Your February 2025 Newsletter

Session 1 Begins March 24th!

Classes are filling up fast for our 2025 season! We continue to offer classes for all ages, levels, and needs. All classes offer the opportunity to work on specific goals with an Instructor or Facilitator while using our horses, both mounted and non, to benefit physically, emotionally, and socially. Classes are offered privately or in group settings depending on the participants’ needs and requests. Our Therapeutic, Veteran, Silver Saddles (45+), Equine Assisted Learning, and Unmounted Horsemanship classes are available in increments of five-week sessions spanning throughout the year starting in March and ending in November. If you are interested in more information or submitting your application to join a class, please contact Aireal Dallam, Program Coordinator, at hwhprograms@gmail.com or 503-901-5297.

Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon Recap

A wonderful time was had by all at the annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon held on Saturday, January 18th. Around 100 volunteers, staff, and board members celebrated with a delicious luncheon prepared by Laura Smart and Malenna Gonsalves. We want to give special recognition to the help we received from Debbie Hutchens and Annette DeMarco for their hard work and dedication to this event. An inspiring testimony was given by Jonathan, Jenifer, Sutton and Landry King.

Milestone Anniversary Awards were called up:

• 5-Year: Marcia Gagnon, Jane Hubbard, Laura Jaramillo, Toni Sola (not pictured), and Barbara Stuckey.

• 25-Year: Malenna Gonzalves

We found out about all the Volunteer of the Year nominees: Sally Gray, Teresa Franco, Kate Adams, Laura Jaramillo, Gloria Reid, Winkie Robb, Karen Richert, Lynn Valenti. Not pictured Helen Collins, Sandy Owens and Dwayne Toombs.

Touch A Truck ~ February 8th, 2025

HwH will be participating in the 3rd Annual Touch A Truck event being held in Camp Verde, AZ. This event takes place on Saturday, February 8th, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. We will be sharing a space with the AZ Flywheeler and Antique Tractor Club. This event will be lots of fun with photo opportunities touching, sitting on, and walking inside a horse trailer. HwH will be sharing space with our friends and members of the Antique Tractor and Engine club. The address is: 990 E. Champion Trail, Camp Verde, AZ. 86322  If you have any questions, please contact Jim and Trudy Radley at HwH 928-713-4016.

Marvelous Minis January Programs

Rocky here. I’ve taken over press release duties for the Marvelous Minis Column this month. Mary’s original effort was a little puny, so I gave her the red pencil and told her she can edit this. Puny? Really? Haha! What’s that mean—haha? That will be edited out. (Sure. Wink, wink!)

We Marvelous Minis let the volunteers have the month of January off.  You know—humans don’t grow a winter coat so they like to hide in their warm shelters during the cold weather. We don’t hide. That will be edited. I’m doing just fine with my 2⅜-inch-deep winter fur (yes, Mary measured it. Like she doesn’t have anything better to do!).  Excuse me! I’m looking out for your best interests. I spend all my time outside of my shelter playing with my buddy, Gus!

Let me introduce Gus. Gus is my roommate. We became BFFs instantly when I arrived at the Cuthbertson’s to begin my winter break!

Gus and I go everywhere together; we even do our cavaletti PT together! We run and run in our huge “zoomies area.” Lisa is happy when we run. I guess Gus didn’t run so much until I got there. I’m a good influence on Gus! Add to this sentence “most of the time.”

Sometimes I wonder how my HwH neigh-bors Stumpy and Cowboy are doing? I’m pretty sure they’re having a great break, too!

The days are getting longer now. Soon the humans will be peeking out of their shelters to see if it’s warm enough to come out of hiding. That whole sentence has to be deleted. What did I tell you? Strike it out!

Nope. I’m hitting the send button!

Upcoming Horse Handler Trainings

It’s that time of year again, horses are coming back to Horses with Heart!

Are you new to horses? Would you like to have additional confidence around horses? Do you want to get involved in the Grooming Team or the Marvelous Minis program? If yes to any of these questions, one of these training sessions is for you!

If you have been, or want to be on the Wednesday morning Grooming Team, select one of these:

• 02/26 Returning Groomer Horse Handler Training 10:00 AM

• 03/12 New Volunteer Groomer Horse Handler Training 10:00 AM

• Please email your interest to Bonnie Moreau at bchere58@hotmail.com.

If you have been, or want to be on the a part of the Marvelous Minis Program, this training is for you:

• 03/05 Marvelous Minis Horse Handler Training 1:00 PM

• Please email your interest to Jan Grise at jangrisehwh@gmail.com

If you want more General Horse Handling or work your way to become a Horse Leader, or help with turnouts, this training is for you:

• 03/01 General Horse Handler Training 1:00 – 2:30 PM (Please note that if you would like to help with classes, you also need to attend a Safety Support Team Training)

• Please email your interest to Sherry Hoover at sherryhwh@gmail.com

***Please note that some of the information for these trainings will overlap, so there is no need to attend multiple trainings. ***

Volunteer of the Month - Sandy Owens

We are thrilled to recognize Sandy Owens as our Volunteer of the Month for February!

Sandy has been a cherished member of the Horses with Heart (HwH) family for 12 years. Her journey began as the devoted parent of Jeremy and Baylee Owens, who ride with our Competition Team, formerly known as Special Olympics. Over the years, Sandy has expressed immense gratitude for the positive impact HwH has had not only on her children but also on her entire family.

Her passion and dedication have made her an exceptional advocate for Horses with Heart. Whether supporting programs, staff, or volunteers, Sandy’s unwavering enthusiasm and optimism inspire everyone around her. Her “get-it-done” approach shines in everything she takes on, whether she’s serving as a Sidewalker in the arena, contributing to fundraising committees, or providing vital administrative support.

In October, Sandy played a key role in the success of our Sequins and Saddles Gala. Her remarkable fundraising and organizational talents helped make it our most successful event to date, raising critical funds to support HwH’s mission.

Sandy’s commitment doesn’t stop there. She was recently nominated and proudly accepted a position on our Board of Directors. Her extensive experience and community connections are already proving invaluable as HwH continues to grow and thrive.

Sandy Owens is truly a shining star in our organization. We are grateful for her tireless dedication, and we’re honored to recognize her invaluable contributions to Horses with Heart.

1. How long have you been with Horses with Heart?  13 years

2. Why do I volunteer at HwH? I volunteer because I believe in the program and what it does. Having two special needs kids in the program, I have seen it work.

3. My favorite memory?  My favorite memory is when we went to California to the World Games to support a rider from HwH.

4. What would I share with new volunteers? I would tell volunteers that everything they do makes a difference in someone's life ... But what it does for yourself can be life changing.

SAVE THE DATE! ~ Prescott Rodeo Parade

We will be participating in the Prescott Rodeo Parade again this year. The Parade is Saturday, July 5th, and we will need lots of help on the day of the parade and with the planning process.  Our first planning meeting is Saturday, February 8th at 10:00 AM in the Horses with Heart office.  If you can’t attend the meeting, but would like to get involved please email Sherry Hoover at sherryhwh@gmail.com.