Healing Horses in the middle of the Coachella Valley

Healing Horses is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Corporation committed to improving the lives of Special Needs Children, specializing in Autism, through the use of therapy horses. The program is multi-faceted and year round and serves children and young adults from ages 2 onwards throughout the Coachella Valley.

The two Co-Founders are Gabriele Lawrence and Marcia Levine. A little background about these ladies will shed a lot of light on why they are so passionate about their Mission and serving the special families throughout the Coachella Valley.

Gabriele- After completing her B.S. at UNLV Gabriele went to work for ITT Sheraton in their North America division then moved into the EAME (Europe, After, Middle East Division) specializing in new Hotel Development for the company. Returning to the US in 1995 she went to work for The Walt Disney Company and went back to school to get her MBA at Pepperdine University. During Gabriele’s tenure with The Walt Disney Company she was introduced to the Disney VoluntEars—as charitable activities is an integral part of the company’s heritage. Gabriele got heavily involved via her personal time and expertise to meaningful outreach projects that positively impacted the communities within Los Angeles County while making a difference in the lives of children in need.  Gabriele also worked for 2 years on the AIDS Foundation Dream Halloween event as a volunteer helping to make Halloween a wonderful, safe and happy time for children and families effected by AIDS.  Gabriele then joined EarthLink Networks and was on the Board of the EarthLink CARES committee that helped to support Pasadena area children and family services both thru a grant process as well as organizing and taking part in community volunteer action days.

Fast forward to January 2001 when her then 13 month old son Tristan was diagnosed with Autism. Nothing, not an MBA nor living and working thru two Soviet/Russian military coups could have ever prepared her for her life with Autism.  Her son Tristan was born in 1999 and at that time 1 in 10,000 kids were diagnosed with Autism but in 2011 it is 1 in 58! That was the beginning of her family’s journey.  Thru multiple job transfers the family resided in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and now in the Coachella Valley.  During the time in LA and Santa Barbara Tristan was able to take part in therapeutic riding and Gabriele saw the benefits first hand.  Her non-verbal son was calmer, happier, had better eye contact and did a lot of verbal babbling while riding and interacting with the therapy horses.  Upon arriving in the Coachella Valley she went searching for another Center but there were none in the area.  Being the Autism Warrior mom that she is, she decided to start her own Center after a chance meeting with Marcia Levine a 20 year hunter/jumper equestrian and teacher.   Gabriele and Marcia immediately hit it off as both have a passion for horses and children.

Marcia- Marcia has an extensive background in fitness and nutrition as the former owner of 6 Gold’s gyms in Toronto.  She became the international spokes model for Gold’s Gym which led to starring in Gold’s gym workout videos and more than 500 commercials, films and print ads. Marcia, an accomplished equestrian has ridden with the best Hunter/Jumper coaches in the world.  Prior to co-founding Healing Horses her world revolved around horse shows and fitness modeling.  It was not until her first experience with Gabriele’s son with autism, on a chance private riding lesson, where her eyes were opened to a new world of how horses and philanthropy can come together to serve children and adults with special needs. Marcia began her intensive journey into Autism Training and NARHA Certification within the week and Healing Horses, the non-profit was officially born in April of 2008.

Within 30 days of co-founding Healing Horses, Gabriele and Marcia had 5 horses and 20 children with autism and a host of volunteers and Marcia’s riding students as typical peer models. The local horse community joined in with donations and help as well.  At the forefront of this was  Alex Haagen III, the owner of the beautiful Empire Polo grounds in Indio who gave Healing Horses a fabulous home with private stalls (and room to grow) private riding arena, picnic tables and big shaded areas with giant palapas. Gabriele and Marcia call their special place “Shangri-La” as when you are there it is filled with children’s laughter, parents clapping, volunteers high fiving the riders and a general sense of “can do” Today Healing Horses is serving over 50 children and young adults per week with 15 amazing therapy horses.  The children and young adults have a variety of challenges ranging from Autism, CP, Down’s syndrome, ADD/ADHD, Traumatic Brain Injury & Dyslexia.  A 2nd Center in Los Angeles was opened in September of 2009. Requests to become a Healing Horses Affiliate have come in from as far away at South Africa and as near-by as Temecula and Yucca Valley.

Gabriele and Marcia were nominated for the prestigious Jefferson Award in 2009 and worked pro bono with the PeaceCorp Kazakhstan team to help them set up their own successful therapeutic riding program in Aktobe, Kazakhstan for the summer of 2009.  In 2010 Gabriele was honored by the Board of Supervisors as the 4th Districts Women of the Year.  This award recognizes a woman from each district who has made contributions that improved the lives of women and families in Riverside County. Gabriele Lawrence was honored as the 4th District winner by John Benoit for her tireless work advocating on behalf of families affected by Autism and other special needs.  Sonja Martin, the 4th District Commissioner stated “It was my pleasure, as a Commissioner on the County of Riverside Commission for Women, to join with Supervisor John Benoit, representing District 4, as we presented a Woman of the Year Award to Gabriele Lawrence.   Her work advocating for families with special needs children and more specifically with the Healing Horses Therapeutic Riding Center, is incredible.   What her team, with the assistance of the horses, does for these wonderful children, with autism and other special needs is beyond description. I had the privilege of participating in her work, with my very special C.A.S.A. friend.   (Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster children). My young 14-year old friend was a peer model and worked with the children. It was a gift for both sets of children.   Who received the most?  The alone foster child, who is well and without any handicaps …or the child who is smiling and succeeding, if only for a few minutes, while riding a horse? This program is very special.   The community needs to see it and support it. Every day children are being helped and these daily efforts should be applauded.”

To help support the Mission of HEALING HORSES and all the special children and adults they serve please go to www.healinghorsescv.org to donate your time or money.  More information can be obtained via email at info@healinghorsescv.org or by calling 760.449.4883.  Happy Riding!