MOORPARK : Inner-City Youths Try Their Hands at Horsemanship

A group of South Los Angeles students got a taste of the great outdoors on a Moorpark ranch Saturday afternoon as part of a six-week course to teach them all aspects of horsemanship.

The teen-agers participated in a program sponsored by the “I Have A Dream” Foundation, for about 550 economically disadvantaged students in the Los Angeles area. The foundation promises to pay for the college educations of students who stay in school and make good grades, said Suzanne Thomas, who organized the course.

“This adds another dimension to the program,” Thomas said. “There are a couple who haven’t seen horses before, so this is very exciting for everyone.”

Split into five separate groups, about 45 inner-city students will learn to groom, care for and ride the horses during the six-week course. The classes are taught by volunteers on successive Saturdays at Ellen Acres Equestrian Center.

Saturday was the day for grooming. The students, ranging in age from 13 to 15, were both cautious and eager.

“I’m only scared when they wiggle,” said 13-year-old Marquitta Cobb, a student at Markham Junior High School in Watts.

“No, I’ve never seen a horse before up-close, but this is fun,” said David Chandler as he gingerly brushed down “Stoney,” a large brown-and-white quarter horse. “It’ll be scary to ride them, but I can’t wait.”