Hearts & Horses

09/04/2026

Lucky Hearts Gala Tickets Are On Sale!

Join us Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the Loveland Embassy Suites for the 26th Annual Lucky Hearts Gala! Named NOCO Style’s Best Non-Profit Event two years in a row, this unforgettable evening brings together casino games, gourmet food and drinks, inspiring stories, and plenty of fun—all in support of the Hearts & Horses mission.

https://hah.ejoinme.org/GeneralTicketSales

Tickets are on sale now, so gather your friends, reserve your seats, and get ready for one of our favorite nights of the year!

09/02/2026

Want to support Hearts & Horses in a fun and unique way? Shop our merchandise!

The Hearts & Horses merch store is open now through September 15, so it’s the perfect time to grab your favorite H&H gear and show your support for our mission wherever you go.

https://www.custommisports.com/heartsandhorses/shop/

Shop now and get your gear before the store closes September 15!

08/25/2026

We’re so grateful for the partnership that made this research possible! Proud to see Changing Leads featured in the Journal of Experiential Education and thankful to everyone who continues to support this impactful program.

Exciting new research from CSU Equine Sciences is highlighting the potential for horses to support social-emotional learning in youth!

Published in the Journal of Experiential Education, the study evaluated Changing Leads, an 8-week equine-assisted social-emotional learning program delivered through a partnership with Hearts & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center. Thirty-one middle school students from six schools participated in the randomized, waitlist-controlled study.

Following participation in the program, both parents and teachers reported significant improvements in students’ overall social-emotional competencies. Improvements included skills such as social awareness, self-management, relationship skills, decision-making, and optimistic thinking. Importantly, teachers were masked to the purpose of the study, providing an additional measure of the program’s impact beyond parent-reported outcomes.

These preliminary findings provide promising evidence that equine-assisted learning can be a valuable targeted resource for students who may need additional social-emotional support beyond traditional school-based programming.
Congratulations to lead author Sarah Matlock and the entire collaborative team from CSU Department of Animal Sciences, the CSU-School of Education, the Temple Grandin Equine Center, CSU Department of Occupational Therapy, and Hearts & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center on this important contribution to the growing science behind equine-assisted services!

08/21/2026

Meet Hippie: A Therapy Veteran Ready for Her Next Chapter as Your Best Friend! 🐴❤️

Hippie is a 13-year-old Quarter Horse mare standing at 15.2 hands. If you are looking for a horse with a heart of pure gold, Hippie is your girl!

For several years, Hippie has served faithfully in our program, bringing gentleness, comfort, and quiet kindness to everyone she met. She is truly one of the sweetest, most patient souls you’ll ever meet. 🌸

While Hippie has spent her time here taking care of others, she is now ready for someone to take care of her. Following a diagnosis of kissing spine and thorough rehab, Hippie is officially retired from riding to ensure her absolute comfort, and she is now seeking a loving home as a peaceful companion horse.

Why Hippie will steal your heart:
✨ Sweet & Gentle: Highly gentle, kind, and easy to handle.
✨ Therapy-Tested Temperament: Calm, patient, and cool-headed.
✨ Versatile & Content: Happy in a stall with a run, or pastured with a herd.
✨ Hippie is the ultimate low-stress, high-love companion.

Whether you need a soothing presence in the barn or a loving buddy for another horse, Hippie is ready to fill your pasture with joy. 🌾✨

For more information, please reach out to [email protected] or call 970-663-4200, ask for Lauren!

08/18/2026

A special thank you to one of our Mission Sponsors, The Fellows Family, for your generous support of Hearts & Horses! Your commitment helps make our programs possible and supports the people and equines at the heart of our mission.

We are so grateful for your partnership and for the difference you help make in our community. Thank you, for being part of the Hearts & Horses family! ❤️

08/17/2026

We had such a blast last week getting excited for our 2026 Lucky Hearts Gala, and were joined by many special guests! We were especially thrilled to welcome our 2026 Lucky Hearts Gala Emcee, Ann Judge, rider and trainer of Thunder, the Denver Broncos mascot 1993-2026—and, of course, Thunder himself!

A very special thank you to our Pre-Party Sponsor, Poudre Pet & Feed Supply for helping make this memorable evening possible. Your support means so much to Hearts & Horses and the people and horses who make our mission possible. ❤️

Thank you for helping us kick off the road to the 26th Annual Lucky Hearts Gala in true Hearts & Horses style! We can’t wait to see you on September 12!

For all things Gala, head to heartsandhorses.org/gala !

08/15/2026

We are hiring!

Hearts & Horses is looking to lease or purchase experienced horses for our therapeutic horsemanship program. We are also open to donations.

Our perfect candidate is:
- sound at all gaits
- calm around people of all ages and abilities
- around the ages of 6-16

What we offer:
- excellent conditions suitable for supporting physical and mental equine wellbeing
- top veterinary/farrier services
- continued training support with a team of professionals
- lots of love from horse-lovers of all kinds🥰

Think your horse may be a good fit, or want to learn more? Send any details/photos or questions to [email protected] 💗

08/13/2026

August Celebrations at Hearts & Horses! 🎉

Help us celebrate four wonderful members of the Hearts & Horses team with August birthdays and anniversaries!

August 3: Lindsey Heustis, Veteran Services Coordinator
August 19: Marnelle Leonard, Education Specialist
August 21: Hannah Armstrong, Office Manager
6 years at H&H: Laura Bottoms, Head Equine Trainer

We’re so grateful for everything you each bring to Hearts & Horses. Your dedication, hard work, and heart make a difference every day!

Please join us in celebrating these awesome ladies! We love you lots! 💗

08/12/2026

You may have noticed a newer face around the ranch lately! Help us welcome Sophie Anderson to the team 💛

Sophie started at H&H as an Equine Care Intern working alongside our Barn Manager, and now has joined our team as our Equine Working Student!

Here's some more info about her if you haven't had the pleasure of meeting her yet:

Sophie has lived in many different areas of Colorado while growing up before heading to Fort Collins for college at CSU, where she graduated with a major in equine science. Since then she has worked as an instructor and trainer in the area, putting focus on building confidence in both horse and rider. Her students were a daily reminder of the innate healing powers of horses, and watching them develop their horsemanship skills solidified Sophie’s desire to be involved in therapeutic riding. She moved to Loveland a little over a year ago and has since had her heart set on working at Hearts and Horses.

Sophie, we are so excited to have you in this role! 🤩

08/11/2026

A legendary era may be coming to a close, but you have a chance to celebrate these incredible Denver Broncos icons in person!

Thunder will be joining us at the 26th Annual Lucky Hearts Gala, and the legendary Ann Judge will be our Emcee for the evening!

After more than three decades of unforgettable memories, this is a special opportunity to celebrate the legacy of the Thunder Spirit team — and when you join us at the Gala, you’ll have the chance to see Thunder up close and in person!

Come experience this unforgettable evening on September 12, 2026, with dinner, drinks, dancing, auctions, and an incredible lineup of special guests — all while supporting the mission of Hearts & Horses.

🎟️ Get your tickets: https://hah.ejoinme.org/GeneralTicketSales

Want to make an even bigger impact? Sponsorship opportunities are still available!

Learn more about sponsorship: heartsandhorses.org/gala-sponsorship/

Don’t miss your chance to celebrate a Denver Broncos legend, meet Thunder, hear from Ann Judge, and support a mission that changes lives. We’ll see you at the Lucky Hearts Gala!

After more than three decades running the Thunder program, Sharon Magness Blake, Ernie Blake and Ann Judge are retiring.

Thank you to the entire Thunder Spirit team for leaving a legacy that will continue to engage and delight fans for generations to come!

📰 » https://buff.ly/wH8Tv1n