Sedona Sky Academy
Rimrock, AZ

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Sedona Sky Academy Enhances Horsemanship Program

Under new ownership, Sedona Sky Academy recently overhauled its horsemanship program to greatly enhance the experience for students. Longtime equine specialist Mike Randall is leading the charge.

"Horses are catalysts for change, especially for young people," says Mike. "Horses can be our tools to help teach students about healthy relationships and communication. Horses give honest feedback to students every time they have an interaction with one another; they help break down barriers between staff and students. As wonderful as our staff is at Sedona Sky, I believe horses teach students something they can't necessarily get from humans alone."

Sedona Sky, a fully licensed and accredited residential treatment center for young women ages 13-18, bases its equine program on "natural horsemanship," or the concept that horses provide an in-the-moment therapeutic experience that promotes emotional growth and healing. Says Mike, just like adolescents, every horse is different in the way it learns, responds, reacts, moves, etc. Natural horsemanship teaches students how to move, read and interact with horses in a safe environment. Most importantly students learn how to build relationships based on consistency and trust. Students learn that they can't force the horse to do anything, and that they must respect the horse's individuality.

Explains Mike, "This is the same philosophy we use with the students in our program. The student must be willing to accept change or learn new skills; you can't force change on them. The students get to experience this fact for themselves when they work with the horses, and it's enlightening."

With almost 100 horses rotating in the programs (Sedona Sky is owned by Tammy Behrmann and Darren Prince, who also own Ashcreek Ranch for boys in Utah), students also glean insight on responsibility, accountability, and a strong work ethic. Other benefits of natural horsemanship include improved self-confidence and self-acceptance, healthier boundaries, decreased isolation, increased impulse control, and better social skills.

"With horses, it's all about your actions, not your lip service," says Mike. "Students learn how to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. And these new skills are carried on when they return home."

Perhaps most unique about the program is its stock of horses which includes five stallions and three thoroughbreds that were all race winners of at least $200-600K; two quarter horse stallions with solid World Champion pedigrees of American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Hall of Fame horses; and 25-30 equally impressive broodmares. The stallions and broodmares will live their whole lives at the program, while the rest move on to new owners before they are five years old.

"We do raise, train and sell horses, but obviously the primary role of the horses is to help students find themselves," says Mike. "It's a very real and educational process."

Also of note is the background of the equine staff.

"They all come from rodeo or ranching backgrounds with years of horse knowledge," says Mike. "Safety is the first priority with all of our students."

At this point, the girls of Sedona Sky Academy get to work with the horses three days a week, but Mike looks to increase this as the program develops. The longer running Ashcreek Ranch horsemanship program has the boys working with horses 5-6 days a week.

"The main focus of our horsemanship program is to help students find who they are and set their own goals in life, to use the tools they have learned with horses to chase their own dreams and never quit believing in themselves."

Sedona Sky Academy serves adolescent girls who may be experiencing family or peer conflict, academic failure, self-esteem issues, drug or alcohol use, and more. With 30 acres set in idyllic year-round weather, program highlights include a world-class horsemanship program, competitive athletics, rigorous college-prep academics that have resulted in 99% college placement success and SAT and ACT scores above the national average, and outstanding family workshops and peer mentorship programs.