• Support
  • Advertise
  • Locations
  • Contact Us
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTERS
The Capistrano Dispatch
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
No Result
View All Result
The Capistrano Dispatch
No Result
View All Result

Is Everyone an Equestrian in San Juan?: Christina Carson Helps Others Through Horses

by Capo Dispatch
October 9, 2021 2:00AM
in Opinion Columns, SOAPBOX
Is Everyone an Equestrian in San Juan?: Christina Carson Helps Others Through Horses
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Jessica DiCostanzo

This week, the San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Coalition (SJCEC) is excited to highlight a local unsung hero of the equestrian community: western trainer Christina Carson. Not only does Christina run a top-flight western riding program, she is also a creative genius. Every year, she donates her time and craft skills to help the SJCEC come up with over-the-top creations for the annual silent auction. 

Christina started at Ortega Equestrian Center in 1988 working for SJCEC’s Distinguished Equestrian Award winner, Kathy Holman. Chris quickly fell in love with the horses and noticed how they positively transformed people in all walks of life. This started her lifelong dream of riding and teaching people the magic of horses and finding ways to incorporate her training into works with underprivileged children, both on and off the horses.

The two horsewomen quickly bonded over the magic of horses, as they witnessed how they could help people from all walks of life. Watching this transformation process inspired Kathy to found Otra Mas (otramas.net), a local nonprofit that specializes in equine-assisted therapy and horse rescue.

Equestrian Christina Carson enjoys seeing how happy kids become when learning to ride horses. Photo: File

Carson and Holman were able to team up with another local nonprofit, Unique Diamond, to develop an outreach program for local kids in San Juan Capistrano.

They started with a mini horse camp, using the practices of Otra Mas (and Kathy Holman’s horses) to teach these underprivileged children how to be around horses. The campers got the ultimate reward; they then took an hour-long trail ride.

“The look on their faces is priceless,” Carson said.

Ortega Equestrian Center is the only facility that offers trail rides in San Juan Capistrano, and it was so rewarding to see the kids’ reactions to their first time on a horse.

Collaborations have been key to the outreach program. Carson explained how they team up with individuals, local businesses and nonprofits to keep the outreach program going. For example, Starbucks donates snacks and drinks for the kids. Carson’s clients partake and even dress up as Santa and Mrs. Claus around the holidays to make the camps more memorable. The Unidos South program (winner of the SJCEC’s 2021 100 Horsemen Challenge: unidossouthoc.com) helps coordinate campers by working with the school districts.

When asked what the biggest impact horses have on the kids, Carson replied, “I don’t even know how to explain it. It’s huge, and almost overwhelming. I have witnessed countless children completely changed by it. Kids completely open up.”

Besides teaching and training being her way of earning a living, Christina strives to provide the outreach programs pro bono, through donations of unwrapped toys and funds from the public.  For more information on lessons or trail rides or to get involved with the outreach program, contact Carson at 559.920.0015.

Jessica DiCostanzo is a San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Coalition Board Member, lifelong equestrian, and co-founder of equivont.com.

Share this:

  • Share
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
Tags: CaliforniaChristina CarsonEquestrianhorse ridinghorse therapyHorsesOrange CountyOtra MasSan Juan CapistranoSan Juan Capistrano Equestrian Coalition
ShareTweetPin

Capo Dispatch

Related Posts

GALLERY: Horses Return for 2023 Swallows Day Parade

GALLERY: Horses Return for 2023 Swallows Day Parade

March 27, 2023
Kid Equestrian Picks Up Win in Horse Show

Kid Equestrian Picks Up Win in Horse Show

March 24, 2023
New Name Joins Planning Commission

New Name Joins Planning Commission

March 24, 2023
On Life and Love after 50: Seniors Should Reveal Their True Age on Dating Profiles

On Life and Love After 50: ‘My Money Is on The Chair’—Six Words Bring Love to a Senior Couple

March 24, 2023
Next Post
Citizens 2018 Candidate Forum for 49th Congressional Race

The Levin Letter: Californians Have Made It Clear—No More Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling Along Our Coast

Discussion about this post

No Result
View All Result

The Dispatch Daily
Get important news and updates delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here.

Subscriptions
Don’t get The Dispatch delivered to your home? Subscribe today.

Advertising
Get new customers and drive traffic to your business. Advertise with us.

Support Local Journalism
For less than the cost of a couple of cups of coffee a month, become an “Insider” member and continue to get “Local News You Can Use” from the only independently owned, dedicated local news organization in South Orange County.

Contribute today.

Picket Fence Media is a proud member of the SoCal Media Network.

  • Current Issue
  • Contact Us
  • San Clemente Times
  • Dana Point Times
  • About Us

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

No Result
View All Result
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.