Dear Friends,

First, I would like to extend my gratitude to each and every one of you for your steadfast support and continuing friendship during this difficult year! Your concern is greatly appreciated and I will treasure your friendship always! My heart goes out to all of you who have suffered losses from COVID and from the extensive fires that have ravaged our country. This year would certainly have to go on record as one of the most challenging ever! Still, we are strong and meet our challenges bravely because we are blessed with the most amazing companions ever throughout this crisis...our beloved Longears!

You might remember from my previous newsletter that we had a major blow-out with our Traveling Gun irrigation system. As it turned out, we had to replace the PVC feeder pipe with steel pipe. We could no longer repair the pods where the reel plugged in. We had blown every one over the past ten years and a second repair job was not an option. We could not afford to have it replaced unless we did a lot of the work ourselves, so that is what we did! My crew of two guys and one neighbor trenched 3900 feet and lined the bottom with 30 truckloads of pea gravel...all the way from the pump house to a “T” and where the pipe ran from the north to the south end of the hayfields. Then the steel pipe was delivered by our friends at the oil company and they proceeded to weld all the pieces together in preparation to lay the pipe into the trenches. It took a backhoe and a track hoe to meticulously set the steel pipe into the trenches. It was amazing to watch the craftsmanship of these guys! When the pipe was in the trench, my Assistant Ranch Manager, Steve, got into the backhoe and began back-filling right away, leaving only the areas where the pods were that would attach to the reel. Then the work around the pods began, cutting them flush with the field so as not to interfere with the hay equipment. Then they were set on cement and backfilled. After only one month, we had completed this intensive project and saved a great deal of money by doing a lot of the work ourselves! They shut off our irrigation water in late August because of drought and the grass was no longer growing much, so we had to forfeit a second cutting of hay, but we now have an irrigation system that will last for 50 years or more.

The Cameron Peak fire swept through Rocky Mountain National Forest just west of the Lucky Three Ranch. Fortunately, we were only affected by a lot of smoke all summer, but others were not as lucky. Many people’s livestock was evacuated to our fairgrounds at The Ranch, but hay was scarce so we helped stock grass hay for the evacuated equines. In September, we did get a bit of snow, but not enough to help with the fires. Then the Trouble fire started in Granby and threatened to merge with the Cameron Peak fire with Estes Park caught between. Fortunately, it did snow quite a bit in mid-October, slowed the spread and allowed the evacuees from Estes Park to go home. This snowstorm finally cleaned all the smoke and ash from the air where we are.


For MULE APPRECIATION DAY, we gave everyone a sneak peek at our newest documentary, ROCK AND ROLL: DIARY OF A RESCUE and received rave reviews!  Thank you all for your feedback. It is greatly appreciated! We are now working on more short videos to post on
Facebook and on the website, and we are working on another full-length documentary, CREATING THE JASPER CAROUSEL! On October 15th, we did the last of the interviews and shot video of the JASPER CAROUSEL, finally finished and in motion with kids (and us adults, LOL!) on board! 

As we face the challenges put before us, and as doors close, windows are opened, yielding opportunities for new beginnings! I wish the very best for my family, friends and fans for a happy and renewed holiday season!

Wishing you all a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!        

Best wishes and Happy Trails,

Hearts & Horses has worked tirelessly to get riders back in the saddle safely at the ranch and has adapted in these ever-changing times. One thing that has remained consistent is that the organization is recognized regionally and nationally for their contributions to therapeutic riding. 

Every year, the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH Intl.) accepts nominations for exceptional contributions to the Equine Assisted Activities & Therapy industry, and Hearts & Horses has received three awards for Region 10 and one National award for their exceptional work:

• Carol McKennan, Volunteer Since 2013, 2020 National PATH International Volunteer of the Year and Region 10 Volunteer of the Year, 
• Liz de Kock, Director of Equine Services, Path Intl. Region 10 Credentialed Professional of the Year,
• Varsity of Lexlin, Member of the Herd since 2013, PATH Intl. Region 10 Equine of the Year, 

Due to the reduced capacity that has been necessitated by COVID-19, this year presents the largest financial challenge Hearts & Horses has ever faced. A great way to support them right now is by participating in the Driving Love Raffle. Each raffle ticket purchase gives you the chance to WIN a 24- month lease on a new truck or $10,000 cash!

Help support Hearts & Horses by purchasing a $50 ticket or 5 for $200! https://www.heartsandhorses.org/raffle

The Driving Love Raffle is generously sponsored by Loveland Ford Lincoln. All proceeds benefit Hearts & Horses. Must be 18 or older to enter. Raffle Drawing: Thurs, Dec 17, 2020, at Hearts & Horses at 1pm MST. For more information and to purchase your raffle tickets, visit https://www.heartsandhorses.org/raffle

Summer Alameel, Development & Communications Manager
summer@heartsandhorses.org

Give the Gift of Joy and Healing
Through an incredible depth and breadth of programming, Hearts & Horses impacts every life we touch. Support the wonderful effects of therapeutic riding for individuals by supporting Hearts & Horses today!