LAS VEGAS (March 6, 2019) — Las Vegas-based Horses4Heroes, which has been using its horses to provide affordable services with horses since 2006, will be able to open a Family Equestrian Center in the northwest, thanks to a unanimous vote of the Clark County Board of County Commissioners. The proposed location is a 2.2-acre ranch, located at 4975 North Miller Lane.
A dozen local residents, supporters, parents and students took turns speaking in favor of the Horses4Heroes application. In total, 38 letters were received, 61 signatures on a door-to-door petition and 2,805 signed an online petition.
The new facility off Lone Mountain will be open to Horses4Heroes members only. Those interested in joining can visit www.horses4heroes.org, click Join. Membership is free to active duty service members, veterans and First Responders, $25 for school teachers and nurses and $50 for friends. The membership includes all immediate family members. Members will be notified about upcoming programs and activities, classes and fees and Members Only events.
Horses4Heroes provides low-cost and affordable equestrian services to Service Members, veterans, law enforcement officers, fire fighters, school teachers, nurses, EMTs and their immediate families. The organization also provides free workshops for veterans with PTSD/MST/TBI, victims of domestic abuse and violence, recovering addicts, at-risk youth and teens and others in the community.
“Over the years, Horses4Heroes has introduced more than 10,000 men, women and children to horses, horseback riding, and our western heritage and lifestyle,” said Knott. “School children have learned how to make butter, how to brush miniature horses, how to make friends with farm animals and, in so doing, they learn important social skills not being taught in school. Children learn how to make eye contact, shake hands and become more patient, kind, understanding and empathetic.”
Knott said that the organization has partnered with several non-profits, agencies and organizations over the years including Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada, Boy Scouts, Clark County School District, Blind Center of Nevada, Las Vegas Rescue Mission, Solutions for Recovery, US Vets, Rape Crisis Center, Shade Tree. Thousands of elementary school children have met a horse for the first time, because of Horses4Heroes.
“All of us at Horses4Heroes, students, parents, volunteers and staff are grateful for the outpouring of support from our neighbors in the Lone Mountain Corridor and throughout the community. We are proud of the services we provide and look forward to opening a Family Equestrian Center and getting back to riding horses,” Knott added.
In 2014 and 2016, Horses4Heroes won the American Horse Council’s Time to Ride Challenge, a national initiative to introduce newcomers to horses. Horses4Heroes is the only national equestrian non-profit that owns its own horses and uses those horses, including retired, donated and Feed Lot rescues, every day in programs that serve local heroes and the community. The organization’s large and growing national network of equestrian centers in 45 states and Canada offer affordable, sometimes free, recreational, instructional and health and wellness programs for all ages, all riding levels and in all disciplines. For more information on all programs and activities, email events@horses4heroes.org, call 702.645.8446 or visit www.horses4heroes.org.