A New Chapter: Equine Empowerment Foundation Finds Its Home at Conejo Creek Equestrian Park

By Jasmine Ghent, Executive Director of Equine Empowerment Foundation

Two riders at a local schooling show at the park in bright afternoon sun

Equine Empowerment Foundation has officially moved its home base to the Thousand Oaks community. Our riding programs now take place at Conejo Creek Equestrian Park, with our office and barn located in the Waverly Heights area.

This move begins an important new chapter for our foundation. It also gives us the opportunity to welcome new neighbors from Thousand Oaks, Waverly Heights, the Conejo Valley, and throughout Ventura County.

Our mission remains the same: to create meaningful connections between people and horses through Equine Assisted Services, Inclusive Horsemanship, and professional equestrian instruction.

A New Home in Thousand Oaks

Conejo Creek Equestrian Park provides a practical setting for our programs. The public equestrian facility includes multiple arenas, warm-up areas, round pens, seating, and parking. It is located at 1350 E. Avenida de las Flores, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360.

The park is owned by the Conejo Recreation and Park District and maintained in partnership with ETI Corral 37. Their focus on good horsemanship and equestrian access aligns with our own standards.

Our office and barn are located at:

1107 Waverly Heights Drive
Thousand Oaks, CA

Families should contact us before visiting. Programs are scheduled in advance, and the riding arena may have separate event or facility schedules. Learn more about the park through the Conejo Creek Equestrian Park information page.

Two students saddling a horse together

Our Philosophy: The Horse Is the Bridge

At Equine Empowerment Foundation, we believe the horse is the bridge. The transformation of the rider is the story.

A horse creates a direct and practical invitation to communicate. The rider must pay attention. They must learn body language, timing, balance, consistency, and responsibility. They must notice how their choices affect another living being.

These lessons begin in the arena. They can also carry into daily life.

Our sessions may include:

  • Grooming and horse care
  • Leading and groundwork
  • Stable management
  • Equine Assisted Learning
  • Adaptive riding lessons
  • Private and group horsemanship instruction
  • Communication and confidence-building exercises
  • Skill development in hunter/jumper and dressage foundations

The work is active. Riders are not passive participants. They learn how to care for a horse, understand its responses, and develop practical horsemanship skills.

The relationship works in both directions. People gain confidence, awareness, and independence. Horses receive thoughtful handling, clear communication, and meaningful partnership. Both horse and human have a role in the transformation.

Inclusive Horsemanship for All Abilities

Our new Thousand Oaks location allows us to continue expanding access to the horse-human bond.

We serve:

  • Children and adults
  • New riders and experienced equestrians
  • Families seeking personal growth and connection
  • Individuals seeking healing, confidence, and renewed purpose
  • Riders with physical, cognitive, developmental, or emotional challenges
  • Tri-Counties Regional Center clients
  • Youth and community groups
  • Organizations seeking structured equine-assisted learning experiences

Our approach is called Inclusive Horsemanship because participation begins with the individual. We consider the rider’s goals, abilities, experience, communication style, and comfort level.

A session may be mounted, unmounted, or a combination of both. Each experience is planned with the horse and rider in mind.

We are proud partners of the Tri-Counties Regional Center. TCRC families and service coordinators can contact us directly for current registration information and required forms. Visit our adaptive riding lessons page for additional program details.

Safety Comes Through Experience

Horses are large, responsive animals. Safe instruction requires more than enthusiasm. It requires experience.

Our programs are led by lifelong professional equestrian coaches. The coaching team brings more than 30 years of professional equestrian experience across hunter/jumper, dressage, instruction, horse care, and ranch management.

Our founder is a lifelong professional equestrian, instructor, and ranch manager. Her work is grounded in the daily responsibilities of horsemanship. That includes evaluating horses, reading behavior, managing environments, teaching riders, and making careful decisions in real time.

We call this the horseman’s eye.

The horseman’s eye helps an instructor notice details before they become problems. It considers the horse’s posture, energy, attention, movement, and response to the rider. It also considers the rider’s balance, confidence, communication, and readiness.

We prioritize:

  • Appropriate horse-and-rider matching
  • Calm and controlled environments
  • Proper helmets and riding equipment
  • Clear instruction
  • Groundwork and horse-handling skills
  • Individualized pacing
  • Consistent barn and arena procedures
  • Respect for the horse’s physical and behavioral needs

Equine Empowerment Foundation is not a medical or mental-health provider. Our services are educational, equestrian, and relationship-centered. We provide professional horsemanship instruction and Equine Assisted Services. Families should consult their qualified healthcare or support professionals for medical or mental-health decisions.

Riders hand-walking horses back from the trail

What New Families Should Know

We want families in Thousand Oaks and Ventura County to have clear information before they schedule.

Current program details include:

  • Lesson cost: $100 for a 30-minute private lesson or a 50-minute group lesson
  • New rider process: A paid intake and evaluation lesson is required
  • Program commitment: A minimum three-month commitment is required
  • Weight limit: The current maximum is 180 pounds for horse safety
  • Scheduling: Programs are scheduled Tuesday through Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., based on availability
  • Required forms: Riders must complete the release of liability waiver and applicable new rider forms before their first session
  • Weather policy: Sessions may be canceled because of rain, mud, high winds, extreme heat, or wildfire smoke
  • Cancellation policy: At least 24 hours’ notice is required. Cancellations with less notice are charged in full

Income-qualified families may ask about sliding-scale fees. TCRC clients should have their caseworker contact our team.

These policies support consistent scheduling, horse welfare, staff planning, and safe facility operations. They are part of responsible equestrian programming.

A Statement from Our Executive Director

A new home is more than a new address.

It is the opening of a gate.

It is the sound of hooves entering a new arena. It is the quiet pause between a rider’s question and a horse’s answer. It is the beginning of new partnerships, new lessons, and new possibilities.

For years, horses have shown me that change does not have to be hurried to be meaningful. Trust is built one clear choice at a time. Confidence grows through repetition. Connection begins when we learn to listen.

Now, in Thousand Oaks, I am opening that experience to a new community.

Conejo Creek Equestrian Park is our new riding home. Waverly Heights is our new neighborhood. The horse remains the bridge, and every rider brings a story that deserves room to unfold.

I welcome the families, individuals, educators, service coordinators, and equestrians of the Conejo Valley. I look forward to meeting you at the barn and sharing the steady, honest work of horsemanship.

Jasmine Ghent, Executive Director
Equine Empowerment Foundation

Welcome, Thousand Oaks

To our new neighbors in Thousand Oaks, Waverly Heights, Conejo Valley, and Ventura County: welcome to this next chapter with us.

If you are looking for inclusive horseback riding lessons, adaptive riding in Thousand Oaks, Equine Assisted Services, or structured horsemanship experiences at Conejo Creek Equestrian Park, we invite you to learn more about our programs.

You can:

Our new location gives more people access to professional horsemanship and the human-horse bond. Our standards remain firm: skill, experience, individualized instruction, and safety come first.

Conejo Creek Equestrian Park is our new home. We are ready to build the next chapter with competence, care, and the horseman’s eye.