Leg Up Programme un deux trois hop!

The Leg Up Programme un deux trois hop! provides free horse back riding lessons to poor youth (ages 8-18) in the capital region of New Brunswick. We do this by inviting candidates to apply by submitting a form financial disclosure parental support letter and letter of motivation in March. These applications are then rendered anonymous and ranked by an external jury. Selected participants are matched with participating Equestrian Canada certified riding coaches in the region for a total of 12 riding lessons from May to the end of August. Each participant is also provided with a new safety-certified riding helmet riding boots a New Brunswick Equestrian Association Youth membership. Drivers (parents or guardians) are provided with gas cards or reimbursement for mileage. Fall and winter are used for fundraising events and activities which are all volunteer-run as is the coordination of the program delivery (initial meetings equipment fittings communication with parents/guardians and riding coaches monthly follow-up with each participant managing the funding etc). A total of 5 volunteers help run the program for a total number of annual volunteer hours of about 200 hours. No new programs are anticipated this year. We expect to continue to offer our regular programming starting in May 2025.