Brave Hearts

Horses with Heart is excited to announce its inaugural Brave Hearts Event which will be held on June 22nd. The day consists of two great events: a Horse Event at 8:30 AM for Military, Veterans & First Responders to compete in Working Western Rail (Walk & Trot) along with Obstacles, and a community open house in the afternoon from 3:00-7:00 PM. The open house is free to attend and will feature a performance by the band Palomino, dancing, food trucks, and a Western Saloon featuring beer and wine. We hope that you will join us for this great event!

Please visit https://auctria.events/bravehearts to register for the horse event or to purchase your Brave Hearts t-shirt at the discounted presale price! T-shirt presales will be available until May 13th.

Pepsi Donation received for the Brave Hearts event on June 22, 2025. On behalf of everyone at Horses with Heart, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation of 20 cases of soda and water. Your support means so much to us and the community we serve. A special thanks to Christina Smith and Becky Hardman of Nackard Pepsi.

Arena sand donation received!

A much needed donation of arena sand was donated by Earthworks Garden Center, located on Highway 89 in Chino Valley. The arena sand will provide a safe and stable foundation for training and riding. Our horses, instructors, and participants are grateful to owners Marc Vetere and Danielle Camacho for their bountiful donation.

Volunteer Appreciation Week

THE HANDS 🤲THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE, BELONG TO THE HEART♥️ OF THE VOLUNTEER!

Volunteers, we can’t express enough how much you are appreciated. Our horses, our staff, our ranch and the entire organization want to share our heartfelt gratitude, not just during Volunteer Appreciation Week, but always. Thank you for making Horses with Heart a place that makes a difference.

Mile High Council Beta Sigma Phi

On April 4th, Carole and several members from the local chapter came out to tour the facility and present Horses with Heart with donations they had collected. Horses with Heart thanks the local chapter for their wonderful donations.

Upcoming Obstacle Challenge

Marvelous Minis Events:

The Marvelous Minis had a wide variety of appearances in April, even though two of our scheduled programs were postponed due to weather.

The folks at Highgate Senior Living welcomed us after having to postpone the visit originally scheduled in March due to weather.

Minis Honeybun and Ladybug made their debut appearance as members of the HwH MM program at the Prevent Child Abuse Arizona Pinwheel Party in Prescott Valley. They were awesome!

Liberty, Frosty, Brady, and Rocky thrilled 60+ Paulden Community School students during their visit.

Six of our MM program herd, Liberty, Frosty, Tessa, Brady, Rocky, and Dance, attended a fun trick training put on by the Saguaro State Mini Club. Abracadabra—two Rockys!

Photo credits: Gretchen D’Andrea, John Smith, Mary Smith

Competition Team Update:

April 19th started out cold and blustery and our horses were feeling it! But Team HwH showed up at Chino Valley Equestrian Park and proved they are dedicated to their horses and competition. They competed in Showmanship, Equitation, and Trail and made their coaches and families VERY PROUD! The special shout out of the day goes to Michelle Sullivan who demonstrated the art of stopping a bucking bronco. Way to go Michelle!

The Team is back in the practice arena on Saturdays preparing for our next show on May 10th. We hope you’ll come out and cheer us on!

Second Session Starting this Month

Horses with Hearts Session One was a great start to the year! Our participants learned many new skills and had fun in the process. Our programs included Therapeutic/Adaptive riding lessons, Equine Assisted Learning experiences, Veterans classes, Silver Saddle classes, and Non-Mounted Horsemanship classes.

HwH's Session Two begins the week of May 12th. For more information and to register, please contact our Program Director, Aireal Dallam, at hwhprograms@gmail.com or 928-533-9178.

Do You Owe Arizona Taxes? Use Your AZ Tax Credit to Support Horses with Heart!

Horses with Heart is a qualifying charity in the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit Program. Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar cuts in your state tax liability: donate $938, for example, and you could cut your tax bill by $938. Under Arizona law, your dollar-for-dollar tax credit could be up to $470 for a single person, $938 for a married couple filing jointly in 2024. Be sure to consult your tax advisor to see how your HwH donation can benefit you.

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Volunteer of the Month - Kimberly Christie

Kimberly Christie has been with Horses with Heart for just about two years. She started on the Safety Support Team as a Sidewalker, then Coach, and has now moved to Horse Leader.

Kim has helped us write several grants, and is now coordinating this newsletter. The technical knowledge and skill set to help with these tasks are invaluable to Horses with Heart!

Kim’s enthusiasm, along with her friendly demeanor, and her willingness to learn and help in all aspects of Horses with Heart has made her an integral part of the Team!

1. How long have you been with Horses with Heart? I started with Horses with Heart May 2023. I remember at my first Volunteer training, thinking this place is amazing, I was very impressed at how organized everyone was, and wanted to be a part of this organization.

2. Why do you volunteer at HWH? I retired from teaching after 20 plus years! I missed interacting with students, parents and friends. I wanted an opportunity to use my skills in a meaningful way and support those that I truly respect. The opposite happened; my skills paled in comparison to those that surrounded me at Horses with Heart! I continue to learn from the instructors, volunteers, administrators and board members. Every moment I spend at HWH is a chance to grow personally, while gaining a deep sense of fulfillment.

3. What is your favorite memory? I participate in the Silver Saddles class at HWH. I hadn’t been on a horse in 10 years. On my first day of class I was very nervous and anxious. My instructor told me “Just breathe”. She coached me through fear and instilled a sense of confidence. I carry this lesson with me and remember to “Just breathe”.

4. What would you share with new volunteers? Volunteering is an act of kindness. You have the chance to make a difference in someone’s life. Volunteering “warms the heart and nourishes the soul”. Volunteers: you are definitely appreciated!

Wranglr Assistance

Wranglr, our volunteer timekeeping system, is crucial for recording our volunteer hours. This is vitally important because our submitted hours help HwH qualify for grants and donations. Secondly, volunteers also receive some fun benefits. If you need assistance with Wranglr, please contact Annette DeMarco at cyngrrl@gmail.com or Debbie Hutchens at hwhvolcoord@gmail.com and 408-210-3259.