Community Partnership

Project
WITH AMERICAN STANDARD HORSE SALES
JULIANNA LAKE
Step #1: Working Together for a Common Goal

I have been in contact with the education department at Frederick Community College in

Maryland. When I completed my associate degree there, I had to organize all of my classroom

observation hours on my own. I was hoping to start a partnership between the education program

and local public schools. The education department now has a partnership with the public

schools so that students can complete observation hours. My next plan was to introduce Zoom as

a way for online students to join a classroom observation, but FCC already has a plan in motion

for this because of the pandemic. The head of the education department advised me to investigate

partnerships with summer camps.

I work with my father-in-law’s ranch American Standard Horse Sales where he trains and

sells horses. They have wanted to start a camp, but do not know where to start. My younger

sister-in-law has a Traumatic Brain Injury and horseback riding is very therapeutic for her. It

helps her gain the confidence that she is unable to gain in school. We want to help other teens

like her.

Step #2: Forming Strategic Partnerships and Common Agendas

Our goal and common agenda is to create a therapeutic horseback riding program for at-

risk youth and youth with disabilities. I have worked with at-risk youth for years and they have

the experience with horses. What we know we need to start this program is at least $100,000 to

build an indoor arena. We do not want this program to be limited to the weather. There are grants

available for this type of work, so we also need to partner with someone who has experience

writing grants. We will also need to partner with a physical therapist when working with youth
with physical disabilities. These youth will need to be cleared for this kind of activity. We would

also need insurance to cover the risks associated with this activity. Other organizations we are

looking to partner with are summer camps, religious organizations, and other non-profit

organizations and programs like 4-H. 4-H is prominent in our community and has experience

with fundraising. American Standard also has a close relationship with this organization.

Step #3: Management and Communication

For managing this partnership, we feel that it is best to make American Standard the

backbone organization. Because of the transition plan, once this program is established and

settled, the control of it will be passed over to American Standard as it is something they can

continue on their own. Communication will need to be cascading levels of communication. The

organizations partnering with American Standard might have a relationship with that company,

but all of the partners and partner organizations might not have previously had relationships with

the other organization is the partnership. As the backbone organization, it will depend on

American Standard to link all of the partners together to form this lone of communication. The

best way to establish this is with a kick-off meeting introducing the partners, reiterating the

vision, and establishing the work plan. Communication after this may take place over email or

video conference.

Step #4: Work Plans and Activities

Each partner involved in this program has very different backgrounds and skill sets. I

have more pedagogical knowledge and experience working with at-risk youth, American
Standard has the majority of the resources (horses, land, arena, equipment, horse trainers), and 4-

H has the trust of the community. Because of this, the work designed for each partner will look

very different, but there will be no fear of responsibilities overlapping. A work plan will be

established to establish specific goals for each partner. My goal would be to research the impact

of horse therapy on at-risk youth and youth with disabilities. I may also work with the schools to

help evaluate the impact of horse therapy on academic achievement and self-esteem. The goal of

American Standard would be to create a safe but engaging way for these youth to interact with

the horses. Children may have to establish a bond with the horse first before they can ride, or it

might be a scary experience for that child at first and they need to get comfortable with being

around the horses. American Standard will need to use their wisdom and experience to create the

safest experience. 4-H might give their club members credit for participating in this program or

may assist finically through a grant.

Holding partners accountable to their assigned responsibilities might look like setting

dates and timelines for certain goals to be met. American Standard wants to keep a good

relationship with the community and local partnerships, so is unwilling to have a partner leave on

bad terms but may find another organization who can fill in for certain responsibilities and goals

not being met.

Step #5: Partnership Evaluation and Challenges

Success will be measured by evaluating academic achievement, class participation, self-

esteem and overall well-being of the youth involved in this program. Success for the partners

involved in this program would look like growth in the program and becoming an established

and trusted organization in the community.

 I plan to work with schools and teachers to administer pre and post-surveys to students

participating in this program. The surveys can be completed by the participants, teachers of the

participants, and parents of the participants. Example questions may be “how would you rate

your child’s self-esteem on a scale of 1-10? 1 being insecure and 10 being very secure” or

“Overall, how do you feel after going through this program? Happier, the same, or worse?”.

American Standard will be able to measure success based off the amount of participant

growth from year to year and the support they receive for their program financially and from the

community.

One potential problem I could see is a horse getting hurt or maybe even getting sick. This

could be a very likely problem and would limit the amount of horses that are available to ride.

We could use this opportunity to establish a bond with the horse by taking care of it. We will

also need insurance in case problems like this arise or in the worst-case scenario if a child gets

hurt. American Standard also has a close relationship with other horse farms that may allow them

to borrow a horse for the time needed. We would have to make sure that the new horse is trained

to be around children and is comfortable in the new environment before allowing anyone to ride.

Step #6: Equity and Inclusion and Final Projects

The focus of this partnership is equity and inclusion. This program is meant to help

children with disabilities and at-risk youth. Horseback riding is not a typical sport that many

children get to participate in, especially children with disabilities. It is also an expensive sport, so

lower income families might never get the chance for an activity like this. I would want to

include partners from diverse backgrounds on a committee that is focused on equity and

inclusion, so that no demographic of children is overlooked or left out.

Step #7: Partnership Transitions and Endings

One of the main goals to start this program is to build an indoor arena which will cost

roughly $100,000. This may require grants, partnerships with donors, and other resources. Once

this is built and the program is established, some part of the partnership will end. There will not

be so much need for financial support, for example. The American Standard Horse Sales

company will be the backbone organization for this partnership and the program will shift to

them. The partnerships that might remain are partnerships with schools, summer camps, 4-H and

other youth organizations whose mission is to serve at-risk youth and youth with disabilities.

Once our main goals are met, we will end with another meeting of the partners to acknowledge

each partner and keep up the strong relationships formed with each one in case there is another

opportunity for a partnership in the future.