Hope Rides is a registered 501(c)(3) organization that was founded in 2007. After years of horse ownership and providing opportunities to children whose families did not have access to horses, Vollie Heitkamp, founder of Hope Rides, followed a nudge to start a nonprofit organization that would allow people from all walks of life the opportunity to connect to horses in a safe loving environment intended to encourage, equip and empower people to live their best lives to further facilitate healing, growth and find hope. Upon following the nudge, doors opened and Hope Rides moved from a thought to a reality. Since the beginning it has been abundantly clear that the kids and horses benefit from each other and that these benefits reach beyond the boundaries of Hope Rides. Hope Rides exists to provide a place where families, children and horses can come to find hope and healing through acceptance and unconditional love.
At Hope Rides, our mission is to open doorways of hope and create opportunities for personal growth through connecting people with horses. Why use horses? The horse is an amazing animal. A horse’s intuition, sensitivity, and prey/herd instincts make it an incredible friend and teacher. The opportunity to understand their behavior as it relates to their social and survival needs provides countless opportunities for humans to learn valuable life lessons and skills about ourselves and those around us. Our mentors work side by side with the participants and horses pairing them together based upon their individual needs and personality. The pairing approach helps to facilitate a connection of understanding, acceptance and respect among all units encouraging each to learn and experience things from a different perspective. Gaining a different or renewed perspective can be a powerful tool for growth. Hope Rides connects people to horses in a way that empowers positive choice for positive change and enhances hope for the future. Hope Rides programs are free of charge and available to youth ages 5-18.
Founders
Vollie Heitkamp, founder of Hope Rides has had a love of horses and people for as long as she can remember. As a child Vollie was fortunate to have parents who recognized this love and nurtured her in it which has allowed her to experience various aspects of horse ownership to include recreational trail riding, 4H, Saddle Clubs and competing in the show circuit. It has been these life experiences and 31 years of partnering with horses and incredible personal mentors that has equipped her to be able to work with people and horses in a way that meets them where they are at with a genuiune intent to empower and give hope.
In 2006 Vollie felt a stirring in her spirit that left her feeling as if she was not using her gifts in the world the way she was intended to. It was this stirring that lead to her to seeking Gods will for her life with a new set of eyes and heart. It was during this time that she began to understand what she was being called to do, so with faith, she simply surrendered her “list” to the Lord and began seeking fully HIS will. It was the profound clarity that came when the Lord told her that “Fear and Faith did not go together” and that she needed to choose one. It was that very day that she made the decision that fear had no place in her life and it had to go. It has been one step at a time of faith and obedience that the outreach of Hope Rides has been built on. It is a great privilege to be allowed into very personal spaces in peoples lives as they navigate the various trails and tribulations life has to offer. She is filled with gratitude to be able to share and serve through this platform.
Chris Heitkamp, cofounder of Hope Rides, is a quiet unassuming force working behind the scenes to support the ranches ability to function. Chris works fulltime, and gives countless of his other hours, skills, gifts and knowledge to any number of tasks and research needed. His humor, loyalty, resourceful nature and principle based compass serve as a steadfast anchor. In his free time he likes to get out and knock the golf ball, fish, boating and generally spending time with friends and family.
Vollie and Chris have been married since 2001. Together Chris and Vollie have two children and reside in Hopkins area. As a family we love to spend our time shooting hoops, downhill skiing, hiking, driving, and simply put just being together.