June 2022

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.

Welcome Kelly Holiday, our new Volunteer Coordinator!  

You may recognize her; she has been one of our trustworthy stable hands the last few months. She is often finished with her feeding and mucking tasks before most people awake, and she comes after classes to do the same. Kelly brings lots of enthusiasm and experience to this job. Please stop in the office on Mondays and Fridays or catch her feeding the horses early am or late pm. To contact Kelly at Horses with Heart by clicking one of the buttons below.

Q&A

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

   I have been a volunteer for almost two years.

2. Why do you volunteer at Horses with Heart?

   When I decided to volunteer with horses, I visited a few facilities. I grew up in the city. So, my interest in horses was from afar. Horses with Heart was a good match. The organization was willing to accept a novice, and teach me the ropes. Whenever I come out to the ranch, I learn something new. It also gives me the opportunity to give back to my community and witness the positive impact of the program for the riders.

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

   I enjoy everything about Horses with Heart. Regardless of the task, whether I am mucking or coaching a rider, it's always fun! The ranch is a wonderful place that always has an air of goodness about it. Everyone is so kind and generous with their experience and knowledge.

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

   Be open, try something new. You may be nudged into a new role, accept the challenge, because somehow the “nudger” knows you are ready. Everyone is willing to answer a question or teach a task.

Wranglr Update

Did you know that Wrangler…?

• keeps a wonderful database of all HwH’s volunteers? This helps us send our volunteers our informative monthly newsletters, as well as keeping everyone informed of important events.

• helps us keep track of our volunteer hours, which help us obtain grants and other funding?

• helps volunteers accumulate Wranglr hours, giving each volunteer “spending power” for our upcoming Volunteer/Wranglr Hours Auction on June 22?

DON’T FORGET TO RECORD YOUR HOURS ON WRANGLR!  😊 Need Help? Stop in the HwH office weekdays.

June Volunteer/Wranglr Hours Luncheon ~ June 22 

Just a reminder: our Luncheon/Auction will be held at the Gurley Street Grill at noon on June 22nd. RSVP sign-ups are due by June 13. Please drop by the office to sign up, and pay $20 by cash or check (made out to Horses with Heart).

We are still accepting new and nearly new items for the auction that day.  If we are blessed with too many items, they may be held over for our upcoming events (Barrel Race, Sequins and Saddles, or December Volunteer Luncheon). We are always appreciative of you, our volunteers, for the ways in which you give to Horses with Heart. 

Session 3 Classes Are Filling Up

Our Session 2 classes for therapeutic riders, Competition Team riders, Veterans, and Silver Saddle will wrap up the middle of June. Because we have a significant waiting list for Sessions 3 and 4, please contact Sherry Hoover if interested in Therapeutic classes or if interested in the Veteran or Silver Saddle classes, please contact Jan by clicking one of the button below. We will do our best to accommodate our new riders, but please understand that you may still be kept on a waiting list if our classes fill. This is a great problem to have, but we earnestly desire to serve all interested participants.

Competition Team Win Buckles at CVEP Horse Show    

I am so PROUD of our team and their accomplishments!  May 21st was the final show in the CVEP 2022 Buckle Series and eight HwH Competition Team members, along with Kris Vollrath and Jackie Boyd from our Veterans Program, represented Horses with Heart.  It was a beautiful day, our horses were awesome, and our riders proved what you can do if you put your mind to it.  As a coach, I don’t think I’ve ever been more touched than to hear, “I could hear your voice in my head all the way” and “She’s a tough coach, but she loves us.”   

There were so many highlights that I can’t list them all!  A big shoutout to Kim Ginn for her “all Blue Ribbon Day.”  And, drumroll, please…  Congratulations to Buckle Champion Jeremy Owens and Reserve Champion Nikolas Coleman!

A BIG THANK-YOU to our totally awesome volunteers who keep our riders safe and on track, and to all the family and friends who come out to cheer us on!        

Pam Berry, Head Coach                                  

Around our Center (aka Pam’s Pet Peeves)

As the temperature is heating up, and we’re all drinking more water, please make sure your water bottles are picked up and disposed of properly. Thanks!

(Photos: KLR Photography)

Happy Hearts Rodeo ~ Thursday, June 30th

This special event is just around the corner. Horses with Heart is teaming up with Prescott Frontier Days for the 20th year. HwH’s horses and rodeo-style events for exceptional children ages 5-12 is always an exciting time for the children and a heartfelt experience for our volunteers. We still need more volunteers to help with this event. We have added a “Cheering Section” and hope our HwH family comes out to watch the fun.

Signup is first-come, first-served; a volunteer signup sheet is in the office. If you want to know more about this wonderful event, ask Jan Grise, the Instructors, or our mentor volunteers. A detailed description of the event, dress required, time to arrive, etc., will be emailed to our participating volunteers.

Frontier Days Parade ~ July 2

Horses with Heart will once again be part of this wonderful parade. This year’s theme revolves around the movie Junior Bonner starring Steve McQueen, filmed in Prescott in 1972. HwH and Prescott celebrates 50 years of Junior Bonner and the people of Prescott who played parts in it, including HwH volunteer Kathleen Klein. She was on set while following her brother, Daniel Torgerson, the stand-in for Matthew Peckinpah (Tim Bonner).

Also riding on our float will be several veterans, including Jackie Boyd and Kris Vollrath, our Veterans who rode at Westworld this year in the Heroes on Horses competition.

Driving his tractor in the parade is Jim Radley, another HwH Veteran who participated at Heroes on Horses.

If you are interested in helping to decorate the tractor and wagon the morning of the parade, Saturday, July 2nd, please contact Trudy Chapman-Radley by clicking on of the buttons below.

Summer Clinics and Workshops ~ for Volunteers, Parents, Friends, Community Members

Horses with Heart and Friends are presenting several clinics and workshops in July. The clinics are designed for participants, parents/caregivers of HwH riders, our volunteers, and our community members. There are participant and audit opportunities.

A registration form listing all of the clinics/workshops will be available in our office, on our website , and on the HwH Facebook page soon. Stay tuned.

Here is the lineup and to download the fliers:

• SERVING RIDERS WITH AUTISM, COGNITIVE, AND SENSORY ISSUES: CLICK HERE

• TRAILERING SAFELY: CLICK HERE

• THERAPEUTIC DRIVING VOLUNTEER TRAINING: CLICK HERE

• HORSE SHOWING 101: CLICK HERE

• HWH HORSE LEADER WORKSHOP: CLICK HERE

• MAGNAWAVE DEMO AND TREATMENT OPPORTUNITY: CLICK HERE

• CLINIC REGISTRATION FORM: CLICK HERE

Classy Pony Resale Boutique ~ Progress

Our future resale boutique shed has now been wired for electricity and insulated. It’s getting closer to reality! Stay tuned for the grand opening TBD.

We Are Hiring CTRI Credentialed Instructors

Horses with Heart, a PATH INTL. Premier Accredited Center,
is seeking adaptive/therapeutic riding Instructors for our growing program.  We currently have part-time openings with the potential for advancement (time and position).

We are centrally located in Arizona close to Prescott, Phoenix, Flagstaff, Sedona and the Grand Canyon. Our lovely high desert climate is a highly desirable place to live and work.

Please send your application, resume and cover letter to
Angelique LeVell, Executive Director by clicking the button below.

A HUGE THANK YOU!
Lone Tree Arena Recognizes HwH

Once again, Kim at Lone Tree Arena offered for HwH to be their nonprofit fundraiser on May 21. Twenty-five percent of liquor sales went to HwH. It was a day of horses, roping, and barbecue. We thank Kim at Lucy’s Bar and Grill/Lonetree Arena for this wonderful recognition of Horses with Heart.

Calendar of Events                                     

• June 22 ~ Volunteer/Wranglr Hours Luncheon Event (Using Wranglr logged-in volunteer hrs.), Gurley Street Grill, 12:00 pm (RSVP and pay by June 13)

• June 30 ~ Happy Hearts Rodeo (Note: Thursday)

• July 2 ~ Frontier Days Parade

• July 4 ~ HwH closed for Independence Day

• Summer Clinics

  • July 13 ~ Driving Clinic, HwH, 9:00 am – 4:00 p

  • July 13 ~ Horse Showing 101, HwH, 5:00 – 8:30 pm & July 14 ~ 8:00-10:00 am

  • July 20 ~ Serving Riders with Autism, Cognitive, Sensory Issues, HwH, 9:00 – 11:00 am

  • July 23 ~ Magnawave Demo, HwH, 9:00 am to ?. Bring your horse for a treatment session.

  • July 23 & Aug. 4 ~ HwH Horse Leader Workshop, 8:30 – 11:00 am – Attend one or the other

  • July 30 ~ Trailer Safety Clinic

• July 16 ~ NEW Orientation & SST Training, HwH, 8:30 am

• August 8 ~ Session 3 Therapeutic, Veteran & First Responder, Silver Saddle begins

• September 3 ~ Fall Session of Competition Team begins

• September 5 ~ HwH closed for Labor Day                                     

• September 7 ~ New Volunteer Orientation & SST Training

• September 14 ~ HwH Open House Wednesday, 5:00 – 6:30 pm ~ A Chino Valley Chamber event               

• September 24 ~ Seventh Annual Have a Heart Barrel Race, Olsen’s Arena

• November 12 ~ Sequins and Saddles, Embry Riddle                 

• December 6 ~ Volunteer/Wranglr Hours Event & Christmas Luncheon           

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.