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116 M AY/J U N E 2 017 U N TAC K E D CHARITY SPOTLIGHT Riders in the Mill Creek lesson program often volunteer at the day camps, helping new students learn the ins and outs of handling horses, tacking, grooming and riding. "You're getting so much instruction and so much help from these kids who are volunteers," Kusner said. "I think it's just great for them to get to know each other." HHLA doesn't host fundraising events. ey send one annual newsletter asking for donations, and the money they get from that single outreach keeps the organization afloat. Kusner emphasized the importance of the people who donate, whether in small or large amounts. She recounted a letter and donation she recently received from someone she knew when she was 18 and working at a racing stable in Maryland. "It's the people who make it work," Kusner said. "A lot of them were friends of mine when I was on the horse show circuit or the racetrack, or this or that. ey know about this from that connection that we had. Some of them are people I taught. I can't get over it, these fantastic people." anks to these donations, HHLA can send as many kids to camp as Mill Creek has time for during the summer. "e limiting factor is how many weeks [the children] are out of school," said Kusner. e organization has one paid staff member, and the rest of the time is volunteer hours from the board members, Kusner included. Ultimately, Horses In e Hood is about exposing young people to the world of horses and bringing them joy in a new way. As of the end of its summer programs in 2016, the organization had hosted 1,057 riders at 105 camps. "We've been really fortunate, and we're so excited about the partnership with Horses In e Hood," said Acevedo. "e instructors are so patient and encouraging. We had the experience where a young man went, and he didn't ride the whole week. e whole time he was so afraid, and all he could do was sit on a horse for a minute, and as soon as the horse would move, he was frightened and would get off. ey worked with him all week. On the very last day, he rode. It was a major breakthrough, and his mom was so grateful he could accomplish that." >> LEARN MORE: Visit the Horses In The Hood website at horsesinthehood.org. >> GET IN TOUCH: Email hhla@ horsesinthehood.org or call (323) 564-7669. >> GET INVOLVED: Horses In The Hood accepts donations at P.O. Box 573249, Tarzana, CA 91357-3249, or via its website. You can also sponsor individual campers with donations and buy Horses In The Hood merchandise on the website. out about a program offered through the LA Police Department where they take children up to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, and she's participated in those rides as well. She's become a pretty amazing rider. Her parents told me they've seen a transformation in her; she's kind of come out of her shell. Before she was more introverted, and now she's assertive—developing leadership skills." Everyone Benefits Although HHLA was originally conceived to help the black community and now sees a large number of Latino participants, Kusner emphasized that it's open to anyone. "We have a complete mix of races," she said. "It's for everybody, as the world should be." HHLA uses donations to buy helmets and paddock boots for the participants. Although HHLA pays Mill Creek for the use of lesson horses and trainers, the barn also utilizes its own students as volunteers. Through Horses In The Hood, groups of at-risk youth from inner-city Los Angeles travel to Mill Creek Equestrian Center in Topanga, Calif., for free five-day camps to learn about horses and riding.

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