Raising Gentle’men Participants Visit Naples Equestrian Challenge

On November 4, 2016, Raising Gentle’men participants from Immokalee visited the Naples Equestrian Challenge (NEC) and had an opportunity to participate in equine-assisted activities. The young men experienced bathing a horse, learned how to understand horse behavior, and rode horses, some for the first time in their lives.

This was a life changing experience for the young men. Many of them tried to be tough and serious, but quickly began smiling and laughing the entire time. One young man was initially afraid of the horses and learned that there was nothing wrong with how he was feeling and that he could overcome his fear. He eventually got the courage to join the others in bathing and eventually riding the horses and was very proud of his accomplishment.