Trail Mix

Thirteen-year-old Edward Mitchell has a new goal: He wants to own a horse.

How will he afford it? “I’m going to be rich,” he said. “First I’m going to be a doctor, then I’m going to own a store that sells toys, like yo-yos and candy.”

The eighth-grader is one of 12 youths from Watts who are getting five days of free riding lessons at Middle Ranch in Lake View Terrace.

On Tuesday, the third day of lessons, Edward trotted in the dirt on a brown steed named Baxter and said it made him feel like “a cowboy, especially when I’m riding on the trails.”

Funding for the lessons came from Horses in the Hood, an organization that aims to introduce inner-city youngsters to an activity usually reserved for the affluent.

“It’s just important that people have a chance to know what all is out there, and it’s very hard to get the chance to do much with horses without having some money,” said Kathy Kusner, the group’s founder and a three-time Olympic equestrian. Her ultimate goal is to open a riding school in Watts.

The 12 students, who participate in an after-school program for at-risk youths, were chosen from among 60 peers to be rewarded for good behavior. They have been deemed at risk for various reasons, including gang involvement, police contact, failing grades and truancy, said Ralph Flores, a program coordinator at Markham Middle School in Los Angeles.

While the program keeps the students occupied and out of trouble in the late afternoons and evenings, it doesn’t offer an answer for extended time off from school.

“They’re on vacation. This is a time they could be taking advantage of the things we wouldn’t want them to be taking advantage of,” Flores said.

On Tuesday, they spent their day traversing the trails around the ranch and receiving personal instruction on how to give orders to a horse, how to hold the reins and how to stand in the saddle while trotting.

For Brittany Brooks, 11, standing in the stirrups proved to be the biggest challenge.

While her instructor called out pointers for maintaining balance, Brittany crouched over the saddle with her eyes shut tight.

“I’m afraid I’m going to fall,” she said from atop Lyka, the patient horse.

Other students found nothing to fear and got the horses to kick up their hooves as instructors held on to guide ropes.

“I’m Superman,” cried Edgar Jimenez, 12. “I’m going 50 miles an hour!”

Students helped out after their rides by bathing and brushing the horses and feeding them snacks.

Next month, they will all tackle a quiz with questions about riding equipment and techniques.