Frequently Asked Questions

Hooves & Heroes is a 501(c)(3) Non-profit organization that provides equine-based experiences for Veterans, First Responders, and their families.  For more information, please see our mission by clicking here: OUR MISSION

You can donate to Hooves & Heroes by clicking HERE, or by sending a check to our mailing address: P.O. Box 251, Stanwood, WA 98292

Yes, Hooves & Heroes is a registered 501(c)(3) organization, so your donation is tax deductible.

We wish to remove any barriers to attendance, and as our “thank you” to our hard-working heroes, there is no cost to participate for Veterans, First Responders, or family members. We do have an opportunity to donate towards services, or “sponsor” a Veteran or First Responder to attend on the registration form. Currently, to cover the cost of our expenses, we receive donations from individual donors, clubs and groups, and other organizations. For more information on how we are funded and associated expenses for running our program, please email us at: info@hoovesandheroes.org.

Our first three sessions are all from the ground and we will not be riding horses, however our session 4, 5, and 6 will begin horsemanship skills training and riding or “mounted” work will be offered for those who wish to learn to ride although riding will never be required. 

Horse experience is not required to participate in any of the sessions. Safety is our first priority, and we will teach you what you need to know to be safe around horses.

You are not required to interact with the horses if you do not wish to, you will still gain the benefits of participating without physical contact with the horses.

We do not provide therapy in these sessions; however we do consider our facility and herd of horses as well as the garden and other farm animals to be therapeutic. If you are in need of structured counseling or therapy services, we have a list of resources to aid you in connecting with the right provider or service. 

We only ever ask for minimum personal information such as emergency contact, any health conditions or physical limitations we should be aware of while you are participating in the program, and what branch of service and/or MOS, or if you are a first responder, etc. We don’t ever ask you to divulge any personal information you do not wish to share with us, but we are always open to hearing your story and providing a listening ear. We believe our past can inform us, but it does not define us. Our stories influence how we show up in the world, but we will not judge you or shame you for them ever.

We do not bill for services, nor do we require payment, so we do not report to your employer or insurance if you participate. We do seek donations and sponsorships for participants as well as grants and private funding, but none of these funds require disclosure of names or other identifying information. If we ever share a participant’s story, it is with their express written permission.

Yes, we have often developed a women’s only group, a men’s only group, and can create private events for your club, unit, precinct or station. We are also available for 1 on 1 sessions for those who do not feel comfortable in a small group, and we can offer small private groups for families. Please reach out for scheduling options via phone or email. 

We will be outside for the day, so we encourage you to dress appropriately for the weather. Our wet PNW weather does create quite a bit of mud in horse pastures, so we strongly encourage rubber boots or hiking boots or other sturdy shoes that you do not mind getting dirty.  In general, please wear close-toed shoes at all times. Flip flops, heels higher than 1 inch, and porous materials are not allowed in with the horses.  Clothing should be layered, warm, and dry in the colder and wetter months. We advise hats and sunscreen for the warmer months. You will be coming in contact with horses and farm equipment, so please wear clothing which can get dirty. 

No preparation is needed other than brining a notebook if you like to take notes (handouts, pens, etc. are provided), and pack a lunch if you do not wish to travel off site in search of food during the lunch break.  Water, tea, coffee, etc. are provided during the session.

Lunch is not provided, however, you are welcome to bring a lunch and enjoy it on the property during the break, or there are restaurants, fast food, and grocery stores within a 10 minute drive of the facility. We typically break for 1 hour for lunch.

We hold private events, group retreats, leadership training events, community events, and wellness retreats. For a full list of all events held at our facility beyond Hooves & Heroes events, please see the facility’s website: www.spirit2spirit.org/events

We are always happy to connect with anyone who has a passion for our mission through volunteering, board membership, and committee membership. We always appreciate support with outreach and events as well. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, please visit: www.hoovesandheroes.org/volunteer.  You are also welcome to attend our board meetings. To learn about when our next board meeting will be held, please email info@hoovesandheroes.org. We also invite you to follow us on social media (Facebook: www.facebook.com/hoovesandheroes, Instagram: www.instagram.com/hoovesandheroes) To connect directly, please email us: info@hoovesandheroes.org, or call/text: 360-209-4352.