Featured Article (November 2002)

Kenny Harlow is Building Bridges with At-Risk Teens

Kenny Harlow has a desire to help young people. But more specifically, young people who are at risk for making negative lifestyle choices. Harlow, once considered to be a hard-to-handle juvenile delinquent, now recognizes specific behavioral parallels between difficult horses and rebellious teens. He uses horses to help these at-risk teens make better choices.

Harlow's goal in training is to build a bridge between the horse and its owner, or handler, so that a relationship based on clear communication and respect can be established. Harlow notes, “At many horse facilities, the last stall in the row holds a snorting, pawing stallion held captive behind metal bars that bear a sign that reads, ‘Please do not touch or put fingers inside the bars. Stallion may bite or kick.’” Harlow admits with a grin, “The first thing that I do is pet the stallion and fuss over him. Anyone who obeys that sign is making an agitated animal even more dangerous.” Harlow explains that because horses are herd-oriented animals, stallions are conditioned to receive a great deal of attention from the herd. When that animal is taken from the herd environment and placed in a secluded setting, such as a stall, away from the other animals, the stallion becomes hungry for attention. In its effort to be noticed, the horse recognizes that negative behavior often results in immediate attention. Positive or benign behavior may go unnoticed, and may even be expected. Therefore, a stallion may wreak havoc in a barn simply to surround his stall with excitement.

“. . .we are making agitated teens more dangerous by simply locking them away and withholding much-needed attention and affection. . . just like the stallion [locked] in the stall.”

“Teenagers can operate on the same concept. Some believe that negative attention is better than no attention, and the recognition received for criminal or delinquent behavior is chosen above anonymity,” Harlow reveals. According to the trainer's theory, society refrains from providing delinquent teens with positive reinforcement and positive attention. “In a way, we are making agitated teens more dangerous by simply locking them away and withholding much needed attention and affection--just like the stallion in the stall,” says Harlow.

Harlow has been working alongside the equine management staff of There's Room in the Inn Boys' Ranch in Warfordsburg, PA. The facility houses up to fifteen at risk teenage boys ages 13-18, and boasts a unique integrated educational curriculum that combines academic, vocational, and equine components. Ten horses at The Ranch are used to teach character-building and life skills to the residents. Executive Director Chuck McClanahan explains, “Some facilities, such as ours, have riding and horse care programs. We have moved beyond the traditional equine riding program and into academics studies that compare and contrast equine herds vs. human groupings in social dynamics, leadership issues, and nutritional needs. Also, we are preparing to follow and teach Harlow's Training With Trust™ program.”

Harlow has given the boys at The Ranch a “leg up” by donating his time and resources to The Ranch's equine program. “Recently, Harlow and his assistant, Shawn, spent an entire day with our boys and staff working on horse training techniques, as well as sharing inspirational life lessons with the guys,” states McClanahan. “Harlow is for real. This man shares from his heart.” Other staff members at The Ranch remark that Harlow's interest and concern has truly made a positive impact on the residents.

The Ranch's equine program operates almost entirely on the donations of generous supporters. “Harlow's personal interest and assistance has inspired us to take this program to a higher level,” McClanahan notes. “We will be sending a staff member to attend and participate in Harlow's apprenticeship and certification training program. ”The Ranch will use Harlow's program to teach positive relationship skills to the residents that can be practiced with the horses, but will also help students understand human social patterns as well.