“Through their hoofbeats and heartbeats, horses create a haven where we find our strength, so our illnesses will not define us.”
Hoofbeat Haven began just a few years ago at Walnut Grove Farms. Renee, the owner of the farm, was inspired to start a therapeutic riding program for Four Diamonds families after her daughter, Ashlyn, was diagnosed with cancer and went through treatment about 10 years ago.
While Renee's daughter was undergoing treatment, caring for the horses and their farm provided a sense of normalcy for their family. Through the inconsistencies of treatment, there was always one constant: the horses. Each day, they needed to be taken care of, and it gave their family the drive to keep going and hope that tomorrow would be better. They wanted to be able to share this experience with others, and with that, they began a therapeutic horsemanship program.
"We are grateful for the support of Four Diamonds because it allowed us to focus on Ashlyn and our family without worrying about how we were going to pay for her treatments.” – Renee, Four Diamonds mom, owner of Walnut Grove Farms and founder of Hoofbeat Haven
Walnut Grove Farms offers therapeutic horsemanship and riding for veterans, seniors and cancer patients. But, after going through their own experience with pediatric cancer, they have a special place in their heart for Four Diamonds families. This is why they started Hoofbeat Haven, which is a program designed specifically to support cancer patients and survivors.
Renee and another horse trainer, Danielle, created Hoofbeat Haven by establishing a curriculum and a specialized program designed for cancer patients and survivors. Ashlyn was their inspiration from the very beginning. After the first year, Danielle also began using the curriculum at another farm, expanding the Hoofbeat Haven program and offering more support to families.
Thanks to support from our generous donors, Four Diamonds is able to fully cover the enrollment cost for any Four Diamonds child who participates in the Hoofbeat Haven program.
Hoofbeat Haven gives cancer patients and survivors and their families a sense of normalcy and belonging during a difficult and often lonely time. Families aren’t alone at Walnut Grove Farms, and Hoofbeat Haven creates an opportunity for connection between families. Several of the participants in the Hoofbeat Haven program are Four Diamonds children, and many of them continue to ride and stay involved with Walnut Grove Farms even after completing the program. Irelyn, a Four Diamonds child, participated in the Hoofbeat Haven program last year, and she made the brave decision to continue riding through intense treatments and hospital stays.
“I had always known I liked animals, but the horses there bonded with me in a different way. It’s like each one of them have a bold personality, but they all make you feel safe.” – Four Diamonds child Irelyn
Irelyn loves connecting with the animals, but it's also the people at Walnut Grove Farms that keep her coming back. She is always greeted with a smile and a hug, and the people care about her. Riding horses at Walnut Grove Farms gave Irelyn something to look forward to during the difficult hospital stays and the discomfort of treatment. The bond between a child, the horse and the trainer brings joy and strength to children like Irelyn who are fighting to live.
When Four Diamonds child Addison was five years old, she had brain surgery for juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma. After the surgery, she struggled to walk, and completing the many hours of physical therapy needed to recover was a daunting task. For Addison, Hoofbeat Haven’s therapeutic riding helped improve her balance and coordination. Addison continues to improve her horse riding skills through Walnut Grove, and she hopes to barrel race someday!
“We are so happy we found Walnut Grove Farms, where Addison can be a kid and forget about everything she has to go through. She continues to grow stronger physically and mentally as she learns how to ride and properly take care of horses.” – Four Diamonds child Addison's mom
Renee loves the Hoofbeat Haven program, but what means the most to her are the connections families develop. She knows what pediatric cancer patients and their families are experiencing, and she finds joy in using horses to provide the families with hope.
“Hoofbeat Haven goes beyond therapeutic programming. I enjoy running the program because I know what it means to the children and their families. I have experienced the same journey, so being able to bring hope to families and build relationships with them is what is most meaningful to me.” – Renee
To make a donation to Four Diamonds and help support programs like Hoofbeat Haven, click here.