Have you been to a Frisco RoughRiders game this summer? Besides enjoying great baseball, you will also see "Diva", a horse from Celina’s own 4 Hooves for Hearts organization.
Becky Shewchuk owns and operates 4 Hooves for Hearts, a non-riding equine psychotherapy program that uses horses to help patients with counseling and therapy needs. The horses come from Becky’s other non-profit, WindyHill Equine Rescue, dedicated to saving horses and retraining them for therapeutic service.
This got the attention of Ross Lanford, Vice President of Sales for the Frisco RoughRiders, who reached out to Becky offering to help 4 Hooves for Hearts. The two realized that Becky has a rescue horse named Diva with a striking resemblance to the horse used at RoughRiders games years ago. Becky notes, “Diva looked just like the original RoughRiders horse, black with a white star. The resemblance was uncanny.”
As a result, at every Sunday home game for the rest of the summer, Diva will be spotlighted as THE RoughRiders horse. Becky heroically rides Diva around the field stopping at the dugout beside the team before the National Anthem. Afterwards, she and Diva are available for people to meet Diva and learn more about 4 Hooves for Hearts as there is not another equine therapy session like hers in this area.
Besides honoring the RoughRiders ball club, Becky’s main goal is to increase awareness and funding for the therapy programs at 4 Hooves for Hearts. She hopes to specifically raise funds and understanding to provide therapy to veterans and first responders. Becky strongly believes that any veteran or first responder asking for help deserves assistance at low cost or no cost.
The response has been incredible. The promotion started last Spring and Becky proudly states, “The crowd loves Diva! They love meeting her.” Naturally, it also has created more interest in her organization. Becky continues, “It’s a lot of pressure on horses but Diva is well-trained, perfect in that role since she loves people.” Becky says the Frisco RoughRiders have been “extremely supportive and helpful. They are so plugged into the community.”
4 Hooves for Hearts currently has forty-five horses available for therapy which explains the need for funds and sponsorship as the cost for horses’ care and therapist pay is significant. The program is so successful because, according to Becky, horses can “mirror people’s emotions” instinctively knowing what a person needs by understanding their feelings.
Becky is optimistic that Diva’s time as a RoughRider this summer will bring in more donations and support while promoting Celina and this unique special therapy that is available for all. So when making summer plans, be sure to include a RoughRiders game this summer and go meet Diva.
Learn more at 4HoovesForHearts.org