Tender Little Hearts
Making friends, warming hearts, sharing smiles, and spreading joy, one tender little heart at a time.
Tender Little Hearts Mini Tales and Assisted Equine Therapy Activities has a unique niche in Animal Assisted Therapy and Animal Assisted Activities. Our qualified therapy equines and handler volunteers conveniently transport our miniature horses and donkeys around the Valley to a variety of hospitals, rehabilitation centers, programs and centers for physically handicapped children and adults, brain trauma centers, child advocacy centers such as Childhelp and St Vincent de Paul, The Dream Center, to libraries, underserved schools, memory care facilities for chronic illnesses of Alzheimer’s and Dementia, skilled nursing care facilities… anywhere a human can benefit from our programs and services. Because we are mobile and use miniature equines, we can bring these therapy animals to individuals who could not otherwise travel to a location for the benefit of the activities or therapy they offer to those in need.
Our programs offer comfort, joyfulness, empowerment, self-esteem, unconditional love and many other therapeutic benefits while interacting with our miniature therapy horses and donkeys.
We do not charge for any of our services. This allows the underserved, low income and homeless populations as well as lower socio-economic care centers to easily and readily be served by our organization and the activities and therapies we can offer.
At Tender Little Hearts, our qualified therapy equines are being called to work with more and more programs, facilities and with more providers in a multitude of therapeutic environments. We require all our equines to pass a skills and aptitude evaluation every two years to remain registered as a therapy animal. Our therapy animals are qualified through the Miniature Equine Therapy Standards Association (METSA), American Miniature Therapy Horse Organization (AMTHA) and registered as therapy animals with Register My Service Animal. Our volunteer handlers are also expected to demonstrate best practices in handling, evaluating the requirements of a therapy animal team beyond basic obedience skills.
Our Founder/President, Terry Holmes-Stecyk is certified in the Eagala Model as a qualified Equine Specialist. The Eagala Model is the global standard for psychotherapy and personal development incorporating horses and donkeys.
We are registered with the Arizona Corporation Commission and approved as a 501c3 nonprofit organization with the IRS, tax ID number 83-4236909. All donations are tax deductible.
Our programs offer comfort, joyfulness, empowerment, self-esteem, unconditional love and many other therapeutic benefits while interacting with our miniature therapy horses and donkeys.
We do not charge for any of our services. This allows the underserved, low income and homeless populations as well as lower socio-economic care centers to easily and readily be served by our organization and the activities and therapies we can offer.
At Tender Little Hearts, our qualified therapy equines are being called to work with more and more programs, facilities and with more providers in a multitude of therapeutic environments. We require all our equines to pass a skills and aptitude evaluation every two years to remain registered as a therapy animal. Our therapy animals are qualified through the Miniature Equine Therapy Standards Association (METSA), American Miniature Therapy Horse Organization (AMTHA) and registered as therapy animals with Register My Service Animal. Our volunteer handlers are also expected to demonstrate best practices in handling, evaluating the requirements of a therapy animal team beyond basic obedience skills.
Our Founder/President, Terry Holmes-Stecyk is certified in the Eagala Model as a qualified Equine Specialist. The Eagala Model is the global standard for psychotherapy and personal development incorporating horses and donkeys.
We are registered with the Arizona Corporation Commission and approved as a 501c3 nonprofit organization with the IRS, tax ID number 83-4236909. All donations are tax deductible.
Meet our Qualified and Registered Therapy Family
Private Maserati - "Mazy"
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Maserati (Mazy) is a registered miniature horse. He is 14 years old and our newest therapy horse. Mazy had an early career as a show horse and was an International Reserve Champion in the color division. He is a gorgeous liver chestnut and has an amazing flaxen colored mane, forelock and tail. Mazy excels as a therapy horse with his extra calm nature. He makes a unique connection to those most in need of comfort or nurturing. He also likes to read along with children who come to read him a story. |
Nachos Poquito Doll - "Dolly"
Dolly is a registered miniature horse. She is 5 years old and a brave little therapy mare who wants nothing more than to be your friend and be loved. Her color is called a silver dappled Gruella and she has lovely blue eyes. Dolly adores being groomed and pampered with bows in her mane and loves her sparkly shoes. Dolly was also a show horse in her youth and still loves to prance in parades. She is a cuddly hugger and an engaging therapy horse. Dolly is also a very patient listener and loves to have stories read to her.
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Bonnie Burke, Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate Team Leader - RE/MAX Fine Properties
is the proud sponsor of Dolly. THE BONNIE BURKE TEAM |
Bet Your Blue Boone - "Boone" |
Boone is sponsored
by RJ's Happy Valley THANK YOU for supporting our programs and this sweet, special donkey! |
Boone is a registered miniature Sicilian donkey. She is 9 years old. Donkeys are a highly intelligent animal, despite a popular misconception of them being stubborn (well, maybe she is just a little). While Boone may be small, she is mighty sweet in personality and full of love. As a therapy donkey, she is a favorite amongst our home visitors as she quickly engages for attention and scratches. Come meet Boone and perhaps read The Wonky Donkey or The Dinkey Donkey or The Grinny Granny Donkey to her.
Boone is also very popular at the Trailheads of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Boone is a Pathfinder Ambassador and helps visitors choose the best trails for hikers, bikers and horse riders. |
Buddy
Buddy is a 15 year old miniature horse. His color is called a silver dappled Gruella. Buddy knows a few tricks and loves to play with his visitors. He fetches his bone, plays ball, shakes hooves and rings the bell. Buddy was recently donated to our program and will soon be a fabulous therapy horse. He's very willing to try whatever we ask of him. He loves to be groomed, hugged, go for walks and just a loveable little guy we can't wait to share with the world. Plan a visit and come play with Buddy!
Coming soon to Tender Little Hearts
Meet Josie!
We are very excited Josie will be coming to live with us soon. She was rescued from a kill pen in Oklahoma by Mini Angel Eyes. As with many rescued females, she is pregnant and unsure if the papa is another mini donkey or a mini stallion. Mini Angel Eyes will keep her until the foal is safely born and weaned, then she will have a forever home within our herd. She is approximately the same age as Boone and I know these two will be BFF girlfriends.
Sssssshh! Don't tell Boone she might actually be getting a Christmas present that brays!
We are very excited Josie will be coming to live with us soon. She was rescued from a kill pen in Oklahoma by Mini Angel Eyes. As with many rescued females, she is pregnant and unsure if the papa is another mini donkey or a mini stallion. Mini Angel Eyes will keep her until the foal is safely born and weaned, then she will have a forever home within our herd. She is approximately the same age as Boone and I know these two will be BFF girlfriends.
Sssssshh! Don't tell Boone she might actually be getting a Christmas present that brays!