LONGMONT — Kim Swaney has always loved horses. And she’s always loved working with kids, raising her own, serving as a Girl Scout troop leader and running a day care.
Now she’s putting the two together to help Denver-area children earn their spurs. “I realized I don’t just want to help a handful of kids, I want to help hundreds of kids,” Swaney said.
Swaney co-founded Happiness Through Horses with Colorado State University junior Shauna White. The nonprofit funds horse camps and other horse-related activities for underprivileged children. The idea is that being with horses and doing barn and farm chores can help children who may be struggling with anxiety or difficult home circumstances build confidence and self-respect.
Happiness Through Horses used to be housed under the nonprofit umbrella United Charitable Programs, which provides smaller nonprofits with administrative help. As of March, Swaney went out on her own, and Happiness Through Horses filed for its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
One arm of Happiness Through Horses acts as a referral and scholarship program to connect children with riding lessons or horse camps. The other arm sponsors four day camps a year for children ages 10- to 17-years-old through a partnership with Inner City Slickers.
Inner City Slickers is a nonprofit founded by former Three Dog Night drummer and actor Michael “Mickey” McMeel. McMeel said he is excited to work with Swaney and Happiness Through Horses, partly because he grew up in Colorado and has wanted to run day camps in the state for several years.
“They are very like-minded as we are in as far as how the magic of horses can really help out a child with confidence issues and trust issues,” McMeel said, adding that Swaney is “a real powerhouse and a very detailed woman who is committed and passionate about helping out kids.”
The two put on the first day-long camp in September and the next one is in June. The camps involve confidence-building exercises, trust-building exercises and barn chores, Swaney said.
One of the most important parts of the camps occur after the kids are long gone from the stables, Swaney said. The teens and pre-teens are given volunteers’ phone numbers and encouraged to call if they need anything.
“We say, ‘If you need anything, day or night, here are a list of phone numbers where you can call and we will be on your doorstep the minute you need it.’ “
Swaney wants to build a safety net.
“Our idea is to build a village, like it used to be, you know? Because it does take a village,” Swaney said. “We have got to come together as communities and as a society and create a village for these kids.”
