Work Toward Reward gives kids [that would not otherwise have access to horses] the opportunity to earn riding lessons for themselves by volunteering their time at the farm. While horses are a lot of fun, they are also a tremendous responsibility and a lot of work. This program offers participants the "big picture" as it pertains to ownership and exactly how much work is actually involved in caring for a horse. It also fosters responsibility and gives them a sense of pride that they are able to earn their lessons "all by themselves", because nothing in life is free.

This program is made possible through donations and the generosity of our instructors, who have graciously agreed to help us by subsidizing the cost.

Jodi Olshina is a woman of many talents; she is the owner/trainer/instructor/manager of Cottonwood Equestrian Center (CEC for short). She has been a horse lover since the age of four. Growing up in a horse family, Jodi brings more than 30 years of experience in and out of the show ring to clients and boarders alike. She is an A-Circuit "veteran", a USDF Bronze Medalist and has extensive experience in Saddle Seat, Stock Seat (western), Hunt Seat and Dressage.

Jodi is very excited to be working with us, and we are too!! The CEC's website is still under construction, but you can click on the photograph above to see more pictures or on the hyperlink below:
Visit the Cottonwood Equestrian Center.

This box will have information about our second instructor (we have one - tentatively :o)

Additional program participants are contingent upon sufficient donations.

Program participants are required to write an essay about why they love horses. Here are some excerpts from our first participant's essay (please bear in mind, she's 11):

Do you love horses? I sure do. I absolutely, positively loooove horses because they are lots of fun. One thing that you can do with horses that is super duper fun is you can ride them. When you ride a horse you can go extremely fast or just let them walk. Either one is fun. One time when I went to the mountians, my mom and I went on a horseback ride down a mountian. It was so much fun. We crossed a small stream and went through a forest, and it was awesome. Also, with horses, you can pet them, because most horses are really friendly.

I love horses is because they are hard work. I know it may seem wierd that I said that one of my favorite things is to take care of the horses. But, it makes me happy to know that the horses are happy and healthy. For example, if i feed the horses, it makes me glad because I know that they have food and will not go hungry. When a horse is happy, they are more fun to be around. So, that is why I like doing hard work for the horses.

In conclusion, that is why horses are my favorite animal. I have enjoyed every second that I have ever spent with a horse.

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When I sent her an email letting her know that we had gotten it all set up (she could work one day at the beginning of the week and have her lesson toward the end), this was the response I got:

yES THAT WORKS FOR ME I AM HAPPY TO VOULENTER THE HOLE WEEK AND I WILL TALK TO MY MOM!!!!

LOVE R :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Hmmmm....I think she's looking forward to it, don't you?