About Us

Kalandan Foundation Inc., a PBI (Public Benevolent Institution), teaches high-risk adolescents and at times corporate leaders, life skills by building partnerships with wild brumby horses through authentic horsemanship. The Brumby Camp Program is based on the philosophy that self-esteem is a function of achievement and recognition. Each youth faces the challenge of earning the trust and respect of not only a truly wild horse but also of their peers and instructors. This is done by learning and using the key ingredients of authentic horsemanship: kindness, patience, persistence, and consistency. These skills and lessons help build the solid foundations and social skills that the youth need to make a positive contribution to society.

Horses are powerful animals and a wild horse is initially quite intimidating. Building a relationship with a wild horse is like exercising a muscle that controls your emotions, thus developing emotional fitness. The frustration felt when a horse does not comply or does not yet understand an instruction develops a capacity to dig deep, to become assertive without becoming aggressive, to take responsibility for actions and turn mistakes into opportunities to progress towards success. The similarities that Brumbies share with the youth and the relationships formed through the programs are paramount.

The connection between each youth and their assigned Brumby is developed through kinesthetic, auditory, and visual learning methods. With a detailed curriculum, groups of 4 to 6 youth work through 5 phases: assessment, introduction to brumby and lock on, ground school, riding skills and finally face a challenging obstacle course. Each phase includes sit-down lectures and follow-up reflection periods to discuss accomplishments and real-life applications. The positive emotional response of each youth further develops virtues of patience and kindness. These virtues will benefit the youth for the rest of their lives personally as well as professionally.