Researchers believe that 90% of emotional communication is non-verbal (Gibbs, 1995). Monty Roberts (1997), and many others in the equestrian industry, recognize the power of using horses as a communication tool for humans. The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) is an organization whose mission is to promote and support equine-facilitated activities, including communication, self-awareness and self-esteem. A learning organization incorporates the elements of a shared vision, personal mastery, systems thinking, mental models, and team learning. This study found that there are NARHA members that possess a learning organization philosophy and therefore could possibly be interested in creating an equestrian learning center in Frankenmuth, MI. Sixty-seven percent of the learning organization questions were answered affirmatively with either strongly agree or agree; almost half of those were in the strongly agree category. Additionally, because a lack of self-esteem and self-awareness directly relate to the vulnerability of young people, the literature review of this study explores youth as a potential target market for programs offered by an equestrian learning center
