Vol. I · Est. 2024A 501(c)(3) sanctuaryOpen seven days a week, sunrise to sunset, by appointment only

Veterans · First responders · Horses

A quiet place
for the ones who
carried us home.

American Heroes Equine Connection pairs U.S. military veterans, first responders, and Gold Star families with rescue horses for a different kind of healing — unhurried, outdoors, on the horse's terms.

Donate Upcoming events

0: Veterans & first responders served
0: RESCUE & PROGRAM HORSES/PONYS IN CARE
0: Active programs across the year

The founder smiles in the barn beside our two miniature ponies. — On the Ranch— photo, Valor and Ventures Media

A volunteer walks a rescue horse across a green pasture. — Walking out, American Heroes Ranch

Our mission

Healing happens at the speed of a horse.

Most of the people who come to our pasture have been holding a great deal for a long time. Combat tours. House fires. The radio call no one is trained for. A horse doesn't care about the résumé — only whether you're present.

Every program at American Heroes Equine Connection is free for veterans, first responders, and Gold Star families. We exist because of monthly donors, vendor partners, and corporate sponsors who believe what we believe: that the best therapy is a chestnut mare, a cup of coffee, and a quiet morning.

Why it matters

Fighting for our warriors.

Veteran suicide is estimated at 16.5 to 22 lives per day. We stand with the veterans and first responders behind these numbers — and the families who love them.

Gulf War veterans

About 10% of Desert Storm veterans live with PTSD.

OIF / OEF veterans

Estimated 11–20% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans live with PTSD.

Vietnam veterans

Lifetime PTSD rates near 31% (male) and 27% (female).

Name the Ponies · Naming Contest

Two new ponies. Ten good names. You pick.

We rescued two ponies this spring and we need your help naming them. Every $1 donated through PayPal counts as one vote — add the pony's name in the PayPal note. Votes will be tallied and the winning names announced in May 2027. Come meet them at the ranch on August 15, 1:00–3:00 PM, and join us for Tai Chi, Veteran Coaching Network activities, and equine therapy.

Each $1 = one vote. Add the pony's name in the PayPal note so we can tally it. Winning names announced May 2027.

Votes are donations — a receipt with our EIN is provided for your records.

Pony A — one of the two new ponies awaiting a name.

The bolder of the two — first to the fence, last to leave the round bale.

Candidate names0 votes

Captain0 votes
Vote $1
Tank0 votes
Vote $1
Major0 votes
Vote $1
Ranger0 votes
Vote $1
Ares0 votes
Vote $1

Pony B — one of the two new ponies awaiting a name.

Quiet, watchful, and the first to nap in the afternoon sun.

Candidate names0 votes

Sarge0 votes
Vote $1
Bravo0 votes
Vote $1
Valor0 votes
Vote $1
Scout0 votes
Vote $1
Apollo0 votes
Vote $1

Veterans & first responders served

RESCUE & PROGRAM HORSES/PONYS IN CARE

Active programs across the year

Of programs are no-cost to participants

Membership perk

Membership unlocks the Veteran Coaching Network.

AHEC members get 1:1 mentorship, live panels, recruiter intros, and Ranch Academy — powered by partners who back the mission on and off the ranch.

Unlock Coaching Community Meet the coaches & partners

From the ranch

Ranch moments.

Open houses, quiet mornings with the herd, and everyday connections that make the program possible. Every photo is a day the ranch ran because someone gave.

Share a photo →

Volunteers, veterans, and friends gather at the ranch on a bright spring day. — The team at the ranch

A mare, a pony, and a chestnut foal greet each other across the pasture fence. — New foal meets the herd

A volunteer offers a carrot to a paint rescue horse in the round pen. — Hand-feeding in the round pen

A volunteer cradles a newborn lamb in the spring sunshine. — Spring lambs at the barn

A veteran and a volunteer smile while cradling a newborn lamb at the ranch. — Veterans with spring lambs

A child leads a paint horse past the flagpole. — Open House, spring program

Founder smiling in the barn with two miniature ponies. — Barn time with the minis

A small group of volunteers gathers with two rescue horses in a pasture. — Volunteer Saturday

A child poses with a soldier in front of a Stryker medical vehicle. — Community day on post

Founder speaks with a black rescue horse at the paddock fence. — Meeting at the fence

Founder introduces a black horse to a small group at the paddock. — Introductions in the paddock

A groundwork session with a black horse while a paint pony grazes nearby. — Groundwork in the pasture

A donkey stands close to the camera in soft afternoon light. — Mister, our resident donkey

Veterans and volunteers spend a quiet morning with the horses. — Morning at the ranch

Sheep graze along a pasture fence on a summer afternoon. — The east pasture

Founder with a paint pony and a black rescue horse at the paddock gate. — Paddock check-in

Founder in a cowboy hat and blue suit smiling next to a black rescue horse. — Founder with our black rescue

Cavalry soldier in uniform riding a black horse on a sunny day. — Cavalry ride

Young rider in a helmet on a paint horse in the round pen. — Youth riding lesson

Young rider in a pink coat on a black horse in a snowy pasture. — Winter saddle time

A smiling child lies across the back of a paint pony in the sunshine. — A moment of trust

Close-up portrait of a black rescue horse with a white blaze. — Nose to nose

Soldier in camouflage riding a black horse down a neighborhood street. — Mounted patrol ride

Black horse in a navy winter blanket walking through fresh snow. — First snow of the season

Chestnut horse in a blue winter blanket looking straight at the camera in the snow. — Hello from the pasture

Black horse in a navy blanket standing near the barn during a snowfall. — Snow day at the barn

Two blanketed horses stand together outside the barn in a snowstorm. — Weathering it together

Black rescue horse standing beside the barn on a bright spring day. — Barnside portrait

Capital campaign

Help us cross the finish line.

We're raising $70,000 — $20,000 for a horse trailer and $50,000 for a barn with hay storage. With the barn, we can offer services year-round. With the trailer, we can bring our programs to veterans across Indiana and the rest of the country. Every dollar moves the meter.

Horse trailer

$0raised of $20,000

Reach veterans across Indiana and the US.

0% to goal$20,000 to go

Donate to Horse trailer

Barn & hay storage

$0raised of $50,000

Year-round services, rain or shine.

0% to goal$50,000 to go

Donate to Barn & hay storage

$0 raised of $70,000 total

Be a part of this magic.

All capital campaign gifts receive a receipt and our EIN for tax records. Large contributions may be featured on Valor & Ventures Media with your permission.

Monthly giving

Steady, monthly, kind.

Recurring gifts let us plan a year of feed, farrier care, and programs. Pick a tier or write your own amount.

Not sure where to give? Take the interest survey →

Every donation receives a receipt for your records, and our EIN is included with your gift acknowledgment. For questions about tax-deductible giving, contact give@ahec-inc.org.

Stirrup

$10/ month

Feeds a rescue horse for three days. A quiet, steady commitment.

Give $10 monthly

Most chosen

Saddle

$20/ month

Covers a veteran's session at the ranch — pasture time, groundwork, and coffee.

Give $20 monthly

Bridle

$35/ month

Sponsors a full month of grain, hay supplement, and farrier care for one horse.

Give $35 monthly

Upcoming

Saddle up with us.

Get event reminders →

Sat

Meet Our Ponies — Open House

Sat, Aug 15, 2026

American Heroes Ranch · Main Arena

150 spots

1:00–3:00 PM. Meet our two new ponies, cast your vote in the naming contest, and join us for Tai Chi, Veteran Coaching Network activities, and equine therapy.

Sat

Gold Star & Silver Star Families

Sat, Nov 28, 2026

American Heroes Ranch · Arena

40 spots

A private day for Gold Star and Silver Star families. Groundwork, lunch, and quiet time with the horses.

Sat

Spring Saddle-Up Open House

Sat, Apr 3, 2027

American Heroes Ranch · Main Pasture

120 spots

Meet the herd, walk the property, and hear from veterans in the program. Lunch on us.

Recently behind us

Past events

Jul 19, 2025Summer Groundwork ClinicThree weekends of instruction with 36 participants.

May 26, 2025Memorial Day RemembranceQuiet morning of reflection and trail riding.

With gratitude

Donor wall

Every name here makes a year of feed, farrier care, and programs possible. Anonymous gifts honored.

Founding Circle

· American Skyport

Leadership Circle

· Menasha Corporation
· Business Navigators
· Veteran Coaching Network

Supporters

· Valor and Ventures Media
· Downtown Deli
· Hives For Heroes
· Ethical-Estates

Corporate partners

In good company.

Partner with us →

Corporate SponsorMenasha Corporation

Corporate SponsorSynergistic Solutions, LLC

Founding SponsorBusiness Navigators

Program SponsorVeteran Coaching Network

Corporate SponsorValor and Ventures Media

Corporate SponsorFounders and Ventures Alliance

Corporate SponsorAmerican Skyport

Community SponsorDowntown Deli

Corporate SponsorHives For Heroes

Honorary "Spur" Sponsors

Sponsor America's Heroes.

Currently seeking corporate sponsors across four tiers. Each tier earns recognition on the ranch, in our newsletters, and across events.

Become a sponsor →

$2,000 – $10,000

Bronze Spur

Community and small-business partners underwriting programs and ranch operations.

$10,000 – $20,000

Silver Spur

Growth-stage partners funding events, herd care, and expanded programming.

$20,000 – $100,000

Golden Spur

Leadership partners underwriting capital projects and multi-year programs.

$1,000,000+

Stetson Sponsor

Founding-level partners named on the ranch's entrance sign and honored across our channels.

In their words

What the horses give back.

Members — share your story →

"After forty years on the job, I didn't think anything could reach me. Turns out, a tall Friesian named Zeus could."

Lt. Steve K.

Fire & Rescue, Retired

"After serving in the Army and now leading in law enforcement, I've learned that strength is not just about standing firm. Sometimes it is about slowing down, breathing, and letting a horse remind you what calm leadership feels like."

Chief Kyle W.

U.S. Army Veteran | Police Chief

"Coming to the ranch, I expected to meet a horse. What I didn't expect was for Zeus, a powerful Friesian gelding, to help me slow down, breathe, and feel grounded again. He is an amazing horse."

Adam C.

U.S. Army Veteran

"I volunteered at the American Heroes Equine Connection, Inc. spring event and brought some of my sheep along while sharing about poultry on the farm. What Luke and his team are doing out there is really special. They've created a place where veterans, first responders, and families can come together, build connections, and support one another. It's a great place, and more people should check it out. They're doing good work."

Brad W.

Farmer

"Strong communities are built by organizations that serve with purpose. American Heroes Equine Connection is one of those organizations. I'm proud to support their mission and encourage others to help ensure this life-changing work continues for the veterans who need it most."

Sarah H.

Former CEO | Veteran

For vendors & businesses

Set up a table. Put your name on the gate.

Event-day vendor spots, amenity sponsorships, and signage from a single afternoon all the way to two years on our entrance sign — every dollar funds programs for the people we serve.

Reserve a spot →

Opportunity	Investment	What it covers
10×10 vendor space	$1,200 / day	Bring your own tent. Includes table and two chairs.	Reserve
Just table	$800	Reserve a table only for your vendor space at the event.	Reserve
Porta-john sponsor	$500	Supports the event for the day and event recognition.	Reserve
Water station sponsor	$400	Supports the event for the day and event recognition.	Reserve
Food sponsor	$750	Underwrite lunch for veterans and volunteers.	Reserve
Day-of signage	$300	Banner placement at the main arena for one event.	Reserve
Nine-month signage	$4,500	Property signage for 3/4 of the year.	Reserve
Two-year frontal signage	$15,000	Your company, family, or foundation on our entrance sign.	Reserve