The Ventura Police Department hosted another successful youth program on July 9, 2023, coordinated by Officer Ashley Hetzel. Ashley, accompanied by a few more volunteer officers and cadets, hosted 12 kids from the Housing Authority and Parks & Recreation After-School Programs.
These underprivileged kids enjoyed an opportunity to building lasting and meaningful connections with our team while learning about barn management, horse care like brushing and saddling, and safe horseback riding.
Ashley coordinated all transportation, training, staff, on-site activities, lunch, and drinks. Additionally, thanks to Foundation support, she also designed and ordered t-shirts for each child to wear during the event and take home as a small gift.
There have been fabulous stories of these kids seeing horses for the first time, feeling scared at first but comfortable riding by the end, and even excited about a "fancy lunch" from Urbane Cafe. This event is just one more example of the value these youth programs have on relationship building and special opportunities these kids might not otherwise have access to.
