Teaching kids about horses can also provide them with the "horse sense" needed for life. A new, free program from eXtension HorseQuest offers adults working with young people and equines an easy way to learn more about horses, mules, and donkeys, get new ideas focused on horses and youth development, and earn a certificate of completion.

The Horse Adult Learning and Training Education Resource (HALTER) is an online curriculum that includes video clips, links to resources and the opportunity to interact with other horse project leaders. Subjects range from horse behavior, management and health, to positive youth development and education. HALTER was created by specialists based at universities across the country with input from volunteer horse project leaders.

"The HALTER project provides adults with innovative and exciting tools to enhance their work with youth and horses, donkeys, and mules from some of the best resources in the country," says Michigan State University Extension youth equine specialist, and HALTER co-creator Karen Waite. "Horse leaders, regardless of association, can expand both their own horizons and those of the young people they work with by investigating the HALTER project. I am very excited to share this great educational resource."

"The horse can be the vehicle to teach youth about horse subject matter, while at the same time teaching them essential life skills," says Maryland regional equine specialist and HALTER co-creator Kristen Wilson, MS. "HALTER is unique in that it focuses on teaching horse leaders not only about horse subject matter, but also about positive youth development and the essential life skills youth learn through their involvement with horses. HALTER gets leaders thinking about how they can incorporate and be conscientious about both areas when working with horses and young people