Our Founders story

Hello, and thank you for your interest in our programs! Let me take just a moment of your time to tell you a little bit about me and why I chose to build Hooves & Heroes:

As a Navy Corpsman who was medically discharged due to damage to my legs, I was in the VA medical system experiencing firsthand the services and the systems created to take care of our Veterans. This inspired me to begin working for the VA shortly after graduating nursing school so I could help my brothers and sisters navigate the system and get the services they need.    As a nurse in the VA outpatient care sector, I was able to work one on one with Veterans who suffer from anxiety, depression, and PTSD. I saw the after-effects and realized more was needed than what could be obtained through traditional means.  This led me to take the small voice in my mind telling me that horses were healers and begin the long journey to finding a way to connect my knowing of the healing power of horses with the need of those who have sacrificed so much to take care of us.   As a part of my journey, I spent time studying PTSD and the bodies responses and neurological impact of trauma.  I also began to look into the services available, and in my research, I found there were even less services available to our First Responders than to our Veterans.  

In the wake of COVID, the stress, trauma, and burnout felt by medical and emergency response personnel, as well as law enforcement, reinforced the need for the healing power of horses - if for no other reason than to provide a sanctuary and place of peace where they could go to recharge.  I knew now was the time to make my someday dream a reality. I put a number of years into studying the science of the connection between horses and healing, the effects of equine facilitated healing modalities, and the effects of training emotional regulation, self-leadership, self-awareness, and groundedness in partnership with horses. All of this work led me to develop a program which is based in meeting the individual where they are, and through the bond with the horse, help support them through these experiences with the horse as our guide.  

Thank you for your support for our Heroes.