When Terry Jenkins started TJ Stables more than three decades ago, she wanted to ensure the business helped make the community a better place.
That’s why for the past 30 years, the stable has hosted a free riding night for Big Sisters – and for the last nine years Big Brothers too.
“We did it the first year we opened,” Jenkins said. “Actually, we had a fire the night before that destroyed our barns. We had to postpone it for later in the season.”
The nights, which also feature a visit to the petting zoo, as well as a campfire and cookout, generally host between 40 and 75 big sibling/little sibling pairings. And it’s very popular among young and old alike.
“For some of the Bigs, it’s their first time on a horse too,” Nan Stuckey, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Chatham-Kent said. “And for the kids, it is THE most fun activity they do.”
Horseback riding is also a unique experience, Jenkins added.
“Horses put you out of your element when it’s your first time,” she said. “It’s good for your self-esteem. Riding can build confidence.”
Thirty years ago, Jenkins jumped at the opportunity to work with Big Sisters.
“We’ve always been community oriented. We felt we had so much more to share,” she said. “We wanted to get involved because horses and girls go together like peanut butter and jam. About 87% of horse owners are female.”
When Big Brothers and Big Sisters joined forces in 2007, it just seemed like a natural progression to get the guys involved in the riding night at TJ Stables, Stuckey and Jenkins said.
