Equine Facility Will Help Youth

Equine Facility Will Help Youth
By Kendrick Callis
Staff Writer
Jackson County Herald-Tribune


LIGHTHOUSE 2911 is taking their mission one step further to reach a larger segment of the youth population. They recently announced that they have begun the process of building a LIGHTHOUSE 2911 Equine Facility.
Still in its development/fundraising stage, the LIGHTHOUSE 2911 Equine Facility will be located on five acres of land off Hwy. 111 just two miles north of Wal-Mart that has been donated. Once completed the facility will be a 100 ft x 200 ft covered riding arena that can be used to provide a rain or shine riding arena for youth in the surrounding area, while also serving special needs children, at-risk youth and youth rodeo members.
“it is designed to provide a safe place for youth to go after school and get involved in an after school activity which will in turn keep them off the streets and out of trouble,” said Peter Beard, volunteer with LH2911 and owner of Double B Ranch.
“For special needs children it will provide a safe, structured environment where they can improve motor skills and develop friendships, trust and respect for the horses and other people around them. Youth rodeo members will be able to train and practice and seek guidance and instruction on how to better themselves and their horses for more competitive runs in the show arena.”
Lighthouse 2911 is a non-profit organization based in Yoakum that serves the needs of at-risk youth in Jackson County and the entire Golden Crescent region through their Positive Attitudes and Life Skills and Parents in Crisis counseling programs.
Funded mainly through private donations and a limited number of grants, LIGHTHOUSE 2911 needs help from the entire community to make the equine facility a reality. Along with the land, some sheet metal designated for the horse pasture stalls and telephone poles from Jackson Electric have been donated.
Beard said a great first step to get the project going would be to have someone donate the dirt work for the arena grounds. The land will need to have fill dirt hauled in and built up about two feet higher that the surrounding ground to ensure proper drainage and dry safe horse riding conditions at all times. The land is “black gumbo” land so sand will be needed to provide safe riding conditions. If the sand is donated, the Double B Ranch will provide an area for the sand to be stored until the arena construction is complete and ready for the sand to be added.
Other items that are needed or the money to purchase them are: 120, 36”x12’ R panels; 160, 36”x10’ R panels; 30, 6”x6”x16’ treated posts; 30, 6”x6”x14’ treated posts, 200, 2”x6”x14’ treated boards, 200, 2”x6”x12” treated boards, and 200, 2”x4”x12’ treated boards.
To donate or for more information, contact Paul Beard at 351-293-1350 or visit the website at www.lighthouse2911.org.
“All of us have been at-risk at some point and know what it means to have someone to speak and relate to and help us solve our problems,” said Beckey Gooden, Lighthouse 2911 development/public relations specialist. “If everyone can donate a little then together we will have enough to build the arena and continue making differences in the lives of our youth.”