Gallery for Good

As a young girl growing up on a rural farm, Bertha formed an unbreakable bond with Bonnie—a gentle mare who was more than a working animal; she was a source of love, comfort, and trust.

 

Each day, Bertha would sing softly to Bonnie as they walked together to round up the cows. No one else was allowed to halter Bonnie—only Bertha. Their connection was quiet and deep, built on mutual respect and affection.

 

Now in her 90s, Bertha still remembers Bonnie vividly. She carries both the joy of their time together and the sorrow of Bonnie’s tragic end, when a neighbor boy shot the horse. That wound never fully healed, and Bertha has often wondered whether Bonnie suffered. It is this enduring love, and the ache of loss, that inspired her to start The Bonnie Project at AHHS. 

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The Bonnie Project:

It is from this enduring love and unhealed grief that “The Bonnie Project” was born—a tribute to the power of the human-horse bond and a call to honor the animals that shape our lives.

 

The 2025 Bonnie Project at Art, Heart & Hoofbeats Sanctuary (AHHS) Includes:

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• A mosaic tribute titled “My Bonnie” created by artists Bertha Lunzer & Anne Krocak for AHH Art Garden

 

• Bertha’s original mural on the barn, painted in her 90s—celebrating resilience through art

 

• Senior storytelling & art workshops, inspired by Bonnie and Bertha’s relationship

 

• Ongoing equine care and support, so every horse at AHH knows safety, healing, and love

 

Why It Matters

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This project is more than a memorial. It’s a space for:

• Grief and healing to coexist

• Seniors to share their stories and leave a creative legacy

• Horses to be honored and cared for, never forgotten or discarded

• The community to learn, grow, and connect through art and empathy