Detroit Horse Power has provided free summer horse camps and an after-school program to middle school and high school-aged Detroit youth at partner horse barns outside the city. The goal has always been to reactivate a sizeable vacant land site in Detroit to build an urban equestrian center. The project supported by the Knight Emerging City Champions program is to document the history of the land and horses in the city, from which Detroit Horse Power is building. 

Detroit Horse Power has crossed many significant milestones in the past six months. The organization closed on purchasing the 14-acre demolished Detroit school site where the urban equestrian center will be built, received a $1,400,000 award from Wayne County, MI, and held a ceremonial groundbreaking with more than 300 attendees on October 21. 

Community members from the neighborhood around Detroit Horse Power’s site have been ecstatic about the progress of this significant development, building on years of engagement with residents to prepare for this moment. This progress is also a big deal for Detroit Horse Power’s students, who cannot wait for consistent access to their horses in their community. 

Detroit Horse Power’s most significant challenges have been funding and navigating all the requirements of a significant development like this. Building relationships with individuals, foundations, corporations, and governmental entities takes time, and Detroit Horse Power’s capital campaign reflects years of stakeholder cultivation. Similarly, finalizing construction documents, confirming a guaranteed maximum price contract, and securing building permits are also time-consuming and have adapted to mile-long setbacks.

Remaining persistent in the face of obstacles and leaning on an experienced team of professionals has been
crucial to progressing through these challenges.

The next six months will focus on beginning the construction process toward the grand opening of 2026. Documenting the history of this property and horses in Detroit are key objectives that will help ground the new facility and everyone who comes through its doors in the context of what has come before. 

About David Silver

David is a former competitive horseback rider who moved to Detroit in 2012 to become an elementary school teacher. Ten years ago, he left the classroom to start Detroit Horse Power to make the life-changing opportunities horses provided him available to kids like his Detroit students. 

Follow David on Instagram @detroithorsepower, on Facebook @dethorsepower #DetroitHorsePower
Visit Detroit Horse Power website.