Stories of Impact
Every journey is different. Every story matters.
Impact Story: Finding Confidence Through Horse Powered Reading®️
As a mom, watching my son’s reading journey has been amazing. Horse Powered Reading®️ has given him a completely different way to learn—one that feels fun, encouraging, and engaging.
When you add horses to the learning experience, something special happens. Children can become so engaged that they almost forget they are doing “schoolwork.” They are simply having fun, connecting with the horses, and building confidence along the way. Horses Healing Hearts has become an important part of my son’s reading journey. He has had opportunities to spend extra time reading with Rex, Sugar, and Buckwheat, and those moments have given him a reason to practice without the pressure that can sometimes come with reading. He can sit beside a horse, take his time, make mistakes, and try again. I have watched his confidence grow—not only in his reading, but in himself. His teachers have also noticed the difference and have been incredibly supportive of the program. Horse Powered Reading®️ is showing us that learning can be joyful, confidence-building, and meaningful. We are excited about the possibility of bringing this program into more schools throughout our community so that even more children can experience the power of learning alongside horses.
Impact Story: A Place Where Veterans Feel at Home
For Bill, Founder and President of Run For The Troops, Horses Healing Hearts is more than an organization that supports veterans it has become a trusted partner and a welcoming place where veterans and their families can connect.
“They don’t just show up with a banner or a table. They get involved.” Horses Healing Hearts has partnered with Run For The Troops at several community events, including its annual road race, where HHH will return again this November. The partnership recently expanded to include a bike race, with Lazy J Ranch serving as a destination water stop and turnaround point for riders. Veterans, families, and supporters were welcomed by the HHH team with refreshments, horses, and Hope, the organization’s comfort and support dog. For Bill, that personal connection is what makes HHH different. Horses Healing Hearts also provides a home at Lazy J Ranch for It Takes a Herd, one of the organizations supported by Run For The Troops. The peaceful farm environment has become an important part of creating a space where veterans can connect and feel supported. “Once you come through the gates, there is a sense of calm that is hard to explain.” Rather than feeling like a formal or institutional program, Lazy J Ranch feels like a family farm. Veterans can spend time with the horses, talk with familiar people, relax, and simply feel like they belong. For veterans who may be uncomfortable entering a traditional program or clinical environment, that welcoming atmosphere can make it easier to take the first step toward connection and support. In a relatively short time, Horses Healing Hearts has become an active partner in the veteran community—showing up for Run For The Troops while continuing its own work to support veterans and military families. “What means the most to me is that the relationship goes both ways. They show up for Run For The Troops, and they are also doing their own work every day to support veterans and their families.” At Horses Healing Hearts, we believe healing can begin with connection and sometimes, connection begins simply by walking through the gate.
Impact Story: A Place Where People Can Simply Be Themselves
“The Environment They Have Created Becomes Part of the Program Experience.”
For more than a year, It Takes a Herd has partnered with Horses Healing Hearts and Lazy J Ranch to provide programming that helps people connect, engage, and feel supported.
According to Karen Coppola, President & Founder of It Takes a Herd, there is something immediately different about arriving at Lazy J Ranch. “From the moment you arrive, the atmosphere feels less like a facility and more like being welcomed into someone’s home.” The peaceful environment, friendly staff, well-mannered horses, and the many animals around the ranch—including minis, dogs, cats, goats, and chickens—create a setting where participants can relax, feel comfortable, and simply be themselves. For more than a year, HHH and It Takes a Herd have partnered on four-week programs, Memory Cafés, veteran events, and other community programming. That welcoming environment has been especially meaningful for participants who may have little or no previous experience with horses. Karen describes how the supportive atmosphere helps people feel comfortable enough to try something new, build confidence with the horses, and become more fully engaged in the experience. “Their intimate setting and knowledgeable, supportive staff naturally put participants at ease.” What makes the partnership especially meaningful is that HHH doesn’t simply provide horses or a place to hold programs. The environment itself becomes part of the experience. The combination of people, animals, and a peaceful setting creates a sense of calm that can be difficult to replicate in a traditional facility. Participants have the opportunity to step away from the pressures of everyday life, connect with others, interact with the animals, and experience a place where they feel welcomed. For It Takes a Herd, that environment has become an important part of why the partnership works. “They do not just simply provide us with horses and a place to hold our programs. The environment they have created becomes part of the program experience.” A Partnership Built Around Connection Horses Healing Hearts is proud to provide a place where community partners can bring meaningful programs to life—and where participants can experience connection, comfort, and belonging. Through partnerships like this, Lazy J Ranch becomes more than a location. It becomes part of the healing experience. Sometimes impact begins simply by creating a place where people feel safe enough to relax, connect, try something new, and be themselves.
Impact Story: Bringing Veterans and the Community Together
“Marianne Has Expanded Our Reach.”
For the City of Beverly Vietnam Veterans, Inc. and the City of Beverly Veterans Council, connecting veterans with the broader community has been an ongoing priority. According to Commander Chuck Clark and Treasurer Cory Paulette, their partnership with Horses Healing Hearts has helped make those connections possible.
“Working with Horses Healing Hearts has changed that. Marianne has expanded our reach.” Their relationship with Horses Healing Hearts began through community events and has grown through years of volunteering and collaboration with local veterans’ organizations. One of their earliest experiences with HHH was at the City of Beverly Homecoming, where HHH brought two miniature horses, Bo and Luke Duke. Community members had the opportunity to interact with the horses, and the response was immediate. “Horses offer such a profound emotional connection. They were a huge hit!” Since then, Horses Healing Hearts has continued to welcome veterans to Beverly Warrior Weekend each May. Veterans have been invited to Saturday morning coffee at the ranch, where they can enjoy a tour, learn about the organization, and spend time interacting with the animals—including goats, chickens, cats, the miniature horses, and Hope, HHH’s Great Pyrenees. For the City of Beverly veterans community, these experiences provide more than entertainment. They create opportunities for veterans to gather, connect, learn, and build relationships in a relaxed setting. Bringing the Vietnam Moving Wall to the Community One of the year’s most significant community efforts was the Vietnam Moving Wall, which was displayed at Beverly High School for five days. Horses Healing Hearts was there with two miniature horses and its dedicated team, helping create a welcoming presence around an important veterans’ event. The partnership has continued to grow because of a shared commitment to serving veterans and strengthening community connections. Chuck and Cory describe Horses Healing Hearts as innovative, compassionate, and continually looking for new ways to expand its impact. “We support and believe 100% in what she continues to do. One more thing. Marianne is compassionate.” The Power of Showing Up For Horses Healing Hearts, this partnership represents something at the heart of its mission: showing up for veterans wherever connection is needed. Sometimes that means bringing horses to a community celebration. Sometimes it means opening the ranch for veterans to gather. And sometimes it means simply creating a moment where a veteran can interact with an animal, meet another person who understands, and feel part of the community. Through partnerships like this, Horses Healing Hearts continues to build bridges between veterans, their families, and the communities they call home.