Riding high with horses

A six-week horsemanship course aims to teach youths the role of hard work and responsibility in building confidence

By AnnMarie Cornejo

The Tribune

Bruce Griffin survived growing up in a rough neighborhood of Sacramento by cleaning horse stalls at a nearby barn.

He said he avoided the Del Paso Heights neighborhood, dubbed the "deepest part of hell" by those who lived there, while his peers roamed the streets and were often killed in gang violence.

Griffin's passion for horses blossomed into a decade-long career as a trainer and handler in the show ring.

Now, he and his wife, Staci, who also has a lifelong involvement with horses, want to turn their focus to local youth.

The couple, who own Griffin Sport Horses in Arroyo Grande, will launch the Transition Academy on Tuesday, a six-week program designed to introduce horsemanship to children age 11 and older.

"I was given an opportunity growing up that most kids don't get," Bruce Griffin said. "I've been working for a long time to be able to give back."

The classes will introduce kids to ground work and maintenance before putting them on horses. They'll learn how to clean stalls, halter and groom horses, and safely handle them.

The ranch's horses include Friesians, Arabians, Dutch warm bloods and several other breeds.

The Griffins have shown horses at national and international competitions.

Bruce Griffin's accomplishments include being the first American to compete in the Holland National Championship Friesian horse show.

The Griffins' hope is to share what they have learned with their students.

"Ultimately, the class is aimed at teaching the role of hard work and responsibility in building confidence," Staci Griffin said. "Riding a horse is a privilege -- kids should have to earn that right."

Many of the lessons taught about handling a horse can also be transferred into daily life.

"We work to build confidence in children -- especially young ladies," Staci Griffin said. "Little girls need the confidence to say 'no'. When they learn to be in charge of an animal that weighs more than 1,000 pounds -- they are hopefully not going to be afraid of saying 'no' to a person who only weighs a small fraction of that."

The couple, who have five children, would like to make Transition Academy a nonprofit group.

Bailee von Ilten, 8, of Arroyo Grande has been training with the couple for almost a year now.

Her mom watched her confidence grow immeasurably.

"Bruce has coached my daughter into knowing that she is in control," Jill von Ilten said. "The Griffins really believe that kids can do much more than most adults think they can -- and the kids know that they believe in them," she added.

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