A student smiles as he learns to lead Jack around the arena at Challenge Unlimited at Ironstone Farm. (Courtesy Lowell Police Department)

LOWELL — The Lowell Police Department is pleased to report that 29 city youth participated in a free riding program at Challenge Unlimited at Ironstone Farm in Andover this month thanks to support from the Shannon Community Safety Initiative and Lowell Public Schools.

The program was offered to youth ages 10 to 14, from July 17 to August 4 at Challenge Unlimited at Ironstone Farm, which worked in collaboration with Lowell Police. Funding was provided by the Shannon Community Safety Initiative, which seeks to support at-risk youth across the Commonwealth. The program included six groups of youth, each of whom participated in a week-long program.

The goal of the program is to help youth build relationships with police officers, while also helping the students gain self-confidence.

Lowell Public Schools provided breakfast for the morning program at the farm, and lunch for the afternoon program, as well as two employees who helped work with children. Transportation to and from the farm was paid for with funding from the Shannon Community Safety Initiative.

Lowell Police School Resource Officer Erica Torres, at right, shares a smile with a program participant. At left is Mason Webb, a Lowell Public Schools representative to the program. (Courtesy Lowell Police Department)

Lowell Police employees who staffed the program include Officers Erica Torres, Emmanuel Antonetty, Paul Robbins, Mindy Dower, and Kyle Van.

The program is one of several initiatives organized by the Lowell Police Youth Services Program, which seeks to create opportunities for all city youth. The program oversees after-school activities, athletics, and other ventures that emphasize health and wellness.

Youth and police officers learn to work with horses slowly over the course of the week-long program, initially learning to bond with and groom the horses, building confidence in interacting with them. Leading and eventually riding the horses comes later in the program, which builds teamwork and more.

“Topics that are highlighted during their week on the farm include teamwork, building trust, service, communication and cooperation. We do this while also supplying a liberal amount of good, clean fun,” said Dave McCann, of Challenge Unlimited at Ironstone Farm. “Working with a horse can be both challenging and rewarding. Witnessing their increase in confidence is truly inspiring, and I believe that the things which the kids saw and did this week will remain with them as they continue to grow.”

“This was my second year doing the Ironstone Farm program with the kids and I love it every time. It’s amazing how much kids change throughout the week,” said Officer Torres. “Day one they are very shy and nervous but by day three or four you see them opening up so much. Between staff, the other kids and even the horses. It’s a beautiful thing to watch. By the end of the week I see their confidence levels go up and that’s a beautiful thing to see.”

Lowell Public Schools representatives Mason Webb and Abigail O’Keefe said they see remarkable changes in the kids who take part.

“The progression and growth they go through in such a short amount of time is incredible and it’s really all thanks to the horses. A lot of these kids have the mindset that they can’t do things or they feel extremely powerless in their lives and this program helps them feel confident and makes them feel like they finally have control of something, said O’Keefe, who is a fourth grade teacher at Shaughnessy Elementary School. “It sounds so silly to think that leading a horse would have that big of an effect on someone but it is something I will never get tired of watching. My favorite part about this whole program is seeing these kids blossom into such confident little humans and getting to see the endless smiles that these horses bring them.”

“Working with this program has allowed me to watch kids experience the similar journey that I experienced when I first was around horses. These kids transform,” said Webb. “They come from all different backgrounds and are unique in every way. But when they are in this program and around these amazing animals, they learn such valuable lessons, gain a new perspective, and are given a once-in-a lifetime opportunity that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.”

”The Lowell Police Department is proud to partner with Challenge Unlimited at Ironstone Farm and the Lowell Public Schools. This is a great opportunity for the Officers to interact with the kids to help build self-confidence and a sense of teamwork while having fun,” said Superintendent Hudon. “I was privileged to see first-hand the bonds that form when the kids contact, communicate, and learn to care for the horses. It is truly a memorable experience that we are looking to continue in the future.”

To learn more about Challenge Unlimited at Ironstone Farm, visit: https://ironstonefarm.org/.
To learn more about the Shannon Community Safety Initiative, visit: https://shannoncsi.com/.