Chinook Horses, to connect Club members who present behavioral and emotional challenges with donkeys and ponies trained in equine-assisted therapy.

The new 9-week program offers Club members a chance to work with an animal they can name, groom, and play games like Red Light-Green Light with. Each week, Club members learn a new habit with their donkey and follow each lesson with a small art project. These projects and habits are aimed at helping members build self-esteem and confidence.

All 11 members involved in the program showed signs of improvement in managing anxiety, breaking out of their shells, and overall growth in how they address their emotions. Many were sad that their time with a four-legged friend had come to an end.

As Director, Kenzie has strong goals for Mental & Behavioral Health programs at Club. She hopes for more opportunities for animal-led help, such as having therapy dogs regularly attend Clubhouses. For now, she thrives on working with Club members one-on-one, helping them talk about their mental health, encouraging self-care, and providing the tools they need to tackle their challenges.