A hoofbeat of love at the heart of area organization
Hearts & Hoofbeats riders mount and dismount safely in a well-designed area, creating plenty of safety for each individual.
People are called to offer love, compassion and companionship to others.
It’s been observed that horses have that same ability.
In recognizing the bond between a horse and rider, Hearts & Hoofbeats has breathed new joy into the lives of people with special needs, and the benefits have already been impressive.
As a way of introducing this venture to the community and in perpetuating a fundraising opportunity, the Hearts & Hoofbeats Benefit Auction will take place Tuesday, May 16 at the Mt. Hope Events Center, where all are welcome to attend and learn more about this venture that has touched the lives of young people with special needs.
The event will kick off at 4 p.m. with a supper by Byler’s BBQ. The auction will begin at 5:30 p.m., and at 6:30 p.m. guest speaker Marlin Miller from Plain Values will share his story of working closely with the adoption world. A raffle drawing will take place at 7:45 p.m.
However, the main focus of the evening will be on sharing the journey of Andrew and Linda Yoder, who operate Hearts & Hoofbeats, a nonprofit organization that utilizes the comforting presence of horseback riding into the lives of individuals with special needs.
“We’ve been around horses all our lives, and we realized long ago that horses provide something special and connect with people on a different level,” Andrew Yoder said. “It’s tremendous for clients physically and mentally, and it’s also beneficial for all our volunteers who make this possible.”
While knowledgeable staff walk riders through the ride, the interaction between rider and horse and the sense of communication between the two has proven to be therapeutic.
For many years the Yoder family had been raising, training and breeding Haflingers. However, in 2021 the couple toured a facility in Pennsylvania called Harmony Hallow and experienced just how much joy and therapy a horse ride can bring into a person’s life.
Andrew Yoder said they were touched by the experience, and they began exploring ways to bring that type of therapy back to their home area near Apple Creek.
The Yoders connected with Willing Hearts Workshop and pitched the idea of setting up an initial meeting for anyone interested from the public. Sixty people showed up, and shortly thereafter the program was accepted and endorsed by Willing Hearts Workshop.
The Yoders created a board, and the entire group went back to Harmony Hollow so they could all experience the joy the Yoders had that first trip.
In April 2022 Hearts & Hoofbeats began its ministry. Highly trained volunteers worked with the team from Rocking Pine Stables. Under the tutelage of Leroy Yoder, four Haflingers, a Morgan, an Arabian and a Paint horse became the equine part of the organization.
The team of people working with a horse during a ride include a leader attending to the lead rope, two side walkers and the instructor, who leads in song and keeps the rider alert.
Each ride begins in the paddock, where the rider mounts and is led out a gate into a rolling pasture. The instructor is trained to use several different methods of connecting with the rider, but it is the special bond with the horse that seems to provide the biggest encouragement.
“Each client rides for about an hour, and each session is designed specifically with that client in mind,” Yoder said. “Every horse has its own personality, and pairing a client up with the right horse is critical.”
The benefits of equine therapy are many, and horses have a unique way of connecting with people that humans don’t have.
Equine therapy creates an increased trust in individuals with special needs, reduces anxiety, creates an aura of less feeling of depression and isolation, increases self-esteem and self-acceptance, increases social skills, increases and strengthens muscle function, creates finer impulse control in individuals, increases problem-solving skills, and improves communication skills including for nonverbal individuals.
Yoder said the horses and the talented volunteer staff are at the center of the success of the program, and the support of the community has allowed the organization to flourish, in the process positively impacting the lives of dozens of riders.
The May 16 fundraiser event’s purpose is twofold. The first is to raise funds that will help Hearts & Hoofbeats pay travel expenses of their volunteers, to pay for the training of the horses and for other daily costs. The second is to create a fund that will allow the organization to build a new facility on Dover Road near Apple Creek on acreage next to Yoder Hydraulics.
“Our dream has been to build a facility that will enhance the experience of our clients,” Yoder said. “The one thing we’ve realized is that none of this would ever have been possible without the support of our board, our staff and the community itself. We could have never gotten to first base without the incredible support we have received.”
Hearts & Hoofbeats can provide therapy for ages infant to adult, and each ride is tailored to each individual’s needs and abilities. Each rider gets a series of exercises while riding, improving posture and learning other techniques that help connect rider to horse such as grooming, petting and even helping to lead the horse.
Those interested in learning more can attend the benefit evening, and anyone wishing to sign up a rider or work as a volunteer can call Linda Yoder at 330-988-2147 or Andrew Yoder at 330-466-3051.