The Sunny Horse Foundation’s purpose is to maintain and operate a foundation to alleviate the suffering of and provide support for abandoned, mistreated, unwanted or distressed horse; to provide public education and outreach to prevent equine abuse and neglect; and to foster health and healing through equine assisted therapy.
WHO WE ARE
We believe there are many benefits of therapeutic horse training. The Sunny Horse Foundation enriches lives through education, opportunity, and accessibility in a supportive environment with knowledgeable facilitators.
WHAT WE DO
The Sunny Horse Foundation was founded in 2012. In 2016 the foundation started a Veteran’s Equine Program to focus on equine assisted learning activities for veterans and active military members.
We bring horse and human together in a safe environment with a trained facilitator to promote healing between the two. Our work is quiet, personal and growth focused in order for veterans to find a safe space to heal.
The Veteran’s Equine Program provides equine assisted learning veterans and active military free of charge. Participants learn horse training and wellness in the Spanish California/Nevada tradition. This training provides purpose and focus for participants who benefited from the structure and discipline provided by the military.
The first year we provided services to nine veterans who found us through local advertising. Since then, we started working with an organization that provides interim housing for formerly homeless veterans who are transitioning back to permanent housing. We also started working with an agency that was treating veterans with PTSD through a seven-week inpatient program. The agency also brings veterans who are working on life skills for three, six or ten-week programs. We also welcome individual veterans who may have found our program through varied sources.
If you have served our country we thank you for your service & offer this free opportunity to participate in our hands on classes, Cowboy Hats & Boots not required! 🙂
Here is a glimpse of what you can expect to learn during our program. Our schedule is subject to change so contact us today to learn more!
Co-owner of Meadowlark’s Song, Home of the Sunny Horse Foundation
Pam started the Veterans Horsemanship Program in 2016 to support those who have worked to keep our country safe.
She has been teaching horse riding and training for over twenty years. Her work with horses as partners inspired her to become certified as a horse trainer in the natural horsemanship style of the California-Nevada, Spanish Tradition through the Front Range Community College Equine Training and Management Program. She specializes in developing the quiet gentle nature of our equine friends which depict the therapy horse. Pam offers programs for children and adults who want to learn the training skills, leadership, patience and dedication necessary to advance the horse forward in a therapy program.
She is curriculum designer and instructor of Horse College I, II, III, Foal Fundamentals, Introduction to Horse Handling and Foal to Finish. Pam became a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor through PATH International, Certified Healing Touch Practitioner from Healing Touch International. and is also a Horse Abuse Investigator from the American Humane Society. Through her own Manes Flying, A Horse Event for Women clinics she assists women in developing their relationship with their horses through energy work, play and dance combined into horse training. Pam is also the author of Grandma’s Horse about her adventure of developing an abused horse into a therapy partner.
Co-owner of Meadowlark’s Song, Home of the Sunny Horse Foundation
Bob Thode retired as a Human Resources Executive with over 30 years of experience in all aspects of personnel hiring, training, coaching and development. He has experience writing and conducting training programs in the manufacturing and construction industry.
Since 2018 Mr. Thode has been a volunteer, stable-hand, barn manager, and facilitator in equine assisted learning in the Spanish-California/Nevada tradition.
Chief Instructor
Damian Ficca is a Denver native who has worked horses throughout the western United States. He is one of a select group of individuals who specialize in traditional western training, with roots in the Spanish-California/Nevada horse training methods.
A former Animal and Agricultural Sciences teacher, Mr. Ficca combines extensive knowledge and experience with a love for horses. He is currently head of the Equine Management and Training program offered through Arapahoe Community College.
Miniature Horse
Little Bit came to Sunny Horse from another veteran program that had closed down. He is a Miniature horse. Our goal with Little Bit is to train him to pull a cart.
Little Bit requires a special diet because he has cushings syndrome which is common with miniature horses. He also has stringhalt which is a muscular skeletal condition in his rear legs. The best way to help Little Bit is provide regular exercise and maintain proper weight.
Little Bit enjoys having the opportunity to lead with his training harness & LOVES when he gets to play with his favorite ball!
Wild Mustang
Chiquita is a wild mustang that was born in the four corners region of Colorado. When she was four years old, she was separated from her mother during a collection event. A local officer saw that she would not survive without her mother and took her to her house. She was officially adopted when she was a year old, and Pam worked with her owners to begin training her. A while later, the owners had to move and asked Pam to take their baby.
She has been with Meadowlark’s Song since she was two. Pam brought her to saddle and was the first person able to ride her. Since starting, Chiquita has been used to teach children to ride. She is also used in groundwork for veterans and people with disabilities. Chiquita is well trained, but don’t let that fool you. She is still as sassy as they come!
If you’re lucky, she may even show you her favorite trick! A graceful bow.
Clydesdale-Tennesse walker mix
Paulo is Clydesdale-Tennesse walker mix. Before joining us, Paulo was trained in our tradition but then spent five years without any working attention by his previous owners.
While he was fed and provided vet care, it was not enough for him to be mentally or emotionally exercised. As a result, he developed some bad habits was underweight and out of shape. Every horse deserves and needs personal attention aside from day to day maintenance and when he came to our farm, that love and affection was exactly what we were going to give him.
Today, he is used extensively in our veteran’s program and with adult riders wanting to learn more about horses. Paulo is an expert at training participants to do groundwork correctly and he truly enjoys the exercise. Beginners will often find Paulo lunging them & teaching them lessons, instead of the other way around!
The Sunny Horse Foundation is a 501c3 Non-Profit. All our team members are volunteers who have the same passion for serving those who have served us. If you want to get involved, give us a shout or feel free to share a donation!
TESTIMONIALS
“Today I came here pretty triggered. You handed me the lead rope of the horse & talked me through everything. For the first time in a long time, I feel like me again. “
–Previous Veteran
Name omitted for privacy reasons
“Look at me! I’m smiling, I’m relaxed, I’m happy. You guided me through general handling & overall horse care, then you let the horse & I go to work. Thank you!”
–Previous Veteran
Name omitted for privacy reasons
We’d love to hear from you to see how our services could be of assistance!
