Horses for Heroes United

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North Bend, OR
Horses for Heroes United

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We are a community coalition that offers a free 8-week Equine Experience & Wellness Program in the Summer for Veterans. Program runs from July-August.

10/22/2026

Just to highlight, yes, I do actually ride occasionally

10/13/2026

Reflections video for 2026.

Coos County Mounted Sheriff's Posse Teppler

09/08/2026

Looking Ahead to 2027 — Growing, Refining, and Strengthening Horses for Heroes United

As we wrap up two full years of Horses for Heroes United, we’re already looking toward 2027 with excitement — and with a commitment to building an even stronger, more meaningful program for our Veterans.

This next year will be shaped by everything we’ve learned so far: what worked beautifully, what we can refine, and what our Veterans have told us matters most.

🌟 What We’re Planning for 2027

• Program Length Review — We’re taking a close look at how long the program should run. The goal is to find the sweet spot where Veterans feel supported, connected, and not rushed — while keeping the experience sustainable for our volunteers, horses, and partners.
• More Time With the Horses — One of the clearest lessons from the last two years: the horses are the heart of the healing. In 2027, we plan to shift the balance toward more hands‑on time in the arena and less time in structured instruction. Connection, confidence, and calm grow in the saddle — and we want to honor that.
• Expanding the Waitlist — We’ve heard from so many Veterans who want to participate. Next year, we’re exploring ways to welcome more people while keeping the experience safe, personal, and meaningful.
• Meet & Greet Kickoff — Before the first session of 2027, we’re considering hosting a Meet & Greet. A chance for Veterans to meet the horses, the volunteers, the Posse, and each other — easing first‑day nerves and building community from the start.

💬 We’d love to hear from you

These ideas come from two years of listening, learning, and watching the magic that happens in the arena. But your voice matters, too.

What do you think about these plans?
What would make 2027 even better for you, your family, or your fellow Veterans?

Share your thoughts — we’re building this with you, not just for you.

09/08/2026

A special shout out to the Princess Posse👑~

Some people make a program run.
The Princess Posse makes it feel alive.

For the past two years, these remarkable young women have given their summers, their energy, and their hearts to our Veterans. While their peers were off relaxing, traveling, or sleeping in, they chose to show up — brushing horses, prepping tack, caring for Cookie, and making sure every session began with calm, safety, and love.

They didn’t just help.
They lifted this program.

Our Veterans feel it every time they walk into the arena — the warmth, the welcome, the sense that someone has already thought of what they might need. The Princess Posse brings joy, steadiness, and a kind of quiet devotion that can’t be taught. It comes from who they are.

We are so proud of them.
We are so grateful for them.
And truly, Horses for Heroes United wouldn’t be the same without them.

09/08/2026

Part 2 of Quilt of Valor ceremony

09/08/2026

Quilt of Valor ceremony for Dov Hunt and Kimi Larkin❤️ Poor Kimi got the “ditto” version lol of the ceremony. We love you both🥰

09/08/2026

September 2nd~ Horses for Heroes United Closing Ceremony

Rain may have pushed us indoors, but it didn’t dampen the spirit of our 2026 Closing Ceremony. The room was filled with Veterans, families, volunteers, and partners celebrating another meaningful year of connection, growth, and community.

We honored every rider and every horse who made this season special, sharing stories, laughter, and the kind of camaraderie that defines Horses for Heroes United.

A heartfelt thank‑you to Sheriff Gabe Fabrizio — a Veteran himself — and the Coos County Sheriff’s Office for their steadfast support throughout the year. Their partnership continues to strengthen the foundation of this program.

To our 2026 sponsors, whose generosity made each session possible; to our incredible volunteers and the Coos County Mounted Sheriff’s Posse, whose dedication keeps this program thriving; and to Claire Lynn, who offered encouragement, support, and a much‑needed morale boost on a rainy day — thank you for lifting the energy of the room.

We’re also deeply grateful to Operation Rebuild Hope for donating food for our BBQ. And a huge shout‑out to our grill masters, Andrew Bice and Larry Wilhite, who cooked everything to perfection and kept everyone well‑fed and smiling.

Even indoors, the closing ceremony felt warm, joyful, and full of the heart that carries Horses for Heroes United forward.

Here’s to the end of a wonderful 2026 season — and to everything we’ll build together in 2027.

09/08/2026

Horses for Heroes United — August 26th, Session 8 Highlights

Session 8 was all about connection — the kind that grows quietly between a Veteran and a horse, one moment at a time.

This week, we focused on riding and bonding, giving Veterans the space to slow down, breathe, and settle into the rhythm of the arena. Some spent time brushing and grounding with their horses, others practiced new riding skills, and many simply enjoyed the calm, steady presence that only a horse can offer.

There was laughter, confidence building, and those small breakthroughs that don’t always show up in photos but mean everything to the people experiencing them. Watching Veterans relax into the saddle, trust their partners, and find joy in the ride is exactly why this program exists.

Every session reminds us that healing doesn’t have to be loud — sometimes it looks like a quiet lap around the arena, a soft nuzzle from a horse, or a moment of peace that carries into the rest of the week.

09/08/2026

Horses for Heroes United — August 19th, Session 7 Highlights

Session 7 was filled with meaning, gratitude, and a whole lot of joy.

We began with a powerful moment: the presentation of Quilts of Valor to two of our founding leaders, Dov Hunt and Kimi Larkin. Their dedication has shaped Horses for Heroes United from day one — showing up with heart, consistency, and a belief in what this program can offer Veterans. Recognizing them felt deeply right. Their leadership continues to inspire every rider, volunteer, and partner who steps into the arena.

After the ceremony, Veterans spent time connecting with the horses — riding, brushing, laughing, and enjoying the kind of easy camaraderie that makes these sessions special. Sometimes healing looks like shared space, gentle horses, and a moment to breathe.

The next day, Dov, Kimi, and Carrie represented Horses for Heroes United at the Coos County Stand Down, bringing a mini donkey and an alpaca for Veterans and their families to interact with. The smiles, the conversations, the simple joy of meeting these gentle animals — it all added up to a beautiful day of connection.

And apologies for the delay in posting — life gets busy, but the gratitude and pride for this session are as strong as ever.

09/03/2026

Some programs run on spotlight. Horses for Heroes United runs on people who show up without needing one.

Karen Wilhite and the members of the Coos County Mounted Sheriff's Posse are the reason this program has a steady heartbeat. They are the ones who track the details, keep the rhythm, hold the space, and make sure every veteran who steps into the arena feels supported and safe. None of them ask to be called leaders, yet their consistency is what leadership looks like when it is lived quietly.

They show up early. They stay late. They handle the small things that become big things if ignored. They stand with the veterans, with the horses, and with each other. They make sure the program doesn’t drift, doesn’t stall, and doesn’t lose its center.

There may not be a photo for this post, but the truth is simple. Horses for Heroes United works because Karen and the Posse keep showing up. Their presence is the foundation the rest of us build on.

- SFC Andrew D. Bice (Ret)

Address

69520 Wildwood Drive
North Bend, OR
97459

Telephone

(541)5302852

Website

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRue9uf8Ly8, https://www.h4hu.us/, https://www.facebook.com/CoosPosse/

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