Group Programming

Sprout 4-H Horse Club – The Sprout 4-H Horse Club is an off-horse club for children and young adults that focuses on horse knowledge, horsemanship, friendship, leadership and inclusion. We meet at Sprout once a month and work towards competing in Equismartz and the Loudoun County 4-H Fair. All current members take riding lessons at local barns outside of club meetings but this is not required to be in the club. All 4-H Members must register through 4=H Online and Sprout. Sprout riders have priority registration and any other group spots are given on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sprout IEA Riding Team – The Sprout IEA Riding Team is dedicated to introducing and promoting lifelong involvement in equestrian athletics. The team is open to riders in grades 4-12 with varying experience levels from Walk-Trot to Varsity Open. IEA utilizes a unique draw-based team competition format whereby riders compete on horses at a host barn. Competing members of the team will ride in a maximum of five IEA shows from October through January. The IEA was established to provide competitive and educational opportunities through equestrian athletics – excellent horsemanship and honorable participation are priorities at every event.

CARROTS – CARROTS (Caring Active Respectful Riders Organized Together for Success) is an inclusive group program for young adults (15-35 years) with a focus on teamwork, friendship, leadership and employable vocational outcomes. CARROTS provides farm experiences, social activities and the opportunity to participate in volunteer projects developed as a team from conversation through to reality. CARROTS participants over the years have collaborated to put on The Derby Dash and The Preakness Prance fun runs, Fall Horse Show bakes sales, initiated volunteer thank-you note campaigns, updated the Sprout community board and worked to maintain the paddocks, barn cleanliness and our plants. CARROTS joins riders together to forge friendships, encourage personal growth and education all while giving back to Sprout through volunteer work.

Community Inclusive Instruction – Sprout provides Community Inclusive Instruction (CII) to young adults as a Loudoun County Public Schools Business Partner. CII’s mission “to provide a full and efficient continuum of transition services empowering all students to make meaningful contributions to the world,” comes to life at Sprout, as students volunteer in the barn and assist with horse care.

Field Trips – Sprout hosts field trips for special education, life science and other classes in elementary, middle and high school. During these visits, Sprout staff work to merge classroom learning with agriculture, horsemanship and barn life. An example of this might be seen with a class learning measurement skills. The curriculum-based life-skills (in this case, measurement), are put to use through exploratory and experiential learning by making horse treats at Sprout.

Adaptive Groups – Sprout serves adaptive groups with various needs throughout Loudoun County. Over the years, Sprout has hosted groups such as McLean Bible Church Access Ministry, Soaring Over Seven Camp, Capital Caring Hospice, Special Love, Loudoun County Parks and Rec, Loudoun Juvenile Court Service Unit, Camp Asthmatopia and Camp Highroad. Sprout takes pride in providing safe, effective and fun experiences for groups with special needs. Our combination of knowledgeable staff, trustworthy horses and supportive volunteers make Sprout visits a favorite amongst many groups!

Off-Farm Appearances – Sprout hits the road and brings learning experiences to groups/schools/events all over Northern Virginia. The staff at Sprout tailor presentations/experiences to the needs of each group. Our miniature horse happily engages crowds and teaches animal-husbandry, leadership, boundaries, communication, and team-work!