carrying forward the legaCY OF HORSES
Leading the Change Music Project
A sponsor-supported creative program for youth and recovery communities, uniting horses and music.
The Leading the Change Music Project is a values-based creative program developed by Voice for the Horse Society. It was created to support young people and individuals in recovery through humane education, equine-facilitated experiences, and creative expression.
The program centers on core virtues — such as truth, courage, empathy, and respect — explored through time with horses, guided reflection, and storytelling. These experiences invite participants to slow down, listen, and reconnect with themselves and others.
Who the Program Serves
The Leading the Change Music Project may be offered to:
- Youth / classrooms / community groups
- Recovery and healing organizations (when funding allows)
Participation is made possible through sponsorship or community funding, which supports access to equine-facilitated settings and program delivery.
How the Program Works
When funding is secured, participating groups may take part in:
- A small series of equine-facilitated sessions at a local partner facility
- Guided reflection through writing, conversation, or creative prompts
- Optional creative projects that may include music, storytelling, or video — focused on the virtues explored
Creative outcomes vary by group and context. Some projects may result in shared music or video pieces, while others remain private reflections intended solely for participants.
Program Philosophy
The Leading the Change Music Project is not a performance program. It is a process-based experience grounded in dignity, consent, and care.
Horses serve not as tools, but as teachers — offering presence, regulation, and honest feedback. Creativity becomes a way to integrate what is learned, not to impress an audience.
Important Note on Access
The Leading the Change Music Project is offered when sponsorship or community funding is available. Voice for the Horse Society works to support access through partnerships and aligned funding opportunities, but participation is not guaranteed without financial support. .
Legacy Endorsement
The Leading the Change Music Project has been supported by legacy advocates who believe in giving young people safe, creative ways to find their voice. Carol Todd, mother of Amanda Todd, has shared her support for this work through a recorded message reflecting its values of compassion, courage, and prevention.
Children’s Annual Writing Competition (2027)
Writing Competition 2027
The Voice for the Horse Children’s Writing Competition's is a values-based creative initiative that invites young people to express their voices through storytelling, reflection, and imagination — often inspired by horses, nature, and lived experience.
The 2027 competition builds on more than a decade of youth-centered creative work through Voice for the Horse, encouraging children to explore themes such as kindness, courage, empathy, and belonging. Writing may take many forms — stories, poems, reflections, or personal narratives — and is approached as an act of listening as much as expression.
This program is not about performance or perfection. It is about giving young people a safe, respectful space to speak their truth and be heard.
Community Events
Community Events — When Music, Horses, and People Gather
This community gathering took place on Salt Spring Island in 2013 as part of the Light Up the World – Purple anti-bullying event. With less than one week’s notice, educators, writers, advocates, equine-facilitated practitioners, and families came together to create a shared response rooted in care, visibility, and connection.
The original song Stronger was featured as the event’s theme music and streamed throughout the outdoor venue, carrying its message across the community as people gathered, listened, and stood together in support of youth voice and anti-bullying awareness.
Horses were included as part of the gathering, reflecting their role in emotional regulation, presence, and healing — particularly for young people. The event was not polished or staged, but real: a living example of what can happen when community responds with heart, creativity, and respect.
Moments like this continue to inform the values behind Voice for the Horse initiatives today — where music, storytelling, horses, and community come together to create space for voice, reflection, and belonging..
When Community, Horses, and Youth Come Together
Salt Spring Island - Light Up The World Purple 2013
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