Horses Healing Hearts Founders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meet Marianne & Joe

Founders of Horses Healing Hearts, Inc.
 

After nearly twenty years focused on building their business. Marianne and Joe felt a quiet but undeniable calling to return to the horses, something that had helped shape their lives. The lessons they learned in the barn, responsibility, patience, trust, resilience, and connection to the horses, had never truly left them.
 

In 2006, they purchased a small farm in Salisbury, Massachusetts, and Lazy J Ranch was born. What began as a personal return to their roots soon became a place where others began to find their own path forward.
 

As more people came through the gates, children struggling with confidence, veterans searching for purpose, families navigating hardship, and first responders carrying unseen burdens, Marianne and Joe witnessed something powerful. In the presence of horses, walls softened. Hearts opened. Hope returned.

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They also saw a painful reality. Too many individuals who could benefit from equine-assisted services were unable to access them because of financial barriers. They believed then, and continue to believe today, that healing and growth should never be determined by the ability to pay.

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That belief led to the creation of Horses Healing Hearts, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to making equine-assisted programs available to anyone seeking connection, support, and renewed strength.
 

Today, their vision remains simple, deeply personal, and shared through the mission of Horses Healing Hearts:

To create a place where both horses and humans are given second chances, a place where individuals feel safe to be themselves, supported through life’s challenges, and empowered to grow with confidence and purpose.
 

They believe in the extraordinary power of the horse–human connection to restore trust, build resilience, and have a true sense of belonging.  At Horses Healing Hearts, people from all walks of life, including veterans, first responders, children, families, and seniors, are welcomed into a compassionate community where healing happens naturally through meaningful partnership with horses.
 

Just as the programs help individuals rediscover strength and direction, they also provide horses with safety, care, and renewed purpose. Through empathy, education, and shared experiences, Marianne and Joe are working to build a place where confidence is restored, connections are strengthened, and both horses and humans move forward together toward lasting hope and growth.

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Lazy J Ranch is more than a farm.
Horses Healing Hearts is more than a program.

Together, they represent a promise that meaningful moments with horses can change lives, strengthen communities, and help healing begin, one connection at a time.
 

— Marianne Cyr & Joe LeBlanc