September 2023

HwH is the Premier Accredited Center in Northern Arizona

Harnessing the proven benefits of therapeutic horsemanship, Horses with Heart (HwH)is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization based in Chino Valley, AZ. We help transform the lives of disabled children and adults, U.S. military veterans, first responders, and seniors as they gain confidence, dignity, and independence by riding our trained horses under the direction of highly-credentialed staff.

A Letter from the Board of Directors

Angelique has retired from her position as Executive Director.  It was mutually agreed that the duties of being the Executive Director of Horses with Heart require a full-time, on-site administrator.  Angelique cited personal obligations and responsibilities that would not allow her to take on more work hours and felt it was in the best interest of both parties for the Board to find a replacement for her. We thank Angelique for her dedication to Horses with Heart during her time as Executive Director.

Horses with Heart is actively looking for that amazing individual to become our full-time Executive Director.  Horses with Heart is at an exciting time in their history and ready to put into motion several programs and projects to provide more services and opportunities for those we serve in the Quad Cities area of Yavapai County.  To learn more about this position and to find a description of the responsibilities and qualifications for Executive Director, please contact Lisa Lucidi, Board President anytime.  You can reach her at hwhdrivingprogram@gmail.com or 858-208-8239.

Volunteer Orientation ~ September 16th

There is still space available in our upcoming Volunteer Orientation on September 16th from 12:30 to 1:30 pm. Please email Chelsea by clicking the button below to sign up.

Classy Pony Boutique Update and Sale

Thank you to Kathleen Klein and all the volunteers for your hard work and dedication in trying to make the Classy Pony Boutique a success.  Unfortunately, as you probably sense, it has not developed into the revenue stream that we had all hoped.  After much discussion with other staff and volunteers, the Board has agreed it was time to change directions and repurpose the building.  It will be transformed into Tacks Fifth Avenue, as an outlet to sell donated, high-quality, great condition, and saleable used tack.  Over the next few weeks, Kathleen Klein and Kris Dockum will be preparing for a huge half-price boutique clearance sale to be on Saturday, September 16th, from 9 am to 2 pm.  If you’ve had your eye on something special, make sure to be there when the door opens.  Kris has promised incredible deals on tack as well to clear out a huge selection of saddles, saddle pads and winter horse blankets at greatly reduced prices.  (All Horses with Heart branded items will be moved into the office for display and sale and will not be part of the clearance sale.)  Stay tuned for Horses with Heart Annual Fall Tack Sale at Appaloosa Meadows this year, October 6th and 7th.  Tacks Fifth Avenue will be open certain hours every Thursday and host some special events.  Check back for more details and a Grand Opening!

The Value of Therapeutic/Adaptive Horsemanship

Horses with Heart is a beacon of hope, healing, and growth for our participants. As they interact and bond with their horses, transformations begin. Withdrawn riders begin to interact with their horses and volunteer teams; riders with deep emotional pain begin to heal; riders with poor muscle function develop more strength and control; and so much more. As a result of these miracles, our participants gain independence and find the path to their maximum potential.

Session 4 is in progress now, and we have one more session left in our 2023 season. Session 5 runs from October 9th through November 10th. If you are interested in learning more about our classes or want to register, please contact Program Director Jan Grise at 928-533-9178.

Volunteer of the Year Nominations

It’s time to start thinking about your choice for Horses with Heart’s Volunteer of the Year. Who best demonstrates a strong commitment to our riders, our fellow volunteers and our programs? Who should be honored at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Event on December 9th?

Please fill out the form at the link below or stop by the office to grab a printed nomination form. Nominations are due no later than November 10th.

Please note that Volunteers of the Year for the last five years are not eligible to be nominated this year. These devoted past winners are Kris Vollrath, Mary Smith, Sherry Hoover, Bonnie Moreau, and Cindy Roche.

To Download Form, print and bring into HWH Office: CLICK HERE

Volunteer Luncheon

Join us at Horses with Heart on September 20th at 11:30am for a volunteer luncheon. We will have a taco salad bar and an ice cream sundae bar. Members of the Horses with Heart Board of Directors will be there, so this is a great chance to meet Board members as well as fellow volunteers! This lunch will cost $10 per person, please RSVP by September 13th by emailing hwhvolcoord@gmail.com or signing up in the HwH office.

Blue Ribbon Moments Winners:

Please join us in recognizing the following volunteers who were nominated by their peers for going above and beyond at Horses with Heart! A new winner is chosen each week that we are in session, so make sure to nominate your fellow volunteers!

• Week of August 14th Winner: Jill Underwood

• Week of August 21st Winner: Kate Adams

• Week of August 28th Winner: Bonnie Moreau

Horses with Heart 8th Annual Have a Heart Barrel Race and Poles
September 30, 2023
Olsen’s Arena, Chino Valley, AZ

Our Hearts are racing in preparation for the 8th Annual Have a Heart Barrel Race and Poles to be held September 30th at Olsen’s Arena in Chino Valley AZ!

The Grand Entry begins at 10:15. Our talented committee has arranged a patriotic procession with an antique tractor pulling a hay wagon carrying our therapeutic riders and instructors, and Veterans carrying flags honoring their branch of the military. Come out and see the talented racers and the amazingly powerful horses they ride. It is really a fun and exciting day.  

Arizona Quarter Horse Association has agreed to sponsor our Have a Heart saddle certificate that will be awarded to the “Horse and Rider with the Most Heart”. This is the racer that earns the best combined time in the Open 4-D barrel and 4-D pole events. Last year’s saddle was presented to Joanie Pritchard of Chino Valley, AZ on her horse Brother. 

Racers also compete for beautiful buckles and prize money. The buckles are funded by donations we receive specifically for this purpose. We award 12 buckles the day of the race. If you would like to sponsor a buckle, a donation of $150 can be made to Horses with Heart or online at https://horseswithheartaz.kindful.com/. 

We have many loyal contributors to our race who step up each year to donate money and items. As you all know the cost of maintaining our programs has increased. We are asking for you to consider a donation yourself or ask your family, friends and frequently visited merchants  and services to ask for support.  

Donations can be made in the Horses with Heart office, attention Bonnie, or can be made on our website. Donation forms/receipts are available in the office or via email.  

The silent auction is a popular part of the Barrel Race and will offer themed baskets this year.  Gather your friends, each solicit or purchase an item to create a themed basket. We have bidders of all ages, adults and children. Attend the race and join in the bidding on these wonderful offerings. Your help is needed to make our auction a success!

Raffle tickets are available for a chance to win one (or all!) of the following items: 

• Private Barrel Race Class with Betsy Lamaire 

• Private Pole Bending Class with Crystal Logan 

• Large Wooden Breyer Horse Stable with Accessories 

• Wild Horse Quilt 

Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased the day of the Barrel Race, or prior to the event at the Horses with Heart office.

Olsen’s Grain is a big supporter of Horses with Heart and our Race. They provide the arena, registration, announcer, advertising and so much more. When you have feed store needs, please shop at Olsen’s and thank them for their support. 

Sequins and Saddles 2023

Sequins & Saddles, our fanciest fundraising event, is scheduled for November 11, 2023. Some of the funds we raise come from table sponsorship and ticket sales. But most of the money raised comes from our silent auction & live auction. 

We need your help putting together auction items. Do you know of a local business we might contact for an auction item donation?  We need items that Sequins and Saddles attendees will be excited to bid on.

Here are some previous popular auction items:

• Resort Mini-Vacations

• Custom Pet Portraits

• Dinners

• Paintings

• Jewelry

• Local Discounts

You do not need to contact the business personally (unless you’d like to) but we will use your name when contacting the business, with your permission. 

Please send us your ideas with contact information where possible. So many of you know creative people and deal with businesses and companies who care about HwH and our mission. Think about auction items and services, such professional photographs or custom car detailing, you’d love to win.  

Here are some other ideas:

• Auto Maintenance/Repair

• Custom Car Detailing 

• HVAC Services

• Veterinarian Services

• Art Framing

• Dance Lessons

• Party DJ

• Pool Maintenance

• Yoga or Karate/Martial Arts Lessons

• Silversmithing or Jewelry Design

You are the key to the success of Horses with Heart.  Everything you do, every bit of help makes us thrive. Your commitment is amazing in every way. It has kept us growing and thriving for 30 wonderful years. And the dedication of our volunteers will carry us through the next 30 years. Your ideas will help make this fundraiser another huge success! 

Sincerely, Lynn Gilley, Sequins and Saddles Coordinator

For questions or additional information please contact Lynn today: sscoordinator23@gmail.com

Thank you to the businesses and individuals who are already sponsoring this great event!

Diamond Sponsors:

• Celtic Windmill Trucking

• Findlay Subaru

• High Desert Buildings and Barns

• Mike and Lee Cohn

• Glenn and Shari Daiutolo

• Zip and Lisa Lucidi

Gold Sponsors:

• Drill Tech

• Fann Contracting

• Tonia Fortner

Silver Sponsors:

• Frontier Financial of Arizona

• Helen Collins

Bronze Sponsor:

• Farmers Insurance, Jeff Champ Agency

• Gunsite

Turquoise Sponsors:

• Arizona Horse Connection

• Arizona Quarter Horse Association

• Drake Companies

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

• Chino Valley Equestrian Association

• National Snaffle Bit Association

• Olsen’s Grain

• Tom’s Print and Signs

Where to Find HwH News?

• HwH website              horseswithheartaz.org

• Newsletter                  HwH Connection – published monthly

• Facebook                    https://www.facebook.com/horseswithheartaz

• Wranglr emails           for HwH volunteers

• Social Happenings     HwH Friends  https://www.facebook.com/groups/922295924909116

Around the Center

Summer is quickly passing us by and we've had just enough monsoon activity to know that the rain gutters installed earlier this year have made a big difference in keeping our horses from standing in puddles.  I'm pleased to announce that we have just finished adding gutters to the "Big Horse" shelters in the southeast corner.  Our horses have asked me to send a big THANK YOU to all those volunteers who contributed to the rain gutter fund!

Although we're just midway through Session 4, it's time to start thinking about where our horses will go for the winter.  If you have an interest in fostering one of our equine partners or just want more info on how that works, please reach out to Pam Berry 928-899-4759 or hwhoperations@gmail.com for details and to get on the foster-care list.

Calendar of Events

• September 2nd ~ Competition Team Fall Season begins

• September 15th through 17th ~ Olsen’s Equifest

• September 16th ~ Boutique and Tack Clearance Sale, 9am to 2pm

• September 16th ~ Volunteer Orientation, 12:30 to 1:30 pm

• September 20th ~ Volunteer Lunch at Horses with Heart, 11:30am

• September 30th ~ Have a Heart Barrel Race

• October 6th and 7th ~ Appaloosa Meadows Tack Sale

• October 9th ~ Riding Session 5 Begins

• November 10th ~ Volunteer of the Year Nominations Due

• November 11th ~ Sequins and Saddles

• December 9th ~ Volunteer Appreciation 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.

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