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Monday, November 13 2017 / Published in General

Hope & Healing at Hillenglade -Jennifer O’Neill Opens Her Home To Help Military and Families Heal With Horses

 

Painting a donkey at Hillenglade

By Britney Grover

Jennifer O’Neill began her modeling and acting career when she was 15 years old with one goal: to buy a horse. She had success not only in her vocation, but with her equestrian goals. Jennifer became internationally recognized for her appearances on-screen, co-starring with John Wayne in her first film, as well as being a Cover Girl model and spokesperson for over 30 years. By 17, she was at the top of the junior circuit, competing in hunters and equitation at places like Ox Ridge and Fairfield Hunt Club, and she spent 35 years breeding her own horses. Now, over 50 years later, she’s settled down on a farm in Nashville, Tennessee, where she not only continues to enjoy horses, but where she shares the ‘therapeutic wonder of horses’ with anyone who needs it.

Jennifer made Hillenglade her home in 2009 and began welcoming mothers and their troubled teenage daughters to her farm for some time away in the country. Shortly after, an organization asked if she would be willing to host a weekend with the caretakers of PTSD warriors. Jennifer agreed, and it changed the tide of the program.

Jennifer and Handsome, a horse she bred

The struggles of returned war veterans and their families were familiar to Jennifer: During World War II, Jennifer’s father was shot down on his second-to-last mission out of London and spent 2 ½ years in a German prison camp. In addition, Jennifer was married to a Vietnam Marine veteran who is 100 percent disabled with PTSD. She knew first-hand of the hardships and trickle-down effect that war can have in a family.

“Horses have always been my refuge,” Jennifer said. “I love them; they’re a passion. I found through the years that the barn was where I felt I had my best friend, and I could communicate my deepest feelings and dreams. The time with my horse meant everything to me.”

Focusing On Military

In 2010, Hope & Healing at Hillenglade (HHH) began to focus on the needs of military members, veterans and families. Since then, over 3,500 people have experienced the hope and healing that horses have to offer at Hillenglade.

“We lose a veteran to suicide every 60 minutes, about 22 to 25 per day,” Jennifer said. “The private sector has to stand up for our heroes — here at HHH, we have seen miraculous healings happen over the back of a horse.”

Hillenglade’s programs are all completely free, from the deep healing sessions to the many celebrations with games, free food and animal interactions for entire families. Hillenglade is home not only to horses, including Handsome, the last that Jennifer bred, but to donkeys and ponies as well. Two miniature donkeys, or ‘Donkeyettes’ as Jennifer calls them, are painted by children during celebrations — which the donkeyettes love, of course, both for the sake of the attention and the animal crackers.

Jennifer O’Neill’s Hillenglade Farm in Nashville, Tennessee

Many of the horses are rescues themselves. One Belgian mare arrived at Hillenglade severely underweight, with a hole in her neck from a yoke and scars covering her body. She put on about 300 pounds, and connects with many of the war veterans and their children that visit. “The warriors that come here really relate to her because they can see her wounds,” Jennifer shared, “whereas a lot of the wounds from serving in the military are on the inside.”

A young participant enjoys a hug and kiss from Howdy and Doody

The programs at Hillenglade seem to stem from Jennifer’s own life experiences, such as her time on the show circuit: Jennifer envisions bringing warriors two at a time to stay at Hillenglade for up to three months to not only experience the healing they need, but to be trained and leave the farm with the vocation of being top-notch professional grooms, who are so sought-after in the show world. The HHH mess hall, retreat areas and offices are being expanded to accommodate such a program with help from a generous USA Equestrian Trust grant.

Since all of the celebration events and other therapeutic programs are totally free, HHH relies on donations, corporate sponsorships and grants to continue operating and to expand. Recently, Kathy Lee Gifford from “The Today Show” donated the funds to cover Hillenglade’s round pen, which will allow them to provide deep healing year-round, but Jennifer is the first to note that every donation to the HHH tax-exempt 501(c)3 is appreciated — including the not-unprecedented $5 from a child’s own piggy bank.

Jennifer rode and showed horses as a junior.

Retirement Board

Additionally, Hillenglade offers a retirement boarding barn where the entire cost of board goes straight into the Hope & Healing programs. “Over the years of showing, when my horses that I’d bred and raised and who had performed incredibly well for me got older, of course, I wanted to retire them in the best place for their personalities,” said Jennifer. “I had a few horses that enjoyed being turned out in a field situation and were happy as clams. Many others wanted more interaction with people, as they were used to. For example, the last horse I bred, Handsome, is a huge part of our HHH programs and constantly in everyone’s pocket — he would be the most miserable guy in the world if I retired him in a field and just let him go.”

A rainy day couldn’t stop this warrior from spending time with a horse.

Care of the horses boarded at Hillenglade, on an “A” barn level, is tailored to each specific horse’s needs, from workload to turnout to grooming and interaction. Some horses retire to Hillenglade for a lifetime — others need only a short respite in the country to calm down and put on some needed weight, like a Dutch Warmblood jumper who retired to Hillenglade as a ‘firecracker’ and left several months later quiet as could be.

Ultimately, Hillenglade is all about the horses — and the hope and healing they offer to all. Visitors to Hillenglade find peace, joy and new methods of communication through the therapeutic wonder of horses. “We are an open turnstile,” Jennifer said. “Anyone who needs to have time away in the country and spend time with horses and family, they’re welcome.”

For more information, visit hillenglade.org or follow Hope and Healing at Hillenglade (HHH) on Facebook.

Photos courtesy of Hope and Healing at Hillenglade

A donkey gets painted during a celebration

 

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Tagged under: charity, hope and healing at hillenglade, jennifer o'neill

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Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses—in a way, she was born into her career. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where her parents ran a farm. Her mother taught, and her father had a jump business and then created one of the first horse show software programs: Ryegate Show Services, Inc.

Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

“Besides running Ryegate Show Services and its various organizations, I can be found in the show office, running a scoreboard or judging jumpers at most shows,” Annette said. “I love getting to wear a few different hats at the show.”

When she’s not busy at a show, Annette lives in Annville, Pennsylvania, with her “fur-baby,” Maggie Mae, and enjoys spending time with her many godchildren. Though she doesn’t currently own any horses, Annette rides when she can at Rolling Acres Farm with Patty Foster, Ashley Foster-Worthington and Mary Lisa Leffler.

Read this month unbridled with Annette Longenecker by clicking the link in our bio. Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine! 🦄
📸Photo by Sheryl Sutherby

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A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here and we are so excited to feature three-day eventer Liz Halliday on the cover! Big thanks to photographer Melissa Fuller for the beautiful photo of Liz and Cooley Nutcracker- Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing. Liz and her horses have taken the eventing world by storm - and find out how Liz is at the top of the sport as a female eventer! As the horse world gears up for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023, it's the perfect time to enjoy our eventing issue!! We also feature eventer and woman entrepreneur Frankie Thieriot Stutes, who is not only an eventer, but also runs Athletux and FRANKIE CAMERON handbags and accessories. And don't miss our eventing story on Robert "Bobby" Costello, who will be leading the US Eventing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics- and US Equestrian has named Bobby the eventing technical advisor/chef d'equipe!! Liz, Frankie and Bobby all have GREAT stories - don't miss any of them and don't forget to get your tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event! We are also excited to introduce you to hunter-jumper rider Casey Lorusso Smith, who is not only a talented rider but also a psychotherapist and incorporates horses into her career. If you are up for adventure, then read the story on dressage rider Priscilla Baldwin who certainly doesn't let any grass grow under her feet! We also head to the west coast to catch up with hunter-jumper trainer Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm, we feature beautiful art by equestrian artist Tammy Tappan, and we get to know Miranda Jones and her family. Miranda is not only an attorney who spends a lot of time in the courthouse, but she's a rider and spends lots of time riding, and is joined by her daughters also! We are excited to feature Stephanie Lightner in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists George Williams, Robert R.L. Jacobs and Margie Sugarman! It's a great issue - and you can read it online, but don't forget to go to the website and order a subscription and get every issue delivered to your mailbox!! Enjoy this issue and enjoy the ride: Link in bio!!
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