R Victoria Jodis
Executive Director
Leads programs, partnerships, and the day-to-day work across our partner service providers.
About
A small herd, a clear purpose.
Chukkers for Children is an initiative of the Leonard C. Maudens Foundation. We work across the Santa Ynez Valley and Montecito with retired polo ponies and the young people who need them most.
Mission
What we do, in one sentence.
We empower at risk, special needs, and neurodivergent young people through equine-assisted activities with retired polo ponies, building confidence and resilience one session at a time.
That's the sentence. The rest of this page is how we do it and why it works.
Why horses
Honest, immediate feedback.
Horses don't grade, label, or rush. They respond to what's actually happening in the moment - body tension, breath, eye contact. For a child who's used to being misread, this is profound.
Equine therapy may lower cortisol, builds self-awareness, and develops the emotional regulation and empathy that classroom interventions often can't reach. Our ponies are polo veterans: patient, steady, and used to working closely with people.
History
The Maudens Foundation.
In November of 2025, the Leonard C. Maudens Foundation began supporting youth programs in Southern California. Chukkers for Children is the Foundation's funding arm for equine-assisted therapy and programs, bringing together its mission, its volunteers, and the retired polo herd.
We are a community: Families, therapists, trainers, volunteers, and ponies - all in the same arena.
People
The team in the arena.
Tracy Ward
Horse Trainer
Conditions the retired polo ponies for therapeutic work and trains volunteer handlers.
Tennyson Hamir
Polo Advisor
Polo professional from Coachella and Buenos Aires; mentors riders and shapes the event program.
Meet the herd
Fiesta, our white mare.
Fiesta is the calm steady presence kids meet first. Retired from the polo field, she now spends her afternoons being gently brushed, fed apples, and trusted by children learning what trust feels like.
She is the unofficial face of CFC - and a regular on Family Days.
Get involved
Volunteer mornings & Family Days.
The work runs on the people around it. Volunteers handle ponies, help with sessions, and keep the herd well. No horse experience required - we'll teach you. Family Days are free and open to everyone.
Want to see it in person?
We welcome anyone curious about the work. Reach out to arrange a visit and come meet Fiesta and the rest of the herd.