Horses with Hearts began in the hearts of a few people at First Baptist Church and Pleasant Ridge Farm as a dream. Excited about the joy and growth they had personally gained through their interaction with gentle yet big-hearted horses, they longed to share that experience with those who have special challenges. Today their dream is a reality.

HwH received it's non-profit status from the IRS in Nov 2006 and is now a 501©3 organization. The program has started with one horse and one rider at the farm of Larry and Vickie Carper, Pleasant Ridge Farm, Martinsburg, WV. Their farm is now serving as its home.

Our newest dream is to build an indoor arena. This arena is essential to the program as it will allow us to operate year round and on a non-weather interrupted schedule.

HwH is a NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) Member Center. It is our desire to become a NARHA Certified Center and we continue to work through the process of meeting these requirements. We currently have one NARHA Certified Riding Instructor. Cathy Dodson received her NARHA Instructor Certifications in October 2007.

Cathy Dodson is our first NARHA Certified Instructor. Cathy has over 20 years of riding and horsemanship skills. She has shown both Western and English. She loves dressage. She has been part of the HwH dream from the very beginning when it was only a dream.

Cathy volunteers her time both as an instructor and as an administrative assistant to our organization.

She is the lead for our Charity Horse Show Series and manages each of our shows.

Mary Brosmer is one of our volunteer instructors. She has over 20 years of riding and horsemanship experience. Mary rides and shows english. She works closely under Cathy's leadership.

It is Mary's goal to obtain her NARHA Instructor Certification in 2008.

HwH has two horses totally dedicated to the program. We do have a couple of horses that we are allowed to use when needed. We greatly appreciate those horse owners who have allowed us to "borrow" their horse for our participates.

Penny is a 23 year old Quarter Horse owned by Jamie Griffith. Jamie has retired Penny from showing and has leased Penny to HwH. Penny was HwH first horse. Since our very conception Penny has been there. It was Penny's loving heart that helped us see the vision of Horses with Hearts.

Penny has multiple show titles. She has been shown throughout the Eastern Panhandle of WV in western pleasure, hunter under saddle and hunter over fences for the past 10 years. She holds multiple Berkeley County Youth Grand and Reserve Champion titles. She hold multiple WV State Fair Grand Champion Titles. In 2001, she won the WV State Fair Senior Pony Over Fences and the Overall High Point Champion.

Penny loves everyone comes the farm and has been the heart beat of our program.

Scooter came to HwH in June of 2006 from Fairmont WV. He was donated to us from the the Daniel & Dawn Shroyer family. Scooter was 16-year-old Tiffany Shroyer's show horse and comes with a long list of accomplishments. He holds numerous Quarter Horse World Titles and has tickled numerous disciplines from western pleasure to hunter under saddle. He is great with the kids and is doing a wonderful job as a Horses with Hearts team member. Scooter gives in all to the kids!

First Baptist Church Children's Ministry - For sponsoring Charity Horse Shows in Sept and Oct 2005

Special Thanks to that business and people whose donations made the shows such a success:

1st American Mortgage • A's Auto • A-1 Computers • Ambassador Flag Company • Rebecca Carper • Vickie Carper • Chesapeake Crab & Seafood, Co. LLC • Chick-fil-a • The Christian Outlet • Gene Clements • Depot Floris • Mr & Mrs Kenny Detrow • Everyday Odds & Ends • Sue Fann • Connie & Bob Myers • Dunn & Seibert, Inc • Empire China Restaurant • Identity Sports • K&B Music Center • LA Roberts Jeweler • Peter Mazzeo • Mills & Wagoner • Dawn Newland, State Farm Insurance • Orsinis • Panhandle Pre-Owned Autos, Inc • Patrick Banks Bail Bonds • Poor House Tack Shop • Potomac Portables • Prestige Used Auto Exchange • R. Lewis Clothier • Barbara Rutherford Signs & Designs • Snowden's • Sweet Inspirations • The Tanning Place • Visions Hair & Tanning Gallery • Wal-Mart • WEPM

Monetary Donations:

Pam Arnett • Mr & Mrs Chuck Brooks • Mary Brosmer • Mr & Mrs Larry Carper, Sr. • Cathy Dodson • Robin Townsend