Issue 40 July 2014

Mark your calendars!

Jimando Farms Miniature Horse Camp August 5-7

Contact rachel@hetra.org for info & registration

Little Britches Horse Show

August 16 Gretna Barn

Jimando Farms Driving Lessons

August 23 Go to events page of HETRA

website to sign up!

Jimando Farms Miniature Horse Camp

September 6 2:00 - 4:00

Course D Student & Volunteer Dates

September 15- December 14

Interested in touring the Gretna Barn?

Monthly tour dates listed! Go to events page of HETRA

website to sign up!

SAVE THE DATE! Blue Jeans & Dreams

May 2, 2015

"Drive to Ride" Campaign Details coming soon!

The Heartland Hoofbeat Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy

Follow us on Social Media

HETRA Celebrates 25 Years & A New Home!!

HETRA

10130 S. 222nd St.

Gretna, NE 68028

(402) 359-8830

www.HETRA.org

2014 marks a huge milestone for

HETRA - 25 years of HETRA serving the Omaha community! HETRA is celebrating in a big way and has moved into a new facility! With the support of the Mustaches for Kids - Omaha, HETRA has been able to secure a lease with option to purchase a barn located at 10130 S 222nd Street in Gretna. Katherine Smith and Edye Godden have been gracious enough to let the organization run out of their facilities for many years. With the growth in student numbers, it was time for the two facilities to come together at one location that provides the ability to expand the number of individuals HETRA can serve.

If you would like to learn more about the Program and Expansion Project, contact Christopher at Christopher@HETRA.org or 402-957-0238. Barn tours are scheduled twice a month so you can see the new facility! The staff is happy to provide insight to the HETRA operations through a barn tour, discussion over coffee, or a brief phone call. Feel free to connect with any of our staff including Edye Godden, Executive Director; Jodi Teal, Development Director or Christopher Slater, Program and Expansion Manager. We would love to show you what 25 years of service looks like and we can’t wait to see what the next 25 years looks like!

"Don't Stop Believin" was the theme of the 2014 Mustache for Kids Omaha

campaign. Can you believe the men who registered to be 2014 Growers raised $251,737? Thank you to the close to 200 Growers and the community for supporting these men with donations, moral support, and laughs at each of the weekly check points in May. Special thanks to Chad Ingersoll, winner of the "Most Fundraisngist" and his mustache supporters for raising over $29,000. Congrats to Rob Steele for winning "Rookie of the Year" and Ryan Herrick for the "Sweetest Stache" Award. Congratulations to Children's Hospital for winning the "Sexiest Company in America" Award. Watch for an invitation to unveil the new sign at the HETRA Gretna Barn that will welcome students, volunteers, and guests to the "Mustaches for Kids" Barn! Men, you have just under 300 days until Clean Shave 2015. The HETRA staff wish you success in the 2015 Growing Season!

Issue 40 July 2014

National Council of Jewish Women - Omaha Section for funding the purchase of two Thin Line saddle pads, support of Equine Services for Heroes student sponsorships and Hippotherapy student sponsorships.

Meyer Foundation for Disabilities grant to purchase a saddle pad and a High Back Saddle. This saddle will

encourage the greatest level of independence as a teen or adult student is riding. Fund for Omaha through the Omaha Community Foundation awarded funding to hire an accounting staff member. eBay Foundation Corporate Advised Fund at Silicon Valley Community Foundation awarded funding for four new

staff computers. The grant was recommended by eBay Foundation’s employee-volunteer led Omaha GIVE Team. Northern Natural Gas and The Harry A. Koch Company employees selected HETRA as the beneficiary of their

Jeans Days. Seim Johnson, LLP has selected HETRA as the beneficiary of funds collected during their annual golf outing. Sports for Kids Foundation has selected HETRA as their beneficiary of their 2014 Golf Event.

Funding Awarded to HETRA!

Volunteers & Students recognized for Outstanding Work!

Volunteers, students, and families attended the Volunteer and Student awards party in January. This annual event gives

HETRA instructors a chance to recognize every student for one area they had excelled at in the past year. Without the

dedicated volunteers, HETRA would not be able to serve close to 100 students a week. The great volunteers filled 160

volunteer shifts per week and logged over 18,000 hours in 2013! HETRA would like to recognize the following

volunteers for over 100 hours in 2013.

Congratulations to the following volunteer award winners!

Melody Swartzfeger - Omaha Volunteer of the Year

Daniel Katona - Omaha Youth Volunteer of the Year

Alissa Kirchhoff - Omaha New Volunteer of the Year

The Jarosik and Kock families - Families of the Year

Diana Ulmer - Valley Volunteer of the year

Katilyn Thompson - Valley Youth Volunteer of the year.

Olivia Sikora - Valley New Volunteers of the year.

A special mention was given to HETRA Instructor, Rachel Stein and Jimando Farms Caretaker, Doug Irvin for their commitment to Jimando Farms programming. Thanks to volunteers from Werner Enterprises who made the event run smoothly!

HETRA is always looking for more volunteers! If you are interested in joining this awesome team please contact Sara -

Sara@HETRA.org or call her a 402-669-1504.

24 hours - Total Raised for Omaha Charities - $6,360,707!

HETRA would like to thank the 85 individuals who donated to HETRA and raised $3,439!

HETRA put together a video to say Thanks!

Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/HETRANebraska

Issue 40 July 2014

“Welcome” and “Farewell” to many beloved at HETRA

Welcome to two new HETRA staff members! We want to welcome Maggie Olson and Christopher Slater! Maggie

Olsen joined the HETRA team as Horse Manager in January. Many of you already know Maggie as a volunteer, an

Instructor, and as HETRA Horse Sugar's owner. Christopher Slater also joined the HETRA team as Program and

Facility Expansion Project Manger. Feel free to contact any of the HETRA staff if you have questions or want to learn

more about the program. Welcome new HETRA Horses! Red is a 14 year old sorrel quarter horse who joined the program last August. He is a

sweet guy that loves to be around people. Red also likes to play with the toys in the arena more than the people do!

Soon to join the herd is Lightening, a Quarter horse and Arabian Cross with a small frame that the HETRA therapists

are excited to start using in the Hippotherapy program! Farewell to Horses, Tuff, Doc & Cisco. Blue skies, nothing but blue skies....at 34 years 28

years, and 25 years old, which is "up there" for a horse, Doc, Tuff, and Cisco have decided

to retire to the good life. Doc, Tuff and Cisco are the oldest HETRA horses and are

transitioning into their well-deserved retirement years. We thank them for their years of

service and will miss them as they were excellent teachers with lots of experience.

Farewell to a great supporter: Ketzler, Donovan D., Sr. - Jan 7, 1924 - Aug 16, 2013 "It's

been a good hunt!" Donovan D. Ketzler, former President of the Dehner Boot Company

and retired Major in the United States Cavalry, died in August of 2013. HETRA was

among three designated organizations for his memorial. Major Ketzler remained an active

horseman and rode his horse, Snowy, with his

faithful dog, Poteen. The Nebraska Horse Counsel

honored him as Horseman of the Year. He was a cofounder of the North Hills

Hunt in the early 1960s. He was Master of Foxhounds for the North Hills Hunt

from 1984-1989. In 1989, he presented then Mayor of Omaha, P.J. Morgan,

with a plan to begin a Mounted Patrol. He spent many years developing and

supporting the Patrol from its initial 2 members to its current state.

Information taken from Omaha.com/ Obituaries.

Tuff horsin’ around

On April 5, 2014 over 600 people filled Five Star Stables to support HETRA! Thanks to the generous community

over $78,000 was raised in support of the Student

Sponsorship Fund. We want to send out a special

thank you to our host couple Eric & Nikki Crouch,

and our event sponsor Crouch Recreation. Some

of the highlights of the evening included an

awesome 100+ item silent & live auction,

wonderful food catered by Don Lerdahl, and great

music provided by Crossfire. The 2014 HETRA

Horse of the Year was also announced.

Congratulations to Rainbow & Team Captain

Amanda Rector! We also want to congratulate

team Ted, and team captain Lisa Stillahn, who

came in a very close second place. Thank you to

everyone that attended or supported this event in any way! Check out the events

page of the HETRA website for photos from the wonderful evening as well as a listing of all the generous sponsors!

2014 Blue Jeans & Dreams a Huge Success!

Issue 40 July 2014

Save the Date!!

Little Britches Horse Show

August 16, 2014

Karat Club Membership

Karat Club members are a “STABLE” influence for students served through HETRA’s programming!

HETRA appreciates all of the members of the past Karat Club years and we hope you will join the Club! No matter how you spell it, we love Karat Club Members!

Carrot—a horse treat

Caret—^ symbol meaning to insert Karat—measurement of gold

Carat—gemstone measurement

Since the start of the Club six years ago, over 60 members have supported the organization annually through the Karat Club, formally known as the 100 for HETRA Club! With the convenience of automatic payments, your reoccurring monthly contribution reduces our postage and printing costs, enabling us to utilize your charitable dollars more efficiently. See insert if you are interested in joining or go to the HETRA website to join today!

Little Britches Horse Show

The 13th annual Little Britches Horse Show will be at the new

HETRA barn in Gretna on August 16, 2014! This event is organized to

give show experience to the younger participants. Fun classes are

offered to kids in the 7 - 9 and 10 - 12 age groups. Fun horseless

classes are offered for these 6 and under participants. The show starts

at 8:30 am! The show bill and participant pledge sheets can be found

on the HETRA website www.HETRA.org. Class sponsorships and ad

space are available in the event program.