Humble Equestrian Program at Mulatto Meadows Announces New Location, Launches Fundraising Campaign
The 38 acre ranch in Castro Valley enables founder Brianna Noble to serve even more Bay Area children, no matter their socioeconomic circumstances.
Photo courtesy of Mulatto Meadows
OAKLAND, CA — Black equestrian activist and founder of Mulatto Meadows and its nonprofit program Humble, Brianna Noble, is excited to announce that her equestrian program will move to a ranch in Castro Valley on July 1st, 2021. The new facility, located on Palomares Road, is central to Oakland and within 15 minutes of some of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most underserved communities. This new leased facility will allow Humble to take its goal of using horses as a medium to inspire positivity in communities to the next level, providing even more equestrian and agricultural programming to underserved youth in the Bay Area. At this critical time, the program is also seeking donations to prepare the new ranch facility for the community as quickly as possible.
Humble’s new home in Castro Valley is a 36-year-old, 38 acre facility that can house up to 60 horses. The property features on-site housing for Humble staff, ample paddock space, on-site trails, and a covered arena that will allow the Humble program to operate year-round. While Noble and the Humble program’s human and horse staff will move into the Castro Valley ranch on July 1st, donations are needed to ensure the ranch is in working order in time to serve Humble students in a timely manner.The ranch will need numerous updates to ensure that it is properly outfitted for the program, and supporters can donate needed items at a variety of price points, from a cross-tie ($10.87) to an arena drag ($383.10). The program is also seeking financial support, sponsors for horses, students, and programming, and volunteers. Those that are interested in supporting Humble can do so on the Get Involved page on the website.
Photo courtesy of Mulatto Meadows
Brianna Noble, founder, horsewoman, Mother, and trainer, whose name and image went viral after she rode her horse Dapper Dan through the streets of Oakland during the 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstrations, quickly established 501(c)(3) status for the Humble program over the course of the summer and fall of 2020, and welcomed her first students to the program during that same time.
“We are thrilled to finally have a home to call our own. While we are grateful for the time that we had running our facility at a larger boarding barn, this new facility allows us to really spread our wings and let our kids experience the joy of positive equestrian experiences without the concern of infringing on others’ space, as we did in a boarding facility,” explains Brianna Noble, founder of Humble. “I’m excited to welcome even more children into the program and I look forward to the community building that will take place at our new home. In order to expand Humble’s programming, we need to raise funds quickly to ensure that everything is in place and ready for our students to begin lessons and programming.”
The Humble equestrian program immerses underserved Bay Area children in all aspects of ranch life from riding and horse socialization to husbandry and barn maintenance. Brianna and her staff work with Humble students to create a foundation of confidence around the stable, on horseback, and in everyday life.
Photo courtesy of Mulatto Meadows
Today, youth from underserved communities––predominantly children of color––have limited access to enrichment programs and natural environments. Due to high costs and limited accessibility, the motivational and therapeutic qualities of horseback riding are often out of reach. In fact, children from low-income families are 3 times less likely to participate in after-school programs, while 76% of inhabitants in low-income and non-white communities are living in a nature-deprived area. Adolescents involved in equine learning have fewer disciplinary problems, and their prosocial behavior is about 4 times better than those who are not. Through the Humble program, Brianna and her staff help bridge this gap. You can learn more about the Humble program, including Humble in the City, Humble on the Ranch, and the Humble Equestrian Collective, on the Humble website. Programs include Intro to Horse Open Class, for any age of children plus family members, Tiny Tot Toddle program, for children six and under plus a parent or guardian, Intro To Horsemanship Level 1 for teens and young adults, Herd of Trades, for teens and young adults, and Farmers’ Fitness for adults, family and youth. A full description of the classes is available on the Humble website. Additional programming is also coming soon.
All financial contributions small and large help to give one more child a unique experience that could change the course of their life. All funds raised for Humble go directly to program costs, facility fees, operations, board and upkeep of lesson horses, and equipment maintenance. Humble is a fiscally sponsored project of the Social Good Fund, Inc. (EIN# 46-1323531). Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
To learn more about Humble visit www.mulattomeadows.com/humble. To keep up with the latest news, be sure to follow Humble on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MulattoMeadows or on Instagram at @mulattomeadowandshumble.
