Hands On Harmony

09/27/2024

We are gearing up for our Halloween event and could use your help! We are accepting candy donations to make this event a spooky success. Please make sure all candy is individually wrapped, store-bought, and in its original packaging. Drop off your donations by October 14th to the Equine Center for Learning. Thank you for helping us bring some extra sweetness to our celebration! 🍬

09/13/2024

Looking forward to Laura Plunket tomorrow and Saturday.

04/27/2023

BraveHearts brings hope, joy and unlimited possibilities through the healing power of the horse.

08/31/2022

08/30/2022

08/25/2022

𝘈𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵

Join us tonight via zoom at 7:00pm to discuss the Michigan Horse Council's Youth Program. We have some very excited additions and changes in the works. You will not want to miss being apart of this amazing organization!
Zoom Registration:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMtduGrpz8uGND_6Ah71Lp83FookHzGk05u

08/25/2022

Love you Julie!!

𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭 𝘝𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 Julie Essenburg Vruggink

Julie was born in Bozeman, Montana, so it’s no surprise that she loves the outdoors!

She is currently the Ranch Manager at D-Bar-A Ranch in Metamora, MI., a 1700-acre ranch that offers camping, horseback riding, trails galore and much more!

Prior to her work at the Ranch, Julie was the Program Director at the Equine Center for
Learning (formerly known as Beekman Therapeutic Riding Center). She was able to build curriculum and programming to support students, pre-k through highschool. The center became an equine assisted, experiential learning facility under her direction.
She has also built extensive community partnerships, creating opportunities for work-
based learning, internships (including field work at the collegiate level), volunteer groups and projects relevant to need. In addition, Michigan State’s school of veterinary medicine now partners with the center to provide labs for student learning.
Prior to her work at the Equine Center for Learning, she was a Learning and Education
Specialist/Human Resources Manager and has experience in operations and facilities
management.

Her experience with horses began as a child on a Morgan horse farm. The owners of the farm allowed her to groom and ride their prize show horses, which is where her heart became attached to the equine world.

Julie’s profound love of horses and kids has built a drive in her, to connect the two beings. Equine assisted Learning, riding and therapy are at the heart of her work, as well as creating opportunities for youth who do not have access to ride or interact with horses, much like her own experience.

Julie is also a Continuous Quality Improvement Academy graduate and certified trainer with Partners in Leadership. She serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for Michigan Horse Council and Youth Chair.

Julie enjoys trail riding, gardening, cooking, and people!

08/24/2022

Want to know how to contact the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development? On this page you will find phone numbers, email addresses, snail mail addresses, and online contact forms for everything we do here at MDARD. We even have a complaint form for those of you with complaints.

08/24/2022

The lengths in which our mission reaches always amazes us. Recently an incarcerated veteran read an article on BraveHearts Trail to Zero, our 20-mile ride to raise awareness and prevention for veteran su***de. This veteran was moved about the Trail to Zero mission and wanted to do something to give thanks to BraveHearts for all they do for veterans. This inmate and other inmates set up zoom meetings with our staff to spend time discussing the idea to build saddles for BraveHearts. Their idea came to life in the Colorado Correctional Industries Saddle Shop where they built not one, but two beautiful custom saddles for BraveHearts. One saddle commemorates Trail to Zero, with all the branches of service evident with leathered decals around the saddle and even a beautiful custom challenge coin holder on the saddle horn. The second saddle signifies 9/11, with pieces memorializing that tragic day which ties to Trail to Zero. Many veterans enlisted because of 9/11 and felt called to service which is the reason why Trail to Zero’s inaugural ride was held in NYC and continues to be rode there. During our recent 20th Anniversary Celebration BraveHearts unveiled both of these remarkable custom saddles to our community with the project organizers and the family members of the veteran who had the vision for this project present. The awe of the guests in attendance as they viewed these new extraordinary saddles on display all while knowing their story was beyond special. BraveHearts is deeply honored to receive this gift. A huge thank you to Bud Damon who coordinated and all the other amazing angels who sponsored and made this project come to fruition.

08/23/2022

It's all connected!

08/21/2022

𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐊 𝐘𝐎𝐔!💙

08/21/2022

This

08/19/2022

08/17/2022

"While having issues with my prosthetic leg, I had to ride for awhile without it. I needed a horse that could support me in a new way and I'm blessed to have been teamed up with Pud. He and I have created a special bond and we really are in sync with one another providing me great comfort."
-George
U.S. Army Veteran

08/17/2022

For the past few years, the DNR has been working hand and hand with the Equine Trails Subcommittee to explore opportunities for shoreline horseback riding along Michigan's Great Lakes. Specifically, pilot rides that have been hosted at Muskegon and Silver Lake State Parks.

In the fall of 2021, the DNR partnered with the Michigan Horse Council to host a 2-week pilot Great Lakes Equestrian Shoreline Ride. This pilot helped the DNR Parks and Recreation Division determine if a seasonal riding opportunity would be feasible at Silver Lake State Park. These opportunities were available to riders that brought their own horses.

For updates on the 2022 Michigan Shoreline Ride text "TROT" to 80888, or sign up via the online form: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/form/BM08Yw?vid=tgopw

08/16/2022

𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺: Kayla Kempa

"My current position for Michigan Horse Council is Recording Secretary which I’ve done since 2018. I am a licensed veterinary technician that occasionally sees horses, but not as much as I’d like to. I love MHC because they do amazing work out of genuine respect and love for horses. It amazes me how much of their life this board has dedicated to the horse industry, and I’m proud to help them in any way I can."