Your 2025 August Newsletter

Frontier Days Parade

The Horses with Heart parade entry “Tipping our Hats to Women in Rodeo with Disabilities” was beautiful and a sight to behold on Saturday, July 5th! Thank you to all who participated in the planning, transporting, decorating, and tear down of the entry and to our entry riders and walkers. What a fun morning! A special thank you goes out to those who donated items for the parade: Susanne Baker, Sherry Hoover, Wendi Malmgren and Kim Pagones. Kris Dockum for sewing the skirting, Sel Larson our tractor driver, Trudy and Jim Radley for use of the Haywagon, Corvis Distributing and Bonnie Moreau for the use of their box truck, Mickey Kissell for roping the steer throughout the route, our much loved “Hope-a-Long”, Karen Richert our photographer, Olsen’s Grain for the straw, Tom’s Print shop, and the fabulous parade committee team led by Susanne Baker! We could not have done it without you!

Thank you to the following staff, volunteers, and participants for being a part of the parade: Susanne Baker, Kim and Rob Pagones, Gretchen and Tim D’Andrea, Trudy Chapman-Radley, Kris Vollrath, Marcia Gagnon, Mickey Kissell, Susan Paetz, Margaret Kilian, Sherry and Russ Hoover, Sel Larson, Bonnie, Bennett and Noelle Moreau, Anne Spiess, Michelle and Kathleen Sullivan, Kim Cole, Jade Hayzlett, Karen and John Richert, Aireal Dallam, Adrienne Ernst.

Special announcement!

Program Coordinator Aireal Dallam had her baby! We are so excited to welcome baby Jackson, whose nickname will be Jack. Born on Friday, July 11th at 4:31 pm, Jack weighed in at 7lbs. 15 oz. and is 20 inches long.

We are so happy for Aireal and husband Josh as they welcome into the world their new baby boy, Jack.

Summer Clinics and Trainings

We still have several training sessions this summer.  Have you ever wanted to learn the basics of ASL (American Sign Language)? Our wonderful volunteer Sue Stephenson will be teaching us some basics on Tuesday, August 5th from 6:00 - 7:00 pm in the Horses with Heart office.  Spaces are limited, so please sign up by emailing Sherry Hoover at sherryhwh@gmail.com. 

Are you on a Safety Support Team, and are not confident to help with emergency dismounts? We would love to provide you with some hands-on training Friday, August 8th at 9:00 am in the covered arena. Please sign up by emailing Sherry Hoover at sherryhwh@gmail.com.

A CPR & First Aid class was held at Horses with Heart on July 23rd, presented by Adventure Medics. 11 were in attendance,  including volunteers, riders and their parents.   Included in the First Aid, CPR and the use of an AED device training, attendees learned how to deal with heat related issues, head traumas and other outdoor related injuries.  The  response was so good for this clinic, we may offer it several times a year!

Wrangler Volunteer Luncheon

WOW! We had a great turnout for our Wranglr Volunteer Appreciation Lunch. The morning started with a Marvelous Mini’s demonstration from Mary Smith and Meg Blackmon who brought her mini horses, Frosty and Liberty. Heidi Harvey also helped Meg with her horses. It was very informative and fun to listen and watch what our mini’s can do.

Delicious hamburgers and hotdogs were grilled and served along with baked beans, coleslaw, chips, watermelon, and cookies and brownies. The afternoon concluded with 42 donated amazing items for our wrangler raffle that was lots of fun. Overall the lunch was a great success.

A HUGE thank you to the following staff and volunteers that helped make the luncheon such a fun event:

 Sandra Owens, Jeremy Owens, Helen Collins, Anne Spiess, Debi Covington, Mark Covington, Dan Kavanaugh, Debbie Hutchens,  Kris Vollrath, Kristina & Mya McConnell, Mackenzie, Susan Paez, Tessie Cassaday, Heidi Harvey, Meg Blackmon and of course Frosty and Liberty.

Marvelous Minis Events:

Hello all my faithful followers! Rocky, here. You haven’t seen me around the HwH center since July 3, but fear not—I will be back in about three weeks. I demanded—yes, demanded—to get a break to visit my buddy Gus. It was getting tiresome listening to my human staff commiserate about the heat, or my penchant for grabbing grass, or what if it rains, and on and on. Well…cry me a river! We horses are fine with all that, but we’ll give our fragile humans the summer off!

I couldn’t believe it when Mary said she and Trudy were going to do a MM program over in Camp Verde with Trudy’s Minis for summer camp kids. Check out the pics below that Trudy took. There’s Mini Rose! I’ve worked with Rose befo--------Wait a minute. Is that a goat? They replaced me with a GOAT?! How is that even legal? I’m checking my contract! Big snort!

Well, where was I? Oh, yeah. Liberty and Frosty filled in for me at the Volunteer Wranglr luncheon (see photo elsewhere in this newsletter). Brady and Remy had a ball at the SNAP dance at the Armory! Everyone wanted a photo with them! Mary said some dancers wondered where I was. Of course they did!

P.S. from Mary Smith: Thanks to volunteers Heidi Harvey, Diane McCoy, Sally Gray, Laura Jaramillo, Margaret Kilian, Sue Jordan, for interrupting their summer break to add some Marvelous Minis joy for the folks at the SNAP dance!

[Photo credit: Laura Jaramillo, Karlyne Crewse, Trudy Chapman-Radley] 

Competition Team Update:

The HwH Competition Team is taking a well deserved break and avoiding the heat. But we will be back for our Fall Riding Session beginning on Saturday August 30th. If you’d like more information on the HwH Competition Team, to sponsor or volunteer, please reach out to Pam Berry at hwhcompteam@gmail.com or 928-899-4759.

Volunteers of the Month: MIKE ZENNER

Mike joined Horses with Heart in 2023 and has served in many roles.  From a member of our Board of Directors to mucking, Mike serves with a willing and humble heart. He has been on several Safety Support Teams and is a dedicated, caring Coach for each rider he is assigned. Mike celebrates their “wins” and helps work through the challenges. One of his rider’s moms refers to him as “Uncle Mike”! Mike is also on our mucking and feeding team several days a week and helps with property improvements. He is skilled, efficient and has a smile for everyone he encounters. We are thankful to have a volunteer like Mike Zenner.

1. How long have you been with Horses with Heart? I've been with the organization for about 2 1/2 years.

2. Why do you volunteer at HWH? The things that happen at HwH are very special but it's the amazingly dedicated group of staff and volunteers that make everything so worthwhile.

3. What is your favorite memory? The joy on the faces of the students during class sessions is my favorite but I also love the satisfaction of mucking and feeding the horses.

4. What would you share with new volunteers? Just jump in! It's a wonderful place to spend a few hours of your time each week.

BOB SITTERLEY

Bob joined us this past March and has jumped right in when asked. He is highly skilled at fixing anything that comes up and has a willing can-do attitude. Bob thinks out of the box and will rework and repair tirelessly until he is satisfied. Our ranch always needs maintenance and he is our volunteer that will get it done! Thank you, Bob, for helping to maintain facilities around here. We are grateful to have you on board!

1. How long have you been with Horses with Heart? Since March 2025

2. Why do you volunteer at HWH? I like to keep busy and enjoy fixing things more than using them.

3. What is your favorite memory? We were putting up an additional piece of fencing between Peanut and Swifty and at one point Swifty came sniffing over my shoulder, gave me a gentle nuzzle so I knew he approved of my work.

4. What would you share with new volunteers? Go on and give it a try.