By Wendy MacDonald
Wendy MacDonald was introduced by Nancy Morris tonight. Wendy has a B.A. in Psychology and worked for about 12 years in social services with youth and families before founding Urban Stable in 2001. She has 3 wonderful children, all teenagers now….14, 17 and 19 as well as an incredibly supportive husband of 21 years. The connections that she has with family, friends and all those at and involved with Urban Stable, provide her with great energy, hope and joy!
Urban Stable is a non-profit, charitable organization. The Mission of Urban Stable is to provide educational horseback riding programs together with public schools to empower students to stay connected with their education. The program is designed to develop; trust, respect, friendship, compassion, confidence, focus.
Founded as The Horse Connection Inc. in 2001, Urban Stable is now approaching 17 years of successful programming. Starting with 2 students, and then a 2-year pilot with 8 students each year, Urban Stable grew to 16 spots and then 24 spots within Pembina Trails School Division (PTSD). The solid partnership model established with PTSD and proven success of the school program led to Urban Stables expansion into other school divisions in 2013-2014.
There are currently 36 school program spots between Pembina Trails, Seine River and Red River Valley School Divisions.
A Multi Year Grant, recently awarded by The Winnipeg Foundation, will allow Urban Stable to build their administrative capacity. This will allow for gradually implementing full time, year-round programming over the next 3 years. This will see the school program almost double as it grows to 64 spots. The Alumni program (provided outside of school on Saturdays) will grow to 16 and the summer program (in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Winnipeg and Family Dynamics) will also continue to grow. There are plans now for the addition of 12 school spots next year, providing the current school division partners the opportunity to grow their current spots alongside Urban Stable’s invitations to new school divisions.
The camp location is Camp Assiniboia, 2220 Lido Plage Road, Cartier MB. The camp is a Private Facility - Urban Stable leases the facility and horses. There are 8 horses in the program right now with plans for 10 in one year, then 12 horses in two years. Urban Stable is in control of the herd.
Why is Urban Stable programming based on horses? Horses are honest. They have no agendas. They live in the moment responding to their environment. Horses act like mirrors, reflecting our emotions and behaviours back to us. This provides the students immediate feedback of their emotions and behaviour. Horses therefore facilitate a safe experiential learning environment. The main focus at Urban Stable is developing the students’ life skills while learning to take care of their horse and ride.
Visit the website for more information & testimonials www.urbanstable.ca
What are the many benefits of experiential learning with horses. Benefits are immediate, keep growing, are transferable and are life-changing. The confidence that develops is overwhelming to all who witness it and to the students who genuinely feel it as they learn to overcome fears/challenges and achieve success. Students learn horsemanship and develop social and emotional skills all at the same time. Independence and responsibility develop naturally as they care for and bond with their horse. Friendships, teamwork, leadership and awareness are huge areas that develop continually… right from the very first day! All written and verbal feedback from parents, school contacts and the students themselves demonstrate that these skills transfer to school, home and their communities.
Urban Stable asks alumni to assist and learn leadership in the training programs. These programs provide further opportunities to students that have been extremely engaged in the school program. Students that fit specific criteria are invited into these two distinct programs.
These programs allow students to continue their learning and growth in their high school years (grade 9-12), as they step into significant leadership and ambassador roles with Urban Stable…. giving back as program volunteers (grade 10-12) or by assisting with fundraising. These high school programs are provided at no cost to the schools or the parents; everyone experiences the benefits. Urban Stable is extremely proud of all the students and their accomplishments while in programs. What is seen in the Alumni students as they carry on with their growth and learning is breathtaking, demonstrating so clearly what all Urban Stable students are capable of and how this can be realized through the life-changing, positive effects of Urban Stable programs.
General Information – Urban Stable School Program;
- Programs currently operate Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
- 5 wk. fall session: Group A Oct/Nov; Group B Nov/Dec
- 7 wk. winter/spring session: Group A Feb/Mar; Group B Apr/May
- Students attend once a week on their assigned day and time slot
- Morning classes 9:30am -12:00pm/Afternoon classes 1:00pm -3:30pm
- Students are picked up and dropped off by Urban Stable staff from their school or a prearranged meeting point.
- Classes are facilitated by two of the four certified staff with 1-1 volunteers that assist each student as they are first learning how to work with their horse, grooming, tacking up, leading and riding.
- Students are referred to the program in grades 5-8. They can participate for 1, 2 or more years depending on the individual circumstances.
- Cost per student spot for Urban Stable partners is $1380/year; Urban Stable seeks grant funding, donations and does fundraising activities to cover the additional $1380+ required to cover full costs of providing the program…in addition to 4000+ volunteer hours contributed annually in all aspects of the charitable organization.
- The implementation of the Marketing Communications plan last year had immediate results. (see June 30, 2017 Impact Report).
- Urban Stable has almost surpassed the $9,000 donation target this year, last year the target was $3,000.
- Urban Stable expects to be close to the $10,000 fundraising target after the Annual Bud & Spud fundraiser on March 9, 2018. Tickets are $25/p to be held at Canad Inns Polo Park from 6:00 to 9:00pm. The meal is chicken / potato / salad. A silent auction will also take place. Support tickets are also available for $10.
- Corporate Sponsorship is the next target as Urban Stable is set to unveil the new mission and values that reflect where Urban Stable is today and their visions of continued growth.
View the Urban Stable ‘IMPACT REPORT July 2016 – June 2017’ at
Q/A
1.-Kris Wilson questioned what kind of kids go to this camp?
A.- Children in grief situations, learning disabilities, social skills issues, marginalized. The children are learning individually in groups of 4 children. They eventually start to develop friendships in the group and help each other.
2.-Ed Thompson was asking about the funds required to operate the Organization.
A.- The math is correct, as there are the camper’s spots as well as alumni expenses to cover.
3.-Rod Delisle wondered if Urban Stable has a goal of owning their own stable in the future?
A.- That would be a goal way in the future. Urban Stable has tried owning horse before but the focus must be on the children. The organization would have to be much larger in order to own the horses and structures. A step in that direction is that some staff are getting certification to train horses.
4. Lloyd Talbot stated that he and Nancy Morris were present at Urban Stable’s 15th Anniversary Celebration at Government House.
On February 16th, 2017 Urban Stable had the privilege of celebrating our 15th Anniversary at Government House. We were hosted by Her Honour the Honourable Janice C. Filmon, Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba.
It was a beautiful reception where The Honourable Janice C. Filmon and Wendy MacDonald, Urban Stable Executive Director, gave heartfelt speeches praising the work of Urban Stable’s volunteers, staff, horses and equine experiential learning program. Urban Stable’s partners, supporters, volunteers, staff, board, alumni students, parents and horses were thanked for their hard work, dedication and passion shown to Urban Stable over the past 15 years. http://www.urbanstable.ca/news/page/3/
Lloyd has a granddaughter in Ottawa that has cerebral palsy, her treatment includes horseback riding in the Ottawa area. Lloyd wondered if Urban Stable is working with students/campers with these types of issues?
A.- Not currently, they are not able to get into the actual treatment of disabilities. Growth may include this in the future.
5.- Ed Thompson was asking where the Urban Stable horses come from when Nick Gayhart arrived to give his presentation.
URBAN STABLE ALUMNI – Nick Gayhart
Nick started going to Urban Stable when he was in grade 7. He was a very shy child at the time, not very loud – it was a good fit for him. He had a love of horse prior to going to the camp. Nick started with 2 to 3 years as a student at the camp, always increasing his skills and never leaving with-out a smile on his face. He was asked by Wendy and others at the camp to start teaching. Nick would spend an entire 1/2 day with one student each day. By the end of the camp session the child’s parent or caretaker would see what they had been working at. They would see how much the child had changed. Nick even saw a mother so overjoyed and emotional that she was crying over how the program had helped her child.
He was talking more at home and saw his grades improve at school. Nick is working towards getting into the Canadian Forces with the RCMP as a back-up plan. He has seen past students of the Urban Stables program out and about, they are reaching out beyond what they were comfortable with in the past. It is an amazing program!
Jack Wilson thanked Wendy and Nick for their presentations tonight. They provided great insight into the program. The Rotary Club of Charleswood embraces what they are doing at Urban Stables and wish continued success. Jack presented Wendy with a Club donation of $1,200 for the 2018 year.
Wendy MacDonald reminded all of the Bud & Spud dinner on March 9, 2018. Location is Canad Inns Polo Park. Time is 6:00 to 9:00pm. Tickets are $25 /pp, dinner is chicken. A Silent Auction will be part of the event. Support tickets are also available for $10.