“Joy, Belonging & a Dash of Glitter: AHHS in Full Color” Art, Heart & Hoofbeats Sanctuary – October Newsletter

Horses First · People Second · Connection Always

🌻 The Joy in Belonging

At Art, Heart & Hoofbeats Sanctuary, every day reminds us that healing happens through connection — with horses, with each other, and within ourselves.

Just today, I stood by the pasture and watched as a group of volunteers entered the field where three of our herd waited. Something beautiful unfolded. The horses — calm, curious, and trusting — melted into the group. They reached forward with soft eyes and warm breath, welcoming each person as if to say, “You belong here.”

Lips licked, hearts opened, and for a few quiet moments, everything felt in rhythm — human and horse, breath and heartbeat, effort and ease.

These are the moments that remind us why AHHS exists: to be a space where both people and horses can find peace, safety, and belonging.Through the care of our herd, we learn gentleness toward ourselves. Through serving one another, we discover new layers of compassion.

AHHS is reaching a tipping point — our herd is growing, our programs are expanding, and our circle of care keeps widening. Each volunteer, supporter, and partner is helping build something rare

and extraordinary: a community grounded in love, kindness, and purpose.

As we move into this new season, may we all pause for a quiet reflection — a moment to honor the love we offer to others, and the love we must also extend to ourselves. Breathe deeply. Feel your feet on the earth. Remember: you belong, exactly as you are.

Thank you for being part of this circle of healing, hope, and heart.

With deep gratitude,

Anne Krocak

Executive Director Art, Heart & Hoofbeats Sanctuary

💖 Together, We’re Growing a Community of Belonging

From every volunteer, every brush stroke, and every shared breath with our herd — thank you for being part of the Art, Heart & Hoofbeats family.

See you at the farm! 🌾

Heartfelt Thanks to the Dianne Thomas Family and Baratok Belly Dancing

We are deeply grateful to the Thomas Family for hosting the Memory Tile Workshop at AHHS last month. Your creativity and generosity filled the sanctuary with joy and remembrance — you are now part of our growing story of love and connection.

✨ Interested in hosting your own family or group art workshop? Reach out to Anne to design a unique, meaningful session for your family, workplace, or group!

Belly Dancing with the Herd!

Our first Belly Dancing with the Herd class — led by the amazing Dani of Barátok Belly Dancing — was pure magic!We laughed, danced, and celebrated body joy and equine connection.💫 It was such a success that we hope to offer more next year! Check out the photos on our website gallery. https://www.baratokbellydance.com/

🌈 Pride in Waconia – Creating Together!

We were honored and thrilled to be part of the Second Annual Waconia Pride Celebration — and what an incredible day it was! From 10 AM to 8 PM, community members of all ages joined us to create beautiful, meaningful mosaics for the AHHS Art Garden.

It was a day overflowing with love, laughter, and belonging. 💖 Families, friends, and neighbors from across the state came together to contribute to our Intersections Mosaic Project, funded by the Minnesota State Arts Board. By the end of the event, we had created more than six square feet of community PRIDE mosaics that will soon become stepping stones in the AHHS Art Garden, symbolizing connection, inclusion, and shared creativity. A huge thank-you to PRIDE Waconia for welcoming AHHS so warmly — and to everyone who stopped by, shared a smile, or placed a tile! Special appreciation to Ace, our new Landscape Coordinator and Gardening with Goats Lead, and Chris for assisting Anne and helping every participant — from toddlers to older adults — bring their creative vision to life. It was truly a day of love, art, and unity — proof that community shines brightest when everyone belongs.

🐴 October Opportunities at AHHS

🧘 October 11 – A Full Day of Connection & Creativity

9:30 AM – Yoga with the HerdBegin your morning with mindful movement and deep breath surrounded by our calm and curious herd.

11:00–1:00 – Big Brothers Big Sisters Fall GatheringBonfire, mindfulness goat walk, and sound bath + yoga led by Brittney.

1:00–3:00 – Therapeutic Art of Horses An outdoor watercolor class using live horses as models — celebrate fall through color, creativity, and connection.🎨 Interested in attending or sponsoring a class? Reach out — we’d love to include you!

💙 October 12 – NAMI MN at AHHS

We’re honored to welcome NAMI Minnesota for a morning of relaxation, reflection, and renewal, including a Meet and greet with our herd, sound bath, yoga with the herd, and a calming art activity from 10:00–12:30 PM.

Special thanks to our volunteer ambassador Sara C. for nurturing this partnership and bringing her amazing community, gifted family, and loving spirit to AHHS. 💙

🌿 New Programs & Partnerships

🐐 Gardening with Goats

Coming soon! This new weekday class is designed for Homeschoolers and Families, combining hands-on learning, nature education, and animal care. We’re thrilled to welcome Ace T. as the new leader of this program — and our landscape coordinator!🌸 Ace brings incredible knowledge, kindness, and creativity to the team. Welcome, Ace!

Youth Mental Health Program

We’re excited to invite Carver County Youth to AHHS once a month for equine and art-based wellness sessions supporting youth emotional health.Each 1.5-hour session will include animal care, mindfulness, relaxation, and art.

Minnetonka Vantage Program

We’re honored to be part of the Minnetonka High School Vantage Program, where juniors and seniors learn about nonprofits through real-world service.Vantage — thank you for including AHHS!

Teacher & Student Partnerships

We’re seeking high school and college educators interested in pro-bono, service-learning, or project-based collaborations.➡️ Contact Anne Krocak, Executive Director at info@artheartandhoofbeats.org or 612-251-0536.

Expanding Community Outreach-

We’ll be presenting to the Chanhassen Rotary Club on October 8 to share how AHHS programs support community wellness and mental health.

We’re also exploring a new partnership with the Autism Society to create inclusive, sensory-safe experiences at AHHS.

Supporting Our Heroes-We continue to collaborate with Marie Ridgeway in our Blue HeARTS Program, supporting First Responders in healing through equine connection.If you know a police officer, firefighter, EMT, or veteran seeking new ways to restore balance and resilience — please refer them to AHHS - Blue HeARTS Program or Ridgeway Associates.

Volunteer Spotlight-We’re thrilled to welcome our newest Volunteer Ambassadors: Liz, Jessica, Sandy, and Cody — Thank you for joining our herd with open hearts and helping hands!

To our longstanding Ambassadors — you are the heartbeat of this sanctuary. Every brush stroke, bale moved, and smile shared changes lives — equine and human alike. We couldn’t do this without you. 🐴 THANK YOU!

Love and Peace!