Family & friends lessons
Ride alongside someone you love. Add a family member or friend to your lesson, or plan a family session where everyone gets time with the herd.
Plan a family lessonHowdy! Horse lessons at SonFlower Ranch · Brighton, CO
Calm, Confident, Connected
Leadership Lessons from the Herd.
Beginner-friendly horse lessons for youth and adults, built around your goals. As a nonprofit, Mane Joy Connection removes barriers so anyone with a passion for horses can learn about them, safely. No experience needed!
Schools, youth programs and community groups: bring our leadership program to your group.
100+herd members served since 2020
75%of our 2024–25 riders were brand new to horses
27 of 27riders surveyed would recommend us
Find your way in
How would you like to join the herd?
For riders
Learn to ride
Private lessons for brand-new and returning riders, youth and adults. Lessons & pricing For families & friendsShare the ride
Family and friends lessons, birthdays and special occasions with the herd. Explore experiences For teams & organizationsBring your team
Held by the Herd restorative retreats, workshops and team building. Plan a retreat For schools & youth programsPartner with us
Strengthening Leadership Through Horses, co-created with your organization. Start a partnershipPrivate lessons
Learn horses from the ground up
Before your first lesson, we talk about your horse experience, interests and goals, then build a plan just for you. No experience? Perfect. That's where many of our herd members start.
- Safe practices
- Horse body language
- Approaching
- Haltering
- Leading
- Grooming
- Tacking up
- Riding safely
Every lesson builds the 4 Bs
Breathcalm in the saddle
Balancea steady seat
Bendingsoft, supple turns
Bodyawareness & language
Why calm matters: horses can tell happy from angry human faces, and their heart rates rise faster when they see anger.5 When you breathe and soften, your horse feels it.
Lesson
$75
Up to 1.5 hours, one on one
Bring a friend
+$25
Add one family member or friend to your lesson
Save $25
4-lesson package
$275
Four 1.5-hour lessons
Every lesson includes your horse and tack, a helmet to borrow, and a plan built around your goals.
- Lessons are by appointment only. We can't accommodate walk-ins, so please book ahead.
- Cost should never be the reason you can't ride. Ask about our sliding fee scale.
- Horse and barn chores can count toward lessons.
- Riders under 12 need a parent or guardian to take part in the lesson as their caregiver. No riding required!
- Lessons are weather dependent. If the weather turns, we reschedule.
In our herd members' words
27 of 27 riders surveyed would recommend Mane Joy Connection.
“It doesn't feel like a lesson. It feels like Carla is helping you find the ability you have always had.”
“She showed me I can learn to be comfortable and confident around horses. I have found a confidence I didn't know I had. I truly recommend ManeJoy to anybody who has even had just a quick thought about wanting to learn about horses!”
“I'm glad safety is a big part of Mane Joy's classes.”
“Carla was extremely good at giving my granddaughter instructions. Carla was right there, instructing her what to do so my granddaughter didn't get scared.”
Customized experiences
Share the joy of horses your way
Every experience is planned with you, around your people, your goals and the herd. Tell us what you're dreaming up, and we'll build it together.
Customized experiences are priced by quote, based on your group, the horses' needs and the team required.
Birthdays & special occasions
Celebrate a birthday, milestone or special day with grooming, horse time and memories with the herd, planned around your guests.
Plan a celebrationHeld by the Herd
A restorative retreat for the people who care for everyone else.
A half-day retreat with time alongside the horses, grounding, gentle wellness and reflection, shaped around your team.
Plan a retreatWorkshops & special events
Bring your club, class or community group for a hands-on introduction to horses, horse safety and leadership with the herd.
Plan a workshopStrengthening Leadership Through Horses
Our multi-week youth leadership program, co-created with your organization and proven with two bilingual cohorts in 2026.
See the programHoofbeats
A wellness program for adults 55+ is on the way. Let us know you're interested and you'll hear first when it opens.
Keep me postedNot sure which fits? Tell us what you have in mind, and Carla will help you shape it.
Book a lesson or experience
Ready to saddle up?
All lessons are by appointment only. We're not able to accommodate walk-ins.
Reach out
Send the form, email or call. Tell us who's riding, your horse experience (none is fine!) and what you'd love to do.
Chat with Carla
Carla will reach out for a quick, friendly conversation about your goals and answer any questions, so we can build a plan that fits you.
Complete your paperwork
Sign three short forms online (the New Herd Member Contact Form, our Code of Conduct and the Liability Waiver) and fill out a quick pre-lesson survey. These need to be complete before a lesson can be booked.
Saddle up!
We'll pick a day and time that works for you and the herd. Your Welcome Packet, with a First Lesson Prep Guide, helps you arrive ready to ride.
Why the paperwork? It helps us keep every rider and every horse safe, and it lets Carla get to know you before your first lesson so your ride is fun from the very first minute.
New to horses?
Questions riders ask us
Still wondering about something? Email or text us anytime. We love questions!
Do I need any horse experience?
Not at all. Many of our herd members had never touched a horse before their first lesson. We start on the ground with safety, horse body language and grooming, and we go at your pace.
Who can take lessons?
Youth and adults. Riders under 12 need a parent or guardian to take part in the lesson as their responsible caregiver (they don't need to ride). Young riders should be able to sit up on a horse, take instruction and follow our Code of Conduct.
Do you offer family, birthday or group experiences?
Yes! From family and friends lessons to birthdays, workshops and our Held by the Herd team retreat, we customize experiences around your group. Explore experiences.
Can my school or organization bring a group?
Absolutely. Strengthening Leadership Through Horses is co-created with schools, youth programs and community organizations to fit your mission and the people you serve. See how partnering works.
Is there a weight limit for riders?
Yes. To care for our horses' backs and keep everyone safe, our riding weight limit is 200 pounds, and Bourbon, our oldest horse, may have additional limits to keep her comfortable. Riders over the limit are warmly welcome! You'll still build a wonderful partnership with our horses through grooming, horse care, and groundwork, where so much of the magic happens. Questions? Please reach out. We're happy to talk it through with you.
What happens at my first lesson?
We talk about your experience and goals, meet the herd, and practice safe ways to approach, halter, lead and groom. When you're ready, we tack up and ride. Every lesson is built around you.
What should I wear and bring?
Your Welcome Packet includes a First Lesson Prep Guide with everything to wear and bring, so you'll arrive ready and confident.
What if lessons are hard to afford?
Please ask! We offer a sliding fee scale on request, and horse and barn chores can count toward lessons. Cost should never be the reason someone can't ride.
What happens if the weather turns?
Safety comes first for riders and horses, so lessons are weather dependent. If the weather turns, we'll reschedule with you.
What paperwork do I need before my first lesson?
Before booking, Carla will email you links to complete the New Herd Member Contact Form, our Code of Conduct and the Liability Waiver, all signed online, plus a quick pre-lesson survey. It only takes a few minutes, and it helps us plan a safe, fun ride just for you.
Can I just stop by the ranch for a lesson?
Please book first! All lessons and visits are by appointment only, and we can't accommodate walk-ins. Booking ahead keeps everyone safe, horses included, and gives you Carla's full attention.
Where are lessons held?
At SonFlower Ranch in Brighton, Colorado. You'll get directions when you book.
Meet the herd
Your teachers have four legs
Every horse has a personality, and every one of them has something to teach.
Bourbon “Bourbina”
- Breed
- Tobiano Paint mare
- Age
- 22
- Joined
- 2017
The horse on our logo! Bourbon is our steady, experienced lead mare and is ready for loping lessons.
Champion “Champ”
- Breed
- Paint gelding
- Age
- 10
- Gaits
- Walk & trot
Our up-and-comer. Champ is still in training, and he loves a good grooming session.
Dodger
A Paint Quarter Horse gelding owned by Assistant Instructor Ellen Felder. Dodger joins us for group lessons and programs.
Maggie the Equicizer
Our practice horse that never gets tired. Maggie helps riders build balance and confidence before and between rides.
Our story
A promise made by a girl who loved horses
“When I grow up and have my very own horse, I am going to share her with anyone who wants to learn how to ride!”
When Carla was 8 years old, her family moved to a small mountain community where she faced racism, and the horse owners around her would not share their horses with her. One woman did. Kay Keating, a retired Naval Commander, welcomed her, shared her love of horses, and taught her to communicate, lead and thrive through horses. That belonging inspired a young Chicana's promise, and it changed the course of her life.
Carla never forgot that promise. She earned a Master of Nonprofit Management and became a Certified Horsemanship Association riding instructor, and in 2020 she kept her promise by founding Mane Joy Connection. Today herd members of all ages come to SonFlower Ranch to learn horse safety, body language and riding skills, and to discover the calm and confidence that carry into everyday life.
“I founded Mane Joy Connection to create a space where everyone, regardless of background, can experience the transformational healing and joy of horses. We are here to lift you up!”
Carla J. Kaplan-Gomez, MNM · Founder & Executive Director · Master of Nonprofit Management · CHA Certified Horse-Riding Instructor
Our mission
At Mane Joy Connection, it is our mission to further empower individuals within underserved communities through safe and positive equine-assisted activities to experience the healing effects of horses by enhancing education, community connection, personal growth, and well-being.
Our vision
We envision for every individual that has a passion for learning and experiencing the Joy of Horses will have access to those opportunities through Mane Joy Connection!
Everyone is welcome here · Our commitment to inclusion
Mane Joy Connection is dedicated to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and welcoming environment for all. We uphold a strong nondiscrimination policy ensuring that race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and all personal identities are respected. We believe in creating a space where the BIPOC community and all underrepresented groups feel seen, valued, and supported — lifted up through the healing power of horses.
MMotivation toward self-improvement
AAwesome equine experiences
NNever give up on your dreams
EEnjoy every minute with horses
JJourney toward self-empowerment
OOpportunity for community connection
YYes to new adventures!
Community partnerships · Now welcoming new partners
Bring Strengthening Leadership Through Horses to your community
An experiential learning program that strengthens leadership and life skills through intentional interactions with horses. We co-create every program with your organization, so it fits your mission and the people you serve.
Horses respond to how we breathe, move and lead. That makes them wonderful teachers of self-regulation, confidence and teamwork, skills participants carry into school, work and home.
Who we partner with
- Schools
- Youth programs
- Nonprofits & community groups
- Health & human service teams
- Workplaces
Want to see the ranch first? We're happy to host a site visit for your team. Request a visit
Transferable leadership skills
What they learn with the herd, they carry home
A horse can't be bossed into trusting you. To lead one, participants have to stay calm, communicate clearly and earn cooperation. Those are the same skills that help them lead in class, at work and at home.
- In everyday lifeStaying grounded before a test, a hard conversation or a big decision
- In everyday lifeReading the room and noticing how others are feeling
- In everyday lifeSpeaking up with clear, respectful communication and healthy boundaries
- In everyday lifeOwning the energy you bring into every room and team
- In everyday lifeCollaborating, problem-solving and supporting classmates and coworkers
- In everyday lifeMentoring others and stepping up as a leader in your community
The research backs this up. In a randomized trial of an 11-week equine facilitated learning program, youth in grades 5–8 showed a moderate improvement in social competence1. And across 213 school programs, building social and emotional skills was linked to an 11-percentile-point gain in academic achievement6.
Partner spotlight · Summer 2026
Strengthening Leadership Through Horses with The Village Exchange Center
Trust, Teamwork & Wellness Series · Youth Natural Leaders, 2026 inaugural cohorts
In June and July 2026, Mane Joy Connection and The Village Exchange Center brought Strengthening Leadership Through Horses to youth ages 14 to 18. Two bilingual cohorts spent four weeks with our herd, building trust, communication and leadership one horse at a time.
Each session opened with a Welcome Circle for intention setting and grounding breaths, moved through small-group stations with the horses, and closed with reflection. By the end, three graduates were ready to come back and guide the next group as Peer Leaders.
- Increase confidence and self-awareness
- Develop tools for emotional regulation
- Strengthen communication and teamwork
- Gain leadership skills for school and daily life
- Build trust in self, others and the process of growth
- Week 1Trust, safety & self-awareness. Group agreements, horse safety, a first meeting with the herd, grooming, and breathing for calm.
- Week 2Communication, confidence & first ride. Grooming routines, horse body language, and groundwork: approach, halter and lead.
- Week 3Teamwork, leadership & skills. Partnership groundwork, team challenges and peer support.
- Week 4Integration & showcase. Participants step into peer leadership roles, then introduce themselves, demonstrate their horse skills and share their leadership lessons at a Family & Friends Showcase.
What participants build
- Trust-building & communication
- Self-awareness & emotional regulation
- Confidence & decision-making
- Teamwork & problem-solving
- Leadership development
What a session looks like
Welcome Circle to arrive and set intentions, then station rotations: horse safety and communication, grooming and horse care, ground-based connection activities, horsemanship fundamentals and riding. We close with a Closing Circle to reflect and grow.
Measuring meaningful growth
Heart-centered, evidence-informed and transparent. Pre- and post-program evaluations capture growth in confidence, communication, leadership, emotional awareness and resilience.
2bilingual cohorts with The Village Exchange Center in 2026
3graduates came back to lead as Peer Leaders
2022first developed with STAR Girlz Empowerment · watch the PBS story
Where it all began · 2022
Our first cohort with STAR Girlz Empowerment
In 2022 we created Strengthening Leadership Through Horses with STAR Girlz Empowerment. Over eight weeks, young women learned to lead, communicate and build trust with our herd. Rocky Mountain PBS shared their story.
How partnering works
- ConnectTell us about your organization, the people you serve and what you hope they'll gain.
- Co-createTogether we shape the program around your goals, participants' strengths, accessibility needs, schedule and resources.
- RideYour group joins the herd at SonFlower Ranch for hands-on sessions led by Carla and our Peer Leaders.
- GrowWe share what participants gained through our pre- and post-program evaluations.
Funders and sponsors: you can sponsor a cohort so a community group can take part at no cost to its families. Ask Carla how.
The Mane Path · From rider to instructor
Growing the next generation of instructors
The Mane Path is our four-stage pathway that grows riders into leaders, and leaders into certified instructors. It began when our first Strengthening Leadership graduates came back to help guide the next group.
- Herd MemberBuilds horsemanship and leadership skills, starting with Strengthening Leadership Through Horses.
- Peer LeaderComes back to co-facilitate the next cohort and mentor newer riders.
- Instructor ApprenticeAges 18 and up. Trains under Carla toward CHA instructor certification.
- Certified InstructorTeaches the next generation of herd members, keeping the joy of horses within reach.
Meet our first Mane Path student
Eloisa, Peer Leader and instructor in training
Eloisa came to Mane Joy as an advanced rider and has grown into one of our Peer Leaders. She has added bareback and advanced Western riding to her skills, assists at our sessions, and is learning horse training techniques alongside Champ.
Today Carla is mentoring and training Eloisa to prepare her for a CHA certification clinic, her next step toward becoming a certified riding instructor. The Certified Horsemanship Association certifies English and Western riding instructors and other equine professionals. She is living proof of what The Mane Path is all about: herd members growing into leaders who lift up the next generation.
Funders and sponsors: help us grow the path by supporting training and certification for future instructors. Ask Carla how.
For funders & partners
A small herd with a proven track record
Since 2020, Mane Joy Connection has grown one herd member at a time into a trusted community partner, rooted in Adams County and serving Arapahoe, Jefferson and Denver counties too.
100+unique individuals served since 2020
30+scholarships provided
23return riders for individual or package lessons since 2024
27 of 27riders surveyed would recommend us
21Youth Natural Leaders in our 2026 bilingual cohorts
3graduates who came back to lead as Peer Leaders
Grounded in research
Our programs build on a growing body of studies on youth, horses and social-emotional growth.
Social skills
Moderate gains in social competence
In a randomized trial, youth in grades 5–8 who completed an 11-week equine facilitated learning program showed improved social competence compared with a waitlist group, and children who attended more sessions showed more positive behavior.1
Stress
Lower stress hormone levels
Youth who completed a 12-week horsemanship program had significantly lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol throughout the day than youth on a waitlist.2
Behavior
Good for horse-novice youth
Over an 11-week program, positive behaviors increased and negative behaviors decreased among youth with little or no prior horse experience.3
Belonging
Stronger sense of support
Adolescents ages 12–15 who took part in weekly stable activities with a peer reported a significant increase in perceived social support compared with a control group.4
Honest feedback
Horses notice how we show up
Horses can tell happy from angry human faces, and their heart rates rise faster when they see anger. That makes them honest partners for practicing calm, clear leadership.5
Life skills
Skills that last
86% of 4-H horse project members surveyed agreed that their horse projects improved their life skills.7
Sources and citations
- Pendry, P., Carr, A. M., Smith, A. N., & Roeter, S. M. (2014). Improving adolescent social competence and behavior: A randomized trial of an 11-week equine facilitated learning prevention program. The Journal of Primary Prevention, 35(4), 281–293. doi.org/10.1007/s10935-014-0350-7
- Pendry, P., Smith, A. N., & Roeter, S. M. (2014). Randomized trial examines effects of equine facilitated learning on adolescents' basal cortisol levels. Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin. Summary: Washington State University
- Pendry, P., Roeter, S., Smith, A., Jacobson, S., & Erdman, P. (2013). Trajectories of positive and negative behavior during participation in equine facilitated learning program for horse-novice youth. Journal of Extension, 51(1).
- Hauge, H., Kvalem, I. L., Berget, B., Enders-Slegers, M.-J., & Braastad, B. O. (2014). Equine-assisted activities and the impact on perceived social support, self-esteem and self-efficacy among adolescents: An intervention study. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 19(1), 1–21. doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2013.779587
- Smith, A. V., Proops, L., Grounds, K., Wathan, J., & McComb, K. (2016). Functionally relevant responses to human facial expressions of emotion in the domestic horse (Equus caballus). Biology Letters, 12(2), 20150907. doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2015.0907
- Durlak, J. A., Weissberg, R. P., Dymnicki, A. B., Taylor, R. D., & Schellinger, K. B. (2011). The impact of enhancing students' social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis of school-based universal interventions. Child Development, 82(1), 405–432. doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01564.x
- Anderson, K., & Karr-Lilienthal, L. (2011). Influence of 4-H horse project involvement on development of life skills. Journal of Extension, 49(5), Article 14. doi.org/10.34068/joe.49.05.14
How we've grown
- 2020
Mane Joy Connection is founded. In our first four months we serve 8 participants, award 4 scholarships and teach 40+ hours of horsemanship.
- 2021
We grow to 46 lessons, including family and birthday lessons, and award 19 scholarships.
- 2022
Community partnerships begin. With STAR Girlz Empowerment we pilot Strengthening Leadership Through Horses, an 8-week program for 6 participants.
- 2023
16 individual herd members, many of them families, receive about 100 hours of instruction, including scholarship lessons in horse care.
- 2024–25
40 riders enroll, 33 of them new to Mane Joy. 75% are new to horses, more than half are youth, and 75%+ are members of the BIPOC community.
- 2026
We lead two bilingual cohorts with The Village Exchange Center. Graduates return as Peer Leaders, and The Mane Path takes shape.
2026 Platinum Seal of TransparencyEarned from Candid · View our profile
Founding Board of Directors
- Denise Tara RiveraPresident · Licensed Mortgage Loan Assistant, U.S. Bank
- Jesse GamuedaVice President · Real Estate Broker, KW · Licensed Pilot
- David Fellows, MBATreasurer · President, The Fellows Group LLC · Affiliate Faculty, Anderson College of Business, Regis University
- Davi L. Kaplan-GomezSecretary · Juris Doctorate Candidate, Class of 2027, University of Montana
- Jackie Palmer-Lasky, Ph.D., J.D.Board Member · Passed the Hawai'i State Bar, 2026 · Women's Studies Faculty, University of Hawai'i · Family Farm Owner
All titles listed for identification only. All individuals serve in their personal capacity.
Community partners: The Village Exchange Center · STAR Girlz Empowerment · SonFlower Ranch · Saddle Up · Brannan
Let's grow the herd together
We'd love to share our program overview and impact data, give you a tour of SonFlower Ranch, and talk about how we can partner.
From our community
What people are saying
From our community partners
Organizations we work alongside have shared Mane Joy's story with their own communities.
Adams County SPARC Quarterly Connection · October 2026
SPARCing Local Connections
“Carla attended SPARC events looking to meet prospective participants, build community partnerships, and create opportunities for her growing nonprofit. At one networking event, she connected with The Village Exchange Center.
That introduction grew into a full partnership. Together, the organizations delivered two bilingual cohorts of Strengthening Leadership Through Horses, serving 21 Youth Natural Leaders with support from four parent volunteers.”
“SPARC doesn't just create networking opportunities; it creates the conditions for real, lasting community partnerships.” Carla J. Kaplan-Gomez
Read the newsletterLife with the herd
Real moments from SonFlower Ranch.
From our scrapbook
Celebrations, milestones and thank-yous along the way.
Give to the herd
Help keep the joy of horses within reach
Hay, hooves and vet visits don't take the winter off. Your tax-deductible gift keeps lessons affordable and helps fund future scholarships for herd members who need them.
Give once or monthly by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or bank transfer. Zeffy is free for nonprofits, so your whole gift goes to the herd. The optional tip at checkout supports Zeffy, and you can set it to $0.
Mane Joy Connection is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 83-2202859.
2026 Platinum Seal of TransparencyEarned from Candid · View our profile
$75helps sponsor a lesson for a herd member in need
$100covers a farrier visit for Bourbon and Champ
$300covers a year of wellness vet care
$800covers a month of feed and board
Colorado Gives Day · Tuesday, Dec 8, 2026
Feed the Herd on Colorado Gives Day
Early giving opens November 1. Become a monthly donor to make your gift go further all year long: for new monthly donors, Colorado Gives Foundation matches your first gift, up to $100.
Shop the herd's Amazon Wish Lists
At checkout, choose “Mane Joy Connection's Gift Registry Address.”
The Mane Joy shop
Wear the herd
Mane Joy T-shirts and gear are on the way. Every purchase supports the horses and helps fund future scholarships.
Want first dibs? Email us and we'll let you know when the shop opens.
Visit & connect
Find us at SonFlower Ranch
Lessons and programs happen at SonFlower Ranch in Brighton, Colorado, by appointment only. We serve herd members from Adams, Arapahoe, Jefferson and Denver counties.
Call or text
970-744-9161
Herd perk: Saddle Up gives Mane Joy students and donors 10% off purchases anytime (saddles and saddle fitting excluded).
