Today we’d like to introduce you to Karina Redweik. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Horse’s Valhalla was founded in February 2022 after the Board of Directors determined that they not only had a desire to help the community but that they had an idea and opportunity for a unique approach to the social issues they wanted to address.
Karina Redweik and Keith Bonham, the initial visionaries for the organization, are both disabled veterans who have hearts for servitude. After being honorably discharged from the military, they both felt that they needed to shift their service from the military to another greater good. In 2017, they got involved with their local horse rescue. They helped care for over 30 horses and began learning a variety of horsemanship skills.
During this time, they found themselves benefiting from the opportunities of working with horses. Their emotional resiliency and confidence grew significantly. They found a sense of accomplishment in their own growth, but also from watching the development of the horses they were working with. Additionally, Karina and Keith found that their marriage was strengthening as well. They bonded over beautiful experiences and found a more effective way to manage their emotions.
In 2020, Karina and Keith moved away from this rescue for career opportunities. They had a tough decision to make, cut ties with the horses or find a way to adopt and care for the horses they bonded with the most. The decision was easy, but the logistics were complicated. In July, they officially adopted Lady and Bonnie and in August brought them to their new home. In November, Dottie found her way into the herd by an odd string of events that began with a trip to a donkey rescue. Karina and Keith now had 3 horses which would complete the dream of family horseback riding trips and creating beautiful memories together.
In 2021, it was determined that due to health reasons all three horses were considered non-rideable. This came as a huge disappointment. The thought of sending these horses back to the rescue was not an option, but the challenge was figuring out how to give these horses purposeful lives without compromising their quality of life. They moved through a few different boarding locations in search of the perfect place. Unfortunately placing the horses in their backyard was not an option. In October, they discovered that the power company will lease land to people for agricultural purposes. Everything began to fall into place nicely, they found land near their home that was large enough to give the horses a beautiful retirement. They signed the lease and moved the horses again, hopefully for the last time.
In early 2022, Karina and Keith still found themselves desiring something more for themselves and the horses. They determined that they wanted to create a nonprofit organization that functioned as a community outreach program. The thought of making horses easily accessible to the community, especially those who normally wouldn’t have the option to, became truly exciting. They saw how they benefitted from interacting with horses and started growing connections to make this dream a reality and established programs to include equine-assisted therapy, horseback riding, and volunteering. The testimonies of participants have been extremely motivational for the organization. At times it even feels scary with how quickly the organization has grown, but they find comfort and joy through the smiles of the community and the clear comfort and satisfaction that the horses display.
Our horses: The horses utilized by Horse’s Valhalla all hold unique stories that ultimately led them to strength and happiness. Lady, Bonnie, and Dottie were the first three horses introduced into the organization. These horses were adopted by Keith and Karina in 2020. Lady is a 20-year-old Appaloosa who suffers from severe arthritis and attachment anxiety, specifically with her daughter. Her arthritis is easily managed with pain medication. Bonnie, a 16-year-old Appaloosa, is Lady’s daughter who had struggled with trust until several months after being adopted. She also struggled with anxiety but has since come a long way to be confident away from her mother. Both of these horses suffered from neglect and starvation. They gained weight beautifully, their strength has returned, and they are getting better with their food aggression.
Dottie is believed to have been abandoned in the Arizona mountains and had to face the harsh elements of survival. She chose the best option, which was finding the hay pile at a donkey rescue. The donkey rescue took her in and enjoyed her love for many years. A year later, after losing her pasture mate and suffering a broken heart, the rescue sought out a new home for her, which ended up with Keith and Karina based on the dreams of using her as a therapy horse and the desire to give her beautiful life. In 2021, Dottie was diagnosed with ringbone, which is a severe form of osteoarthritis. This can be an extremely painful ailment and unfortunately, it will eventually lead to the joint fusing together. Her pain is managed with medication, and the organization is monitoring her quality of life. She is comfortable and happy, and still enjoys her favorite treats so much that she will smile at whoever gives her treats.
Tango was the next horse brought in and was owned by a Good Samaritan that rescued him from an auction house. We estimate that he is 16 years old. He has severe PTSD after being abused and neglected. He has grown significantly and has even built trust in some people and is building confidence by being touched and groomed. He has since been adopted by a Horse’s Valhalla volunteer who has taken his care to the next level. They are currently carrying out a veterinarian’s plan of care to heal some of his old injuries.
Chewie is a 2-year-old feisty miniature pony who has had a lovely life and is living proof that just because you are small it does not mean you are not mighty. His big personality and adorable body make him a wonderful introductory animal for kids as well as adults who have not had opportunities to be around horses. We plan to continue his training and utilize him further in the therapy program as well as other programs that allow us to visit schools and other groups.
Phoenix was the most recent horse brought into the organization. She is believed to be a 16-year-old Arabian. Phoenix is another horse who endured severe abuse and neglect. She has overcome her fear of humans and has created bonds in which she is willing to grow together with people. Her willingness to grow past the abuse she once suffered demonstrates that forgiveness and trust are stronger than the actions of awful people. She is currently in training to be used in our riding program and has been excelling through all of the challenges.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This has been an extremely emotional journey. We have been through a full roller coaster of emotions from the start. We were flooded with joy when we began working with the horses, and so much of our time was focused on how we could spend more time with them.
After deciding to move, we went through the motions of deciding whether or not we should own horses. Neither of us grew up around horses so there were a lot of questions and concerns about if we knew enough if we could afford it, would this hobby die out, etc. To say we were nervous is an understatement, but we figured out the appropriate arrangements and started making connections with people who were willing to share their knowledge.
After finding out the horses were lame (unrideable) we were heartbroken. We questioned everything we had been doing and even questioned if we were horrible horse owners for putting them through training. Maybe we should have let someone else adopt them? Ultimately, in our hearts, owning horses is a lifetime commitment, and the life span of a horse can be well into its 30s. This means we were facing probably 15 years of owning pasture ornaments. Obviously, there’s the satisfaction of knowing we rescued the horses and were providing them a comfortable life, but it also meant the dream of horseback riding with our family was gone. I’d say we had to mourn the loss of a dream. We did a lot of reflecting during this time.
What I find really interesting is how once we made it through the “mourning” phase and decided that we would make the most of the situation and give the horses a spoiled life, things started falling into place in ways we would have never imagined. We stumbled upon a pasture down the street from our house (if they can’t be in the backyard, the next best place is 2 minutes down the street!). We reconnected with a therapist we met through the other horse rescue. We discovered there was hope for one of the horses to be rideable, which was then confirmed with a visit to the vet.
Once the decision was made to start a nonprofit organization, it felt like a brick was placed on the gas pedal as things began to come together. When we made the decision to start the nonprofit, I was in the middle of taking a Nonprofit Leadership course for my Bachelor’s Degree. This helped build the foundation of what we needed to do. I feel like there had to be some divine intervention for the way my schooling aligned with our dreams at just the right time.
One of my next courses was Leadership Practicum, which ended up being a full-term focus on nonprofits. It was really neat being able to focus my school work on a real-world project that would continue even after the completion of the course. This course guided our process of establishing the programs we now have. My classes really ended up being a baseline foundation for the organization.
Additional elements of the emotional rollercoaster that we have gone through, and highlights of challenges:
– In March, my heart-horse, Bonnie, almost died. She had colic. Luckily we caught it early enough to treat her and she recovered fully.
– In March we got a miniature pony, who then escaped the first night we had him. Luckily he found a safe place to stay across the street.
– In March we had a “soft opening” with an event called “Horses & Hot Chocolate.” This event generated some much-needed fundraising and a lot of interest.
– In April, we held our official grand opening which had an amazing turnout and generated a ton of interest in the organization.
– In April, we raised enough money to get the panels needed to make a round pen/corral that could be utilized for training, riding, and therapy.
– In April we held our first group therapy session! It has a great turnout!
-In May, our miniature pony escaped again and stayed the morning with a neighbor. Waking up to a phone call from animal control was not on my bucket list, but we are glad he was safe and had a fun morning with a great family. We have since fortified the gates!
– In May, we got a new horse who is healthy for riding!
– In June, we decided to terminate a contract with one of our small business connections which meant one of our programs came to a screeching halt.
– In June, we host a “Paint & Pizza in the Pasture” in which the community continues to talk about how fun it was
– In June, we sent the newest horse off for training with a new connection we made.
– In June, we put a lot of money, hard work, and sweat into building a shelter for the horses. The wind destroyed it within 3 days of completion.
– In June, we signed two new contracts that not only filled the gap created from the termination of the other contract but the horseback riding programs were revamped. They are now more affordable and more accessible to the community.
– In July, we raised enough money to purchase a horse trailer!
– In July, we hosted our first birthday party! The birthday girl was smiling from ear to ear the whole time!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Horse’s Valhalla is an IRS-approved/recognized nonprofit organization and identifies as a community outreach organization. Our vision is “Growing Connections” and our mission is to use the unique stories of our horses to provide opportunities to the community to grow within themselves, their families, and each other. Our goal is to bring horses into the community and provide a variety of opportunities for members of the community to interact with horses and gain something from their experiences. Additionally, Horse’s Valhalla is helping support and grow local small businesses by creating mutually beneficial business relationships.
Horse’s Valhalla was established in February 2022 and has made significant strides in its few short months of existence. We have made significant impacts on many people in the community that keep us motivated to continue our own growth. These impacts include successful emotion management application in real-world personal scenarios, improved personal and educational motivation, as well as several testimonies of personal and family healing and growth. Research data shows a continued need for programs such as ours for growing mental health awareness, providing mental health services, providing community activities, and providing sanctuary options for horses.
The services we offer include volunteer opportunities, equine-assisted therapy for individuals and groups, introduction to horse classes, horseback riding lessons, and a variety of events!
Since its establishment, we can proudly say as of July 25th:
• 29 hours of equine-assisted therapy service have been provided, and 3 cost-free sessions have been provided to Youths in need of assistance
• 65 people have signed up to be volunteers, putting in over 200 hours of volunteer work in
• 70 hours of horseback riding instruction have been provided, and 3 cost-free sessions have been provided to Youths in need of assistance
• 5 hours of horse education have been conducted
• 1 horse has been rehomed
• 3 major events have been hosted and many more are to be planned including a “Poker & Ponies” night, Back-to-School equine-assisted therapy & emotion management session for parents and children, and a Summer Movie Night in the Pasture
Our goal is to continue making significant impacts in the community as well as in the lives of horses. We desire to provide the community with low-cost opportunities. We desire to provide veterans and first-responders with cost-free services to help them heal, help them escape the struggles in the world, and help them enjoy time with their families in a unique fashion. Additionally, we plan to implement a more extensive Rescue-Rehabilitate-Rehome program for horses. Maybe change it to say “we seek support from other organizations and individual donors for monetary and in-kind donations. All donations will support these continued efforts and help us get closer to our future goals.
Horse’s Valhalla has sought out the implementation of a variety of programs to benefit the community as well as horses. Horse’s Valhalla believes that everyone and every horse is a warrior who deserves a sanctuary that gives them purpose and facilitates growth. Our programs are needed in the community to help people grow within themselves, their families, and the community. Mental health and personal growth services are necessary for the community as research shows that overall population mental health is declining. The need organizations that take in horses are also needed as the costs for equine care are drastically increasing and the availability of feed is decreasing. The success stories and participant testaments encourage the organization to continually pursue organizational growth.
Many people in the community do not have the opportunity to interact with horses as a result of expenses and the availability of facilities to care for the horses. Whether it is a little girl who has always dreamed of being around horses or someone looking for something that finally helps them grow in whatever manner they desire, Horse’s Valhalla believes that opportunity should be made available. The name Horse’s Valhalla is rooted in strength. In Norse mythology, the goal was to be a worthy warrior that would be chosen to be taken to Valhalla.
Valhalla is “the hall of slain warriors, who live there blissfully under the leadership of the god Odin” (Britannica, n.d.). Horse’s Valhalla believes that everyone in the community is worthy warriors of their own battles and they deserve to have a place that not only recognizes the strength required to make it through these battles but also celebrates the unique warriors they all are. Horse’s Valhalla seeks to provide opportunities for growth and strength so that everyone can recognize they are worthy warriors.
Britannica, E. o. (n.d.). Valhalla. Retrieved from Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Valhalla-Norse-mythology.
How do you define success?
Success for us is defined in two ways. The first is through the smiles and testimonies of people who participate in our programs. To ensure we are on track, we frequently ask for feedback and testimonies from participants and volunteers. The feedback keeps us motivated as we hear of the successes resulting from our efforts. The following includes a few of the testimonies and reviews we have received over the last several months:
• “Being able to volunteer and help with the horses even with my physical limitations helps me to discover ways to experience assisting with a great service to the community. Also, because I have some emotional difficulties, being able to participate in equine assisted therapy provides a unique avenue of healing” – Cynthia Breen
• “Very personable and they really are good with the kid. My granddaughter lovers her lessons” – Connie Steele
• “It [volunteering, horseback riding, events] has literally changed my entire life, in a way I never thought possible” – Kate Buckley
• “We seriously have tried everything the past two years to get my little man back… this has been life-changing for us all” – Anonymous
• “I was so concerned with getting [child] the help he so desperately needed that it wasn’t until I started feeding the horses and loving on them the past 3 months and realizing the sense of peace and calmness they all bring to my soul. I could sit out there for hours and just watch them. Horse’s Valhalla has become my own therapy and my ‘happy place’” – Anonymous
• “My child prefers this therapy over sitting in the office with a therapist” – Anonymous
• “ She used [equine assisted therapy concepts] to avoid a full-on meltdown and panic attack” – Anonymous
• “Horses are such amazing miracle workers” – Anonymous
The second way we define success is through the progress and quality of life of the horses. We have seen the horses make significant strides through their food aggression that developed from prior neglect. We have watched the horses build trust in people again.
We have witnessed the horses build confidence in themselves and the people handling them. We have seen them build strength mentally and physically. Most importantly, we have seen them settle into their piece of Valhalla and find peace.
Pricing:
- Group Equine Assisted Therapy – $15 per person
- Individual Equine Assisted Therapy – $40
- Riding Lessons – $25 per person
- Veteran/First Responder riding Lessons – FREE
- Birthday Parties – $200
Contact Info:
- Website: www.horsesvalhallainc.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/horsesvalhalla/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/horsesvalhalla/
