Operation: Hold Your Horses Rescue

06/02/2026

💚 PTSD Awareness Month 💚

Not all wounds are visible.

Throughout June, Operation Hold Your Horses Rescue and JLS Mission Equine will be offering weekly Horse & Heart Grooming Sessions for veterans, active-duty military, first responders, and their family members.

🐴 Tuesdays & Thursdays🕠 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM📍 302 South Road, Harwinton, CT

No riding. No pressure. No experience necessary.

Simply spend time with our horses through grooming, connection, and quiet companionship. Horses have a unique way of helping us slow down, be present, and find peace in the moment.

💚 Come as needed💚 Free of charge💚 Family members welcome💚 Meet others who understand💚 Enjoy the healing power of horses 💚Donations Welcomed

Sometimes the best conversations happen beside a horse.

For questions or to let us know you're coming:📞 860-329-5811

05/30/2026

If you haven’t been to the Friends of Robin Hood's Medieval Faire at the Harwinton fair grounds you’re missing a good time! OHYHs is helping park this weekend. Come see us at the gates … drop a donation, say hey!! And go have fun! 🧚‍♀️ 🐴

05/25/2026

Next weekend is our weekend at the ren faire in Harwinton to earn donations for parking the event. Can you help?? Message me. Free entry and lunch on me! We need help both Saturday and Sunday

05/20/2026

Hi Harwinton and OHYHs supporters!!

Andrea Steele and I have a book event at the Harwinton library at 6:00 this evening.

She has written three historical mystery novels and two children's adventure books and she enjoys talking to folks about all aspects of writing and publishing.

Tonight's focus is on the art-style, coffee-table book SAVED: Equine Rescues of Connecticut. She teamed with the wonderful Connecticut Photographer Sarah Grote to tell the story of how horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules become at risk and then give inspirational stories of how 9 rescues right here in Connecticut work hard to save precious animals in need of help. This book truly is for all animal lovers.

As a special guest, I Jennifer Smith, founder of Harwinton’s own Operation: Hold Your Horses, will tell our personal story of rescue. Proceeds from tonight’s sales of SAVED and her children’s books, The Adventures of Pip and Thunderstruck, will go to our charity.

If a family member takes part in Equine Assisted Therapy, has a horse, or is taking riding lessons, or is just an animal enthusiast—you will love our discussion. We hope to see you there tonight at 6:00PM!

05/19/2026

Come and pull up a seat for a great evening learning about our Rescue and others like us in CT.

We have plenty of room in our program tomorrow evening! Come learn all about the local horse rescue!

05/19/2026

Good morning barn help needed! 🐴☀️

Operation Hold Your Horses and JLS Mission Equine are looking for a few reliable volunteers to help weekday mornings for about an hour.

🕗 Monday–Friday
⏰ Either 8:00–9:00 AM or 8:30–9:30 AM

Duties are simple and a huge help to us:
• Refilling hay bags
• Filling water buckets
• Light morning barn help

This is a peaceful, relaxing way to spend some time around the horses while helping support both our lesson program and rescue horses. Great for someone looking for a little horse time, volunteer hours, or just a calm start to the day. 💙

No experience needed — we can show you what to do. Consistency and reliability are most important.

Please message us if interested or if you’d like more information! 🐎

05/19/2026

Unfortunately due to low interest and assistance this morning we are going to cancel our attendance to the parade in Forrestville. So sorry to those that were able to join us. The logistics just weren’t logistical today.