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Issue 35 March 2012

The Heartland Hoofbeat Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy

Mark Your Calendars!

Blue Jeans & Dreams March 31, 2012

More information inside!

Start of Course B April 2, 2012

New Volunteer Training

April 6, 2012

Valley 6:00 - 8:00

May 12, 2012

Omaha 9:00 - 11:00

Valley 1:00 to 3:00 Kentucky Derby Gala

May 5, 2012

Havana Garage

Night with the Storm Chasers June 29, 2012

Day Camp June 4 - 8 Omaha

June 11 - 15 Advanced Camp

June 18 - 22 Valley Contact Sara@hetra.org

to volunteer for day camp

Contact Edye@hetra.org

to sign up for day camp

Hayrack Ride October 13, 2012

Check out the events calendar at

www.HETRA.org for more details!

Union Pacific Supports HETRA

Union Pacific has graciously supported HETRA

programming in many ways. In 2011 HETRA was

awarded a $5,000.00 grant from Union Pacific to

cover expenses for feed and care of two HETRA

horses specifically trained for the Horses for Heroes

program. Training of the HETRA horses includes

desensitization to medical equipment (wheelchairs, walkers, etc.), preparation to

carry an unbalanced rider, and extensive training to handle sidewalkers who

assist the participants with balance and safety. Horses trained specifically for

use in the Horses for Heroes program also need to be comfortable carrying the

heavier weight of an adult rider. At the end of 2011 Union Pacific learned of HETRA’s need to provide

transportation for Veterans in the program. Union Pacific stepped up again and

provided an additional $2,000.00 in funding. To assist reaching additional

Veterans with the granted funds, HETRA has partnered with Omaha Ambulance

to provide transportation to and from the HETRA barn. Omaha Ambulance has

graciously matched the Union Pacific funding, which allows these funds to go

twice as far. Veterans who would otherwise not be able to participate, due to

transportation barriers, have become active riders in the program on a weekly

basis. We are also excited to announce HETRA’s 2012 Blue Jeans & Dreams event

sponsor is Union Pacific! HETRA is grateful to have many wonderful sponsors

at various levels for this years event and we would like to send a special thank

you to Union Pacific for their continued support as we move forward in 2012!

~ We still have rider and volunteer slots available in our Horses for Heroes program. ~

Contact edye@hetra.org for more information

Waldo (left) and Charm (right) the two horses sponsored by Union Pacific

Issue 35 March 2012

Join the 2012 Karat Club! A Karat is defined as “A unit of measure for the fineness of gold”. A carrot is defined as a yummy treat for our four legged

friends. Any way you define it HETRA needs YOU to join the “Karat Club”. This is a new and refined version of our 100

for HETRA club. Many of you have supported the 100 for HETRA Club since 2007, and we are hoping you will join the

new and improved “Karat Club”. The “Karat Club” will be a group of individuals who wish to support the amazing students of HETRA on a month to month

basis through a monthly automatic deduction donation. The goal of this club is to help build a sustaining membership of

individuals willing and able to support the student sponsorship program. If we reach our membership goal we will be able to

support over 27 students each month through the student sponsorship program. The “Karat Club” will kick off at our Blue Jeans and Dreams event as our paddle raiser activity. I am planning to join the

“Karat Club” at the $50 Karat Level and I know many of our staff and Board of Directors are also jumping on board and

becoming part of the club. The best part of this club is that once you decide to join and you complete the registration process

the donation will occur automatically each month for one year!! We will continue to recognize all members of the “Karat

Club” on our website. For previous supporters of the 100 for HETRA club, we will continue to count your membership

years. Each year, members of this club receive a pin indicating your club membership. When a member has reached 5 years

in the program they will receive a HETRA sweatshirt or t-shirt. If you have questions or would like more information about

the “Karat Club” please contact Edye Godden at edye@hetra.org.

Welcome New Volunteer Coordinator

Sara Peacock spent many years and hours volunteering at the Valley facility

throughout her younger years. She has since gone on to work in the banking

community but is still actively involved with horses - raising and showing miniature

horses. With her prior experience with HETRA, her recent experience in the customer

service industry, and her continued knowledge and interest in the horse world we feel

Sara will be a great addition to the organization. We are very excited to welcome Sara

to the team!!

Sports for Kids Foundation supports the sport of horseback riding

HETRA would like to send out a special thank you to the Sports for Kids Foundation for their grant of $875.00 for student

scholarships in 2012! The Sports for Kids Foundation has always been a big supporter of HETRA and we greatly appreciate

their generosity. To learn more about the Sports for Kids Foundation visit their website at www.sportsforkids.org.

Sara helping out at the HETRA Booth at the Ag Expo

Do you have a favorite HETRA horse? Well now is your chance to show how much you love

that special animal! The 2012 Horse Penny Race is off and running and you can vote for your

favorite horse by dropping your change (dollars are also accepted!) into your favorite horse’s jar

at the barn. Each penny equals one vote. You can also vote online at www.HETRA.org, each

horse has their own campaign page! We also have jars available, if you know of a company that

would be willing to place a collection jar at their place of business. Contact jen@hetra.org for a

jar with the horse you feel deserves to be the “2012 Horse of the Year”. Votes will be collected

until 10 pm on March 30, 2012. The 2012 HETRA horse of the year will be announced at Blue

Jeans and Dreams on March 31st. All funds raised in the Horse Penny Race will be used to cover

2012 horse care expenses.

HETRA Horses off and Running in the 2012 Horse Penny Race

“Trixie” Current leader of the horse penny race

Issue 35 March 2012

Blue Jeans & Dreams Reservation Card

___ Yes, I would like to attend the Dinner & Dance. Enclosed please find my payment of $50 per person for ____ number of tickets.*

___ Yes, I would like to purchase a reserved table for $425, which will seat 8 guests.*

___ I am sorry that I cannot attend but please accept my tax-deductible donation of ________.

Name _____________________________________ Email _____________________________________

Address ___________________________________________ City __________________________ State _____ Zip _____________

All tickets must be pre-purchased, tickets will not be available at the door.

For more information about Blue Jeans & Dreams please visit our web site at www.HETRA.org or call us at (402) 359-8830

*In an effort to save on printing and postage costs we will not be mailing out tickets to this year’s event. You will be presented with

your ticket when you arrive at the event. If you are purchasing tickets for multiple guests please include a list of

names of the guests attending with you.

Visit our web site at www.hetra.org

Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy

PO Box 260

Valley, NE 68064

Don’t Forget to

Purchase your Blue

Jeans & Dreams

Tickets …they are

going fast!!

HETRA is going Green

In order to save on printing and postage costs we would like to send you our quarterly newsletter via email. Please indicate below if

you would like to continue to receive our printed newsletter or if you would prefer to get our new and improved online newsletter.

___ I would like to continue receiving a hard copy of the Heartland Hoofbeat, HETRA’s quarterly newsletter.

___ I want to help save HETRA printing and postage costs, please email me the Heartland Hoofbeat at the email address below.

___ I understand the work at HETRA is important, but I no longer want to receive the Heartland Hoofbeat or other HETRA mailings.

Is there something you would like to see in future HETRA newsletters? Comments and suggestions are welcome!

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name _____________________________________ Email _____________________________________

Address ___________________________________________ City __________________________ State _____ Zip _____________

“What HETRA and getting Craig involved with horses again did was accelerate his progress.

Getting him involved in his passion (horses) and helping him feel like ‘himself’ again did wonders

for his self-esteem and his confidence, which in turn impacted his physical recovery. But what it

did for our children is an entirely different story – for the first time since the accident, our kids

have begun to see their father as they are used to seeing him: on a horse, with his cowboy hat on,

and doing chores. Not as a fragile patient. It did wonders for our sense of hope, and for the

realization that things, although different, would be OK.”

Read more about Craig in the winter 2011 newsletter on our website www.HETRA.org.

Adults benefit from HETRA too

HETRA’s Mission: To improve the quality of life both physically and emotionally of adults and children with

disabilities through equine assisted activities.