January 2023

HwH is the Premier Accredited Center in Northern Arizona

Harnessing the proven benefits of therapeutic horsemanship, Horses with Heart (HwH) helps transform the lives of disabled children and adults—including U.S. military veterans—as they gain confidence, dignity and independence by riding our trained horses under the direction of highly-credentialed staff.

HAPPY NEW YEAR from HORSES with HEART!

Your Tax Donation

It’s the time of year to consider making a charitable tax deduction to Horses with Heart in order to cut your state tax bill. Because Horses with Heart is a qualifying charity in the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit Program, you could cut your state tax bill by up to $800 (married couple filing jointly) or $400 (single filing). {QCO CODE: 20347} To give, contact Angelique LeVell: hwhexecdir@gmail.com, or call 928-533-9178 or mail your check payable to: Horses with Heart, P.O. Box 2427, Chino Valley, AZ 86323.

2022 Total Volunteer Hours

In 2022, our Horses with Heart Volunteers logged a total of 24,496.45 volunteer hours! We are so thankful for everyone who helped Horses with Heart this past year, we couldn’t do it without all the hard work and dedication of our volunteers. If you participate in any volunteer activities over the winter, make sure to log your hours in Wranglr!

Amazon Smile

You can give twice when you buy from Amazon. Just visit AMAZON SMILE and sign up today. Then designate Horses with Heart as your charitable organization. Every time you buy through Amazon Smile, Amazon will contribute a portion of your purchase to Horses with Heart. Every dollar adds up to help support our programs! HwH received $63.40 from Amazon Smile for the third quarter (July – September) of this year.

New Program at Horses with Heart ~ Silver Carriage     

Horses with Heart will roll out a new equine education class in 2023. Silver Carriage is a five-week class for introductory cart driving. Each one-hour class will teach basic driving skills, harnessing, cart management and introduce competitive driving and shows. All classes will be taught by HwH volunteer, Lisa Lucidi. Lisa will be using her Shetland pony, Simon, a proficient and proven driving equine. No driving or riding experience is required. Helmets will be required and thin, leather gloves are suggested. There is a 180-pound weight limit for the driving student and good mobility is required to drive, but each applicant will be assessed individually for compatibility and safety. For now, all classes will be held on Wednesday, following the same session schedule as the HWH mounted classes. Tentative class times will be 11:30 am, 1:00 pm and 2:30 pm, and two to three students will be able to participate in each class. Please contact Lisa with any questions. To register, email Jan Grise, Program Director, by clicking the button below, “To Register”.

Volunteer of the Month ~ Lisa Lucidi

The January Volunteer of the Month is Lisa Lucidi, who has been a volunteer at Horses with Heart for the last seven years. In that time, she has taken on numerous roles, including instructing Silver Saddle classes and serving as President of our Board of Directors. She will also be teaching Horses with Heart’s new program, Silver Carriage, in 2023.

Q & A

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

I started in 2016.

2.       Why do you volunteer at Horses with Heart?

I think what we do has value and I want to be a part of something wonderful.

3.       What is your favorite memory or moment at Horses with Heart? 

 Love watching my Sam with the riders! Always lots of smiles.

4.       If you could share one thing with new volunteers, what would that be?

Always challenge yourself to do better, at everything.  Be kind to people, you never know what kind of day they are having.

Marvelous Minis 2022 Recap

The Marvelous Minis entertained the community with 12 programs in 2022. Our Marvelous Mini herd has grown this year. Two new volunteers brought their experienced therapy minis into the program: Liberty (owned by Meg Blackmon) and Sparky (owned by Elaine Taute) have joined our own Rocky, and Michelle and Rob Whan’s minis Tessa, Paisley, Pirate, Bobbi Sox, and Milo the mini donkey. This was a record year with 28 volunteers signed up for the MM program!

Meet Our New Executive Administrative Assistant ~ Bill Waddell

Bill retired from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in 2018 after 35 years of combined military and Department of Defense service as an imagery intelligence analyst.  He taught Ground Forces Order-of-Battle and Asymmetric Warfare for more than five years at the National Geospatial-Intelligence College, and now puts that experience to good use in our programs.  Bill deployed twice to Iraq and three times to Afghanistan, providing intelligence support to combat operations by various elements of US Special Operations Command; as a veteran himself, Bill can relate easily to our veteran riders.  His family’s service to our veterans extends to his wife, Yen, a phlebotomist at the VA Medical Center in Prescott. Welcome Bill!

30th Anniversary Merchandise

We still have 30th Anniversary merchandise for sale. We have pint glasses, coffee mugs, hats, long-sleeve shirts, sweaters, and more! Stop by the office to buy your Horses with Heart 30th Anniversary items today!

Indoor Riding Arena

For More Information: CLICK HERE

The ranch is quiet with all the horses at their winter homes. HwH suspends riding every winter, reopening in the spring. Drum-roll please: in the future HwH will not have to close in the winter because we will have an indoor riding arena enabling us to ride year-round!  HwH’s campaign to fundraise the construction of an indoor arena was unveiled at Sequins and Saddles. Please ask us questions; let us know if you would like to join and/or assist our development committee, or contribute to our Capital Project Fundraiser.  It is so exciting!!

Primary contacts for this project are Angelique LeVell, HwH Executive Director, and Mike Cohn, HwH Development Committee Chairman.

Winter Horse Fosters

It’s gotten quiet around the center- there’s no more poop to shovel or water buckets to fill.  Please join us in thanking all those who are caring for our mighty steeds over the winter:

  • Ben                  Geri & Tom Keenan

  • Brownie            Carol Gora and Jackie and Anna Boyd

  • Butters             Boulder Mountain Therapy in Phoenix

  • Chili                  Jeremy Owens

  • EBay                 Carol Gora and Jackie and Anna Boyd

  • Frankie             Mike and Lee Cohn

  • Gladys              Larry Larsen and Traci Ranic

  • Jazz                  Kris Dockum

  • Jewel                Patty Lipp

  • Melva               Charles Driver

  • Rocky               Mary Smith and Maureen Owen

  • Sam                  Lisa Lucidi

  • Shadow            Pam Berry

  • Son                   Kris Vollrath and Marcia Gagnon

  • Stumpy             Sherry Hoover and Deborah Thomas

  • Sweet Pea        J Bird Ranch*

  • Zee        J Bird Ranch*

*The horses at J Bird Ranch are generously sponsored by Helen Collins, Gloria Reid, Mary Jane Gunter, Pattie Baker, Jill Underwood, and Winkie Robb.

2023 Horse Sponsors

To Download Sponsorship Form: CLICK HERE

The HwH horses are currently at their winter homes being cared for by their winter fosters. Their foster “parent” provides a home, feed, and daily care. In return the fosters receive love and kisses from their horse while HwH receives a generous gift of not having these expenses during the winter months.

Horses with Heart’s largest operating expense – by far – is taking care of our horses, the stars of our therapeutic riding program. Hay prices have increased again this month; hay bales that were $16 this summer are now $30 each. HwH started a horse sponsorship program in 2022 and our generous horse sponsors raised $22,000. Because of their generosity, HwH is only increasing rider fees by $20 in 2023. What a blessing!

HwH is offering 2023 sponsorship opportunities at the below levels. Each riding session is five weeks long, with an additional sixth week reserved for weather make-ups. HwH 2023 riding season consists of five sessions. By sponsoring a horse and/or pony you can subsidize the cost of feed, farrier, and vet care. The horses/ponies are on the HwH property and cared for by HwH team members and dedicated volunteers. Reserve your favorite horse or pony to sponsor today. Horse sponsorships are tax deductible!

Horse Sponsorship:

  • One Session: $500

  • Two Sessions: $1000

  • Three Sessions: $1500

  • Four Sessions: $2000

  • Five Sessions: $2500

Pony Sponsorship:

  • One Session: $250

  • Two Sessions: $500

  • Three Sessions: $750

  • Four Sessions: $1000

  • Five Sessions: $1250

Heroes on Horses

Spring will soon be in the air, especially at Westworld in Scottsdale. Horses with Heart veterans will participate in the second annual Heroes on Horses on March 7th and 8th during the Sun Circuit show. Thank you to Bob and Ingrid Miller and the National Snaffle Bit Association Foundation for sponsoring this event honoring and celebrating our mounted and unmounted veterans. Additional information is available at: https://www.suncircuit.com/heroes-on-horses/

HwH veterans may ride in the Walk – Trot western pleasure class with fellow veterans from therapeutic riding centers in Arizona and in the ceremony. HwH veterans who want to participate but do not want to ride are invited and encouraged to march in the moving Parade of Heroes. This is an awesome opportunity to meet fellow riding veterans across the state. For more information ask Angelique, our HwH veterans who participated last year, or our volunteers who came down and enjoyed the experience.

Riding veterans may choose to use their own horse, a loaned horse, or a HwH horse. All horses will need a Coggins and health certificate. Veterans who are considering riding please contact Angelique at hwhexecdir@gmail.com by January 6th. Veterans who would prefer to march should contact Angelique by February 3rd.

The Horses with Heart office will be closed on March 7th and 8th as our team will all be at Westworld. We hope many of you will join us and consider purchasing a shirt designed for this event to represent Horses with Heart. These long-sleeved shirts are made with a sports fabric that will be comfortable at Westworld in March and at HwH this summer. Men’s and ladies’ shirt styles and sizes are available; S-XL are $30 and XXL are $31. Orders are due by Friday, January 13th. To place your order, email Chelsea with your style and size choice.

Looking Ahead to 2023

If you are interested in registering for a 2023 riding class (Therapeutic, Veterans, Silver Carriage, or Silver Saddle), please contact Jan Grise, Program Director.

Volunteer Orientations for 2023 will begin at the end of February. If you’d like to volunteer in 2023, please contact Chelsea Barth, Volunteer Coordinator to reserve a spot in an upcoming Orientation. If you’re interested in helping in therapeutic riding classes, please reserve a spot in an SST Training class.

Stay tuned: there are many exciting plans for the new year!  See the 2023 calendar below, AND don’t miss out on the fun!

Stay tuned: there are many exciting plans ahead for the new year!  See the 2023 calendar by CLICKING HERE, AND don’t miss out on the fun!

 2023 Fun-A-Thon

This year, the Bowl-a-Thon will be a Fun-a-Thon, complete with games, food, and lots of fun!  It will be held at the Adult Center, 1280 Unit B East Rosser St. in Prescott on Saturday, February 11th from 10 am to 2 pm. The cost for this event is $20.00 for a single person (includes five tickets) and $30.00 per family (includes 10 tickets).  Pledge packets are available at the office for riders and volunteers who want to help raise funds to offset the cost of therapeutic riding. Everyone is encouraged to come to the Fun-a-Thon. The person (under age 18) with the most pledges will be crowned King or Queen and receive a prize; there will also be a prize for the adult winner.  If you would like to help with set up or breakdown for this event, please contact Debi.

To learn more and download forms: CLICK HERE

Volunteer and Donor Appreciation Luncheon

Here at HwH, we appreciate our volunteers and donors all year long, and now it is time to say THANK YOU for the support you have so generously given! On Saturday, February 4th, 2023, we are going to celebrate with a luncheon at First Southern Baptist Church of Chino Valley. The entrees, prepared by Laura Smart, will be a delicious serving of Baked Ziti or Vegetable Alfredo, accompanied by bread, salad, and dessert. Certificates and pins will be given out at that time, along with the crowning of our 2022 Volunteer of the Year recipient.

Volunteers who logged more than 10 hours in 2022 and donors who contributed more than $250 will be receiving invites by mail at the beginning of January. Please RSVP no later than January 20th by clicking the button below and emailing Chelsea.

Gas Card

Our November winner of the $25 gas card was Laura Jaramillo. Congratulations! We will resume our gas card raffle in March.

Where to Find HwH News?

 

Around Our Center

All is quiet, except on Wednesdays!  Despite the chilly weather, our facilities crew is hard at work on those projects we put off until sessions have ended and horses are gone.  Fences are being repaired or moved, and general maintenance or upgrades to facilities that are difficult to do when there is activity at the ranch are in process.  We have contracted some construction projects that will begin in January and we're doing what needs to be done to get ready.  If you're looking for something to do or just want to see our progress, stop by on a Wednesday morning and check it out.

Calendar of Events

  • February 4 ~ Volunteer and Donor Appreciation Luncheon, First Southern Baptist Church, Chino Valley, 11:30 am

  • February 11 ~ Fun-a-thon, The Center of Prescott (formerly The Adult Center), 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

  • February 24th ~ Returning Volunteer Orientation, at Horses with Heart, 3:30 – 4:30 pm

  • February 25th ~ Returning Volunteer Orientation, at Horses with Heart, 8:30 – 9:30 am

  • February 25th ~ Returning Volunteer SST Training, at Horses with Heart 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

  • March 3rd ~ New Volunteer Orientation, at Horses with Heart, 3:30 – 5:00 pm

  • March 4th ~ New Volunteer Orientation, at Horses with Heart, 8:30 – 10:00 am

  • March 4th ~ New Volunteer SST Training, at Horses with Heart, 10:30 am – 1:30 pm

  • March 11th ~ Competition Team Season Begins

  • March 20th ~ Riding Session 1 Begins

  • April 15th and 16th ~ Chino Valley Equestrian Park Horse Show

  • May 20th and 21st ~ Chino Valley Equestrian Park Horse Show

  • June 24th ~ Horses with Heart 30th Anniversary Celebration

  • June 24th and 25th ~ Chino Valley Equestrian Park Horse Show

HELP US MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OTHERS

From donations to sponsorships to SHOPPING for holidays, birthdays or weddings you can make a difference for others and Horses with Heart.