HorsePower Experiential Learning Mission Statement

One of HorsePower’s most interactive, personable horses’ is Coco. Coco is a flea-bitten roan mare that was donated to the ministry a few years ago. Through each of the sessions, she continously shows the children of HorsePower a lot of love. She keeps her eye on each youth who is around her, she tends to turn her head toward them, reaching out as if to say “What are you doing now, can I help?”

When Coco first joined the herd she seemed fine, however not too long after, she began to demonstrate lameness. After several expensive medical examinations (housecalls by the vet, blood work, X rays, etc) it was determined that the best course of action would be a special diet along with shoes and pads on her front feet. Coco’s special needs create more demand on the HorsePower budget than our other horses. Specifically, Coco’s special Bermuda hay is double the price of regular hay and the shoes and pads are triple the cost of the basic farrier charges that the other horses incur.

Many equine therapeutic centers struggle to keep their doors open because horses are expensive to care for - but they are so worth it when you see the powerful impact these magnificent animals have on children who have lost hope or given up on love. These children will wrap their arms around a horse’s neck take a deep breath in and forget about their pain for a moment as they get lost in the mane.

If you have been wondering how you could help or participate in the HorsePower Ministry, consider Coco. Her shoeing occurs approximately every six weeks and is $100. Her hay has been averaging $70 per month and that doesn’t include grain or board. If you are interested in supporting Coco either through a one time gift, or monthly support, the gift would make a great difference. Donations are tax deductible. Checks can be made payable to HorsePower, please write Coco in the memo and can be mailed to HPEL at PO Box 2120, Lee’s Summit, MO 64063. Thank you for considering this need.