I am really upset that some one could say such horrible things about Horses N Heroes because Horses N Heroes has been more then just a riding program for my daughter and so many other girls for the last 10 years. Angel just turned 17 years old and has been participating in Horses N Heroes since she was 7. She has learned the meaning of team work, leadership skills, responsibility and the benefit of hard work. At no point was Horses N Heroes designed to be a "Therapy Program", there are no handicaps at Horses N Heroes but it was always presented as a program for children that come from families with extreme financial constraints. All of the girls fit this guideline. The girls learn all aspects of horsemanship and build friendships with like minded girls that will last a life time. Angel is the person she is today because of what she has gained from Horses N Heroes. She is enrolled in Trinity Catholic High School, through a the generous contribution of our vet, whom Angel met at Horses N Heroes.
She is in her Junior year but taking all AP classes and intends to pursue her education in Veterinarian Medicine. Angel works part time with the vet and learning every day. Angel also competes on the Equestrian Team at Trinity, and made it to Regional competition, which we are very proud of. Horses N Heroes is more then just a program. It is a lifeline for so many girls. They learn to feel at home, safe and protected especially when home can be so difficult with the trials and tribulations of poverty. Horses N Heroes was there for my daughter at some of the most difficult times in her life. A diagnosis with a cancer and the surgeries that followed, Horses and Heroes was there for her. Father terminally ill, and eventually dying, Horses and Heroes was there for her. Both in support and as an escape for her "not so good reality".
With regards to the lack of supervision, it doesn't exist. The girls learn from and teach each other. The younger, less experienced girls are teamed up with older and more experienced girls and they held accountable to each other. The 8 year old referred to in the previous post is not true. She was permitted,with explicit permission from the parents, to operate the golf cart but she was 10 years old. The farm is kept immaculate as stated but that is imperative to maintain order and safety. A place for everything and everything in its place.
Horses are giant animals that have the potential for injury at any time. The girls learn for day one, even with their favorite horse, they are animals and there is a risk of getting hurt. There is no "horsing" around and safety is the priority.
The statement about the money being paid to anyone is ridiculous. There are no paid positions at Horses N Heroes. Every penny brought in goes directly to the program. Not one penny goes to a person, in the 21 years of existence, there has never been a salary.
It is so sad that when a child, who is not manageable, is asked to leave the program, and she or her mother would retaliate like this but we know the good will shine through. Horses N Heroes is great program and I would welcome anyone to come see first hand.
Review from Guidestar
This non-profit focuses on the horses, not the heroes. It's definitely all about horses, and there is little 'therapy' for the girls who are the heroes ranging in age 8 to 18. The owner/manager is volatile & leaves children as young as 10 years old on her farm by themselves - as she runs errands. There is no phone in the barn for the children to call out & most of the girls have no cell phones. The owner/manager has chosen a few select girls which she protects & permits rudeness, unkindness & inappropriate behavior towards the other girls. These select few are girls she video tapes & puts on her website to promote her charity - which is her sole income. This owner uses these girls to clean her farm, which is absolutely immaculate. With fear, the girls are strong-armed into cleaning this farm property which is 10 acres. Girls as young as 8 years old drag the pastures on a motorized vehicle, without adult supervision, and care for horses that, although the horses have been in the program for years, are NOT bomb-proofed - and scare at the slightest infraction. If the girl is unfortunate enough to be around the owner when the horse scares, the owner yells & screams & threatens the girl that she will not return. Furthermore, most of these low-income girls have unsuspecting parents, who do not want any issues with the law. The girls are always of low-income status & have parents who could not afford to hire a lawyer to defend them. The owner is volatile & is in no way a 'nurturing' person. Many girls have left the program because of her angry disposition. Stick around for a few hours every day, as a parent, and you will see the owners true evil nature come out against these girls. This is NOT a charity that anyone would support if the truth were known. Despite how it is promoted - it is NOT a therapeutic program for ANY child. A self-promoted adult angry woman that should be taking Anger Management courses who teaches unfairness, rudeness & unkindness to children is not this reviewers idea of a good program.