Every year the horsemanship program for Native American youth, started by Santa Fe Indian School teacher Luke Reed, changes. This year, he added a new after-school program and changed the name of the program from Sunkawakan's Gift to Learning Horse, Inc.

But one thing remains the same — the program needs support from the community to stay afloat. Reed recently announced Learning Horse's big fundraiser for the year: The Cowboys' Sweetheart Ball, a Valentine's Day event at the Scottish Rite Temple.

The bash, which costs a tax-deductible donation of $50, will includes an authentic chuckwagon barbecue meal followed by dancing to The Modern Swing Pioneers and special guest Floyd Domino, the original pianist for Asleep at the Wheel.

Last year, the Valentine's Day fundraiser raised about $3,000. Reed said it costs about $50,000 to run the program and a majority of that money comes from in-kind donations and grants. The program relies on the annual fundraiser to help close the gap. Learning Horse is a nonprofit that has Santa Fe Partners in Education as its fiscal sponsor.

Reed is happy about all the changes over the last year, he said, which happened for several reasons.

Reed had been running an intensive, five-hour Saturday program for the past two years, but the school wanted Reed to reach the kids who travel home on the weekends, so he started the after-school program, which is serving six students.

"I think with the lower numbers I was working with, it seemed those kids connect with the horses faster and we were able to get out and do trail rides," Reed explained. The program is based on his private 13 acres in the Lone Butte and San Marcos area. "That's the first time we've gotten the kids to the point that we felt comfortable with them getting out in a big area like that and riding."

As for the name change, Reed said the old name wasn't really applicable to his kids.

"Sunkawakan is a Lakota word for horse. It means 'holy dog' and refers to the spiritual nature of the relationship between horse and man," Reed said. "But we felt it was confusing because some people had trouble pronouncing it or spelling it; also the idea that it's a Lakota word and our program — although open to all tribes — is more based in Pueblo country. The kids we serve are either Pueblo or Navajo.

"Mainly (Learning Horse) serves the communities that are here in Northern New Mexico, and we wanted a name that was more inclusive and descriptive of what the program was about."

Also, Reed got certified through the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association to do activities that can help the kids better interact with the horses and develop leadership skills.

"Some of those activities — even if they're not riding activities — are horse games that the group will do to teach them team-building, problem-solving, critical thinking and leadership," Reed said. Last summer, Learning Horse offered the Summer Policy Institute through the Leadership Institute, a leadership-training seminar for Native American high-school and college students.

With Learning Horse, Reed is achieving what he set out to do, he said.

"When we formed the program, it was based on a conversation between myself and some Native American colleagues of mine that access to the horse is declining in a lot of our Native American communities around here," Reed said. Now he's providing that access to his students, which has helped them in various ways. "I think it really strengthens their self-image so it allows them to be successful in other areas like school, becoming active in other programs and becoming more spiritually, physically and emotionally healthy."

Contact Ana Maria Trujillo at 986-3084 or atrujillo@sfnewmexican.com.

IF YOU GO

What: The Cowboys' Sweetheart Ball, a fundraiser for Learning Horse

When: From 6 to 10 p.m., Feb. 13

Where: Scottish Rite Temple Ballroom, 463 Paseo de Peralta

Cost: $50 tax-deductible donation

To purchase tickets: Call 982-0462 or 474-0240.