We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marie Lim. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marie below.

Marie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a time you helped a customer really get an amazing result through their work with you.
Here are three of Happi Farm’s success stories about our therapeutic riding students, Angelina, Jodi and Joanne.
Angelina is a Therapeutic Horseback Riding student at HAPPI Farm. She was born July 6, 2012 in Plantation, Florida. Angelina had been diagnosed with Down syndrome and is non verbal. Difficulty communicating causes her to be greatly frustrated and as a result she has behavioral issues. Angelina needed speech and behavioral therapy. She had been accepted in a speech therapy clinic but was denied until her behavior improved. Angelina’s mother, Glenda struggles due to Angelina’s behavioral issues. We had nominated Angelina for Miami Herald’s Wish Book who greatly helped get donations for speech and behavioral therapy.

Jodi has a progressive eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosis and had to give up driving due to her loss of vision. As her vision progressively got worse she was forced to get a Seeing Eye dog. Jodi was thrilled to find Happi Farm, a place that understands that she is disabled but still knows how to ride. Her face had returned to smiling and Jodi told us that her heart was singing while riding; she felt empowered, happy and peaceful. Jodi is very grateful to Happi Farm for providing horses that are safe for her situation. She is glad to be surrounded by people who are trained to assist her and she is grateful to be back on the saddle again!

Joanne was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in April of 2010. She went from being able to walk, having energy and good balance to needing a scooter to get around. Happi Farm gave Joanne a riding scholarship and she began to ride with two side walkers and someone leading the horse. While riding Joanne had increased core, leg, and arm coordination which allowed her to start riding independently.

Jodi and Joanne were also nominated through Happi Farm for the Miami Herald’s Wish Book and were awarded gift certificates. Wish Book provided Jodi with food for her and her Seeing Eye dog and Joanne attended equine therapeutic lessons through Wish Book.

Marie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Horse and Petting Pal Interaction, Happi Farm is a 501 (C) (3) non-profit organization located in Davie, Florida. In 2011 the farm opened to the public, offering a Animal Therapy and Riding Lessons. Happi Farm reaches out to those with special needs, youths at risk, seniors and military veterans.

Marie, the Founder and President of Happi Farm, began riding horses at the age of five. She has served as a horse trainer and an equestrian instructor for more than fifty years. Marie studied Physical Education, Nutrition and Theater at the University of New Mexico, and received a Bachelor of Science Degree from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, and later studied at the Central New Mexico Community College. Marie is an experienced educator, having taught Equine Education at J.F.K. Charter School in Albuquerque and swimming at the Y.M.C.A. Marie is committed to helping others and teaching Equine Activities through her work at HAPPI Farm.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?
When my son was 2 years old I purchased pony rides to be at his birthday party. At that time I thought, I can do that. That inspired me to move to Davie, where the horses are. Soon after that, a neighbor of mine sold a horse to me for $100. Then, a friend of mine gave me a pony for my son’s 5th birthday. That gave me the idea of starting a pony ride service, With the little money I had, I placed an add in the paper for pony rides for parties and events. My son and I could only do local parties, as we had to ride Fire and Sunshine to get to the locations. After about a year I was able to buy an inexpensive, used horse trailer. For a couple of years, I had to find people with a truck to drive us to the parties. Eventually, I was able to buy a truck. We did that for about 20 years when I decided to take a few business courses. That was the beginning of Happi Farm.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
When I first began my pony ride service, a 12 year old girl volunteered with us. She stayed for a total of five years. When she turned 17 years old she started her own petting farm and pony ride service. She was able to acquire five acres. When I decided to start a nonprofit organization, I offered her a proposal to be a co-founder. It was very convenient, since she had land and a large variety of animals, including several horses. She accepted my offer and we ended up working together for 7 years. We had many differences of opinion, on how the business should be done. I then decided to move off of her property and found another farm right away. Happi Farm purchased all new animals and eventually moved to a larger property. Fortunately, we found exactly what was needed. The smiles on our customers faces tells me that we have found the perfect home for our animals at Happi Farm.

Contact Info:

• Website: happifarm.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happi.farm.9
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-lim-56ab8b35/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC75lhnCy7zhYPUE3kwP1JRA/featured
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/happi-farm-davie-2