NEWSLETTER
April 2025
A Message From Our Team
From the Board President’s Desk – Spring 2025 Update
As we continue through another impactful season at Horses Help, I want to extend heartfelt thanks to our community: our interim Executive Director, Lori Adukeh, volunteers, donors, staff, and board members who make our mission possible. Your time, energy, and dedication help us bring the healing power of horses to those who need it most. This spring has also brought a number of important transitions for our organization. Leadership changes are never easy, but they offer us the opportunity to reflect, reset, and refocus. I want to thank all of you who have stepped up with patience, support, and professionalism during these moments of change. Whether it’s adapting to new roles, covering extra responsibilities, or simply showing up with a positive attitude, it does not go unnoticed. I remain confident in everyone’s commitment to Horses Help and to the people and horses who make our mission real every day. Thank you for staying in stride with us, guided by integrity, compassion, and a shared sense of purpose. Sincerely, Brian S. Elsey
A Message From Our Interim Executive Director
Greetings! I am so honored to have been asked to step into the role of Interim Executive Director for Horses Help. As a 5th-generation Arizona native, born and raised in Tucson (yes, I’m a U of A grad), I have always been an avid horse lover. In fact, I learned to ride a horse before I learned to ride a bike! I came to Horses Help to serve on our Board of Directors last fall. When the opportunity presented itself to support our community by helping to grow our programs and enhance our business operations, I jumped in. Just a little bit about me: I have 40 years of experience in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors. With all my years of experience, I have found that my passion is to serve the underserved and to find innovative ways to provide programs and opportunities for those in need. I began my nonprofit journey as the Executive Director for an organization in Nashville that provided educational enrichment and career development programs for underserved youth. It was in this role that I received recognition as CEO of the Year by the Center for Nonprofit Management and a Woman of Influence by the Nashville Business Journal. I continue to be amazed by the overwhelming dedication of the staff, our donors, our Board, and especially our volunteers in delivering the mission of Horses Help. Together, we will continue to grow our programs and services to our community, and I look forward with great confidence to a successful future for Horses Help and those we serve. Sincerely, Lori Adukeh
Volunteer Corner
Hello incredible volunteers! I'm excited to be supporting you and Horses Help in the capacity of volunteer coordinator. For those of you I haven’t yet met, I’m looking forward to the opportunity! In case you’re curious, following is a brief summary of how I came to Horses Help and my experience so far. Seven years ago, I donated my English saddle to Tacks 5th Ave. As I was leaving, someone said to me, “we are always in need of volunteers…” That invitation spurred me to action (pun intended 😊). I began volunteering as a side walker, coach, and barn buddy. From there, my participation grew. I mastered the Horses Help techniques of horse handling and assisted in preparing horses for mounted classes—grooming, tacking, untacking— and then becoming a horse leader. I learned that Horses Help was a Premier Accredited PATH Int’l Center, having had zero knowledge of PATH Int’l prior. In 2021, I obtained an Equine Specialist Certification from PATH Int’l and joined Horses Help as a part-time staff member, leading individual and group Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) classes as well as Horsemanship classes. Throughout the years, I’ve benefited from working alongside our wonderful volunteers, staff, and board members during annual events such as the Arabian Horse Show, Golf Tournament, and the Barn Bash. In December 2024, I retired from my 37-year corporate career, leading a global customer experience team of technology professionals. When the opportunity arose to take on the volunteer coordinator role, I happily accepted. I am now experiencing the saying: “do something you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life!” Reflecting on my increased Horses Help involvement, I attribute it to three key factors: Horses Help’s high standards, ongoing learning opportunities, and the amazing like-minded volunteers, staff, and board members who positively impact our community. Sincerely, Lisa Tidwell
Recent Events
Oh, how the time flies! It feels like just yesterday we welcomed our sweet herd of minis right before the holiday season—now here we are, with spring in full bloom. This past season, we were lucky to host some truly special events, including Luke Air Force Day, a visit from Piglet the Deaf Blind Pink Puppy, Pony Express, and our Volunteer Appreciation Day.
We’ve shared a few snapshots from these unforgettable days below, and if you’d like to see even more of these special moments, please follow us on Facebook and Instagram @horseshelptrc
Upcoming Events
Summer Reading Program
Spots are limited and tend to fill quickly, so be sure to reserve yours early!
Summer is just around the corner, and we’re thrilled to share that registration is now open for our 2025 Reading & Riding youth program!
Designed for children ages 4–11, Reading & Riding invites young participants to saddle up for games on horseback, connect with our herd through grooming and reading activities, and exercise their creativity with fun arts and crafts. Each session offers a hands-on opportunity to build confidence, strengthen literacy skills, and create lasting memories with animals — all in a supportive, welcoming environment.
Summer 2025 Dates:
May 31 | June 7 | June 14 | June 21 | June 28
Sessions run from 7:30 to 9:30 AM to help beat the summer heat, and each one is available for individual registration.
Cost: $40 per child, per session
Location: Horses Help – 6525 E. Dixileta Dr., Cave Creek
If you have any questions, please reach out to Shelly at shelly.w@horseshelp.org
Tacks Fifth Avenue
Upcoming Dates:
June 7, July 5, August 2
Our Tacks Fifth Ave store is open on the first Saturday of every month from 10 AM to 1 PM at Horses Help.
Come by and shop a wide variety of tack and supplies at unbeatable prices while supporting the life-changing programs at Horses Help.
We offer an extensive selection, including bridles, saddles, saddle pads, boots (for horses and riders), grooming supplies, western and show clothing, and much more!
Donations Needed!
Now is the perfect time to clean out your tack room and donate to the Horses Help Used Tack Store (Tacks Fifth Avenue)! Your donations are always welcome and greatly appreciated. Items are sold at affordable prices, with all proceeds supporting the life-changing therapy programs at Horses Help.
Help us make a difference—donate today! To donate tack or western wear, contact Shelly at shelly.w@horseshelp.org.
Volunteer Spotlight
Our Handy Helpers Get the WIT Award!
We’d like to take a moment to shine a well-deserved spotlight on three behind-the-scenes heroes of Horses Help— Doug, Steve, and Daniel. These incredible volunteers are the reason our facility continues to run smoothly and safely, day in and day out. They’re our go-to guys when something needs fixing, and we can always depend on them to get the job done.
Whether it’s a busted sprinkler, a clogged drain, or an overflowing waterer, they’re quick to jump in and fix it— no hesitation, no fuss. And their talents go far beyond basic repairs. They weld fences and stall gates, wire up fans, repair wheelbarrows, move dirt (or poo!) with the tractor, hang blinds, and so much more. If something needs fixing, building, or hauling, chances are they’re already on it.
Their handy skills, strong work ethic, and genuine care for the participants, horses, and staff of Horses Help are what make them so special. We’re beyond grateful for everything they do and for the countless ways they help make this place feel like home.
So, the next time you see them with tools in hand, quietly tackling another job, please take a moment to say thank you. Doug, Steve, and Daniel— we see you, and we appreciate all the things you do.
Volunteer Opportunities
It’s that time of year again when our wonderful Horses Help volunteers head to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ. Our volunteers staff a portable stand and serve beer and margaritas to event guests. In exchange for our efforts, HH receives a portion of sales revenue, which we use in support of our daily operations. In addition to Cardinals football games, we assist at other stadium events, such as concerts.
Since we are serving alcohol, all volunteers must be 21 years old.
We don't yet have this year's football schedule; however, check out the great lineup of other planned events below. Please visit our Volunteer Portal to view upcoming opportunities and sign up to volunteer.
Please feel free to email our volunteer coordinator, Lisa at lisa.t@horseshelp.org if you or your organization are interested in volunteering with us.