MISSION STATEMENT

Purpose

My name is Jay DeMay. I am the founder and director of Hoof Beats Equestrian Center in Coaldale, Colorado. We (my Dianna wife and I) are dedicated to helping youth, their families and unwanted horses. The unwanted horse population in the United States is growing at an alarming rate. Kids need a safe place to go, to grow. They need mentors, people that care about them, people that will help them learn life skills. People that are willing to give of themselves and their time and not just their money. It is easier to just write a check. Kids and horses are very much alike. Horses have been used for decades as therapy for people of all ages including those with limited physical abilities and mental capacity. Our approach, is to pair kids with “unwanted” horses. Give youth an opportunity to learn the proper way to care for and train horses, (they are tested on their skills, for level, on a regular basis) and not just ride them. They learn responsibility, self confidence, to respect themselves and others. We provide a safe, wholesome and supervised place for them to practice the discipline they love. To just “hang out” with others that share their love of horses and the cowboy way of life and to build lasting, meaningful relationships. Cowboy Fellowship (Bible Study) is held on Saturday evenings at 6:00 PM for all those who would like to attend, with focus centered on the needs and issues of youth and their families. Our socials include a time of discussion, music, prayer and of course, FOOD!

Our philosophy is simple. Here is just one example. We say, just as the old cowboys have for years. “If it’s not yours, don’t touch it; if it’s not right, don’t do it; if it’s not true, don’t say it; if someone needs help, give it”. And, Jesus Christ is Lord.

All horses, upon arriving, are evaluated, vet checked, trimmed if needed, wormed, and a specific diet and training program is assigned to each horse. The goal is to train these horses and adopt most of them out to a loving, horse savvy owner who is able to understand and care for their new horse. We train these horses using the most effective and time proven, humane methods in the industry. An adoption fee is never charged or suggested. We accept donations only as offered by the new owner. Some of the horses remain at Hoof Beats EC as our therapy and training herd. We have three horses as of now for that purpose, with eight more in various stages of training, for a total of eleven horses on the property and under our care.

What has led us to do what we do, is the growing needs of our youth and their families within this and surrounding communities, such as, the lack of a good “male” or “father” figure or a good “female” or “mother” influence in their lives. This coupled with the ever growing need for unwanted horses to find a good home. I was a deputy sheriff in the late seventies and saw many of our youth fall through the cracks of society. Some of which entered the “system” because of poor choices. Many became worse, rather than better, as a result of the “system” and it‘s all to often, failed attempt to “correct” them. I was an intern youth pastor for a very large church in southern California in the early 80’s. I have been a horse owner and enthusiast for 35 years and loved and worked with young people for most of that time. Recently, we (my wife Dianna of 23 years and I) felt the time was right for us to work with youth full time, while helping unwanted and abandoned horses. Dianna and I have raised five children of our own. Both of us growing up in solid families with good role models and mentors helping us along the way. We feel a strong responsibility to help and guide the next generation. My wife is a loving and compassionate woman that has her own life experiences that are useful in helping the hurting and broken. We want all that come here to know that they are loved by someone that did not “have” to love them, but “wanted” to love them. That they were loved without condition. No one that comes here has a past, only a future. A bright future. We give them a place and an opportunity to start over.

One of the things we do is help youth to understand themselves, their parents and life as a whole. How to communicate with their folks in a respectful and meaningful manner and help the parents to do the same and to understand the feelings and needs of their children. One of the principles that we teach is that we all must earn respect from one another, not demand it. Parents must earn the respect of their children and children must earn the respect of their parents. You may have heard the phrase, “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink”. We say, “you can lead a kid to the truth, but you can’t make him think”. Both are true. Parents often times say things like, “because I said so” or “because I can”. That doesn’t work with a 15 year old. We tell parents that you being, say, 35 can’t expect a 12 year old to understand a situation the same way you do. Example: Would the teacher of a math class simply give the students the answers to a math equation or would she/he teach the kids how to find the answer, to work through the problem. We want parents to teach their kids how to reason, how to think. The “process” involved in “making” good decisions. Youth want the “why” not just the “what”. They want “understanding”. Many, if not most, problems arise because parents are unwilling to take the time needed to help their children understand their point of view, to listen to them and be willing to hear and consider their opinion. This is communication, a dialogue, not a monologue. As of now we have several young people, their parents, and other adults as well coming up to Hoof beats, some weekly, for the benefit we provide. Other organizations have expressed an interest in (and are) bringing “troubled” youth up to spend time with us as well. We hope to expand our facility within the next year to enable us to accommodate the needs of even more of our youth, their families and horses. We are located on 15 acres in the foothills of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains. We border B.L.M. land that leads to national forest, to the rear of the property. Our ability to ride horses is limitless. We also have access to the Arkansas River across the highway from us.

We are people that care about our youth and unwanted horses. What we do is help them both to have hope, a bright future and productive lives. We do what we do, because we feel that it is what we are called to do. We have answered that call, the call of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Blessings and happy trails.

Jay and Dianna DeMay, Hoof Beats Equestrian Center