By Henry Luzzatto

Correspondent

The children of SCM Vision summer camp got a chance to meet, pet and ride horses and ponies Wednesday.

Many of the campers said this was their first experience with live horses. The children looked on in awe as Anthony Boatner and his children, Imani, 12, and Isaiah, 6, rode the horses.

The Rev. Sylvia Murphy, the chief executive officer of SCM Vision, said the organization is a faith-based nonprofit that offers a month-long camp in the summer. Based at Oak Grove Baptist Church, it also offers tutoring services every Thursday during the school year, as well as other programs and activities through the year.

Murphy said she started her summer camp to educate children from low- to moderate-income families and give them opportunities to experience things they could not otherwise.

“We want to let these children be more exposed to culture,” Murphy said.

Of the 52 children signed up for camp at SCM Vision, 45 came to ride the horses. The first group of children, aged 5 to 8, got a chance to ride a pony and pet a horse as Anthony and Imani Boatner informed them about the animals.

Anthony Boatner, who owns the horses, said he has been riding horses all of his life. He passed the lifestyle on to his children, who both demonstrated their riding skills for the campers.

Imani and Isaiah Boatner said they have been riding since they could walk.

Anthony Boatner said he invited SCM Vision to ride with his family so the children could “learn something different.”

Ken Wright, president of Buffalo Riders riding club, told the children stories and facts about the history of horse riding and black cowboys. Anthony Boatner is a member of the riding club.

Later in the morning, children aged 9-12 were allowed to ride Diesel, the Boatners’ first horse. Most of the campers rode, and some volunteers and counselors ended up riding, too.

Tamarion Jones, age 9, said he enjoyed riding the horse and did not want to get off.

Murphy said SCM Vision hopes to use donations to pay for horseback riding lessons for the campers, if possible.

“This is an opportunity they wouldn’t get any other way,” Murphy said.