Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Erin Chimberoff. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Erin, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

The mission of Hand, Hoof and Heart began earlier than I even realized as it was clouded by my own severe social anxiety. After years of therapy, I finally felt confident enough to start branching out into the community. I was struggling with the traditional college route and I knew I had to find a different path. In 2012, I started participating in volunteer opportunities that coincided with my interests of working with animals which was a key ingredient of escaping the hold that my anxiety had on me. I knew that I would eventually leave college behind, but I needed to find my niche in order to do so. I was first introduced to therapeutic horseback riding my senior year of high school, but it wasn’t until three years later that I realized that was part of my calling. Before Hand, Hoof and Heart took off in 2015, I branched out into the community by working as a caregiver, providing independent living support and teaching horseback riding lessons. I did everything I could to gain as much experience as possible in all different types of settings. In doing so, I found that I truly loved being able to connect with people through community experiences and through animal assisted activities. I have been an equestrian since a very young age and knew how much animals had helped me grow throughout the years. Once I realized that I could create those experiences for others and was able to provide a unique, therapeutic learning environment with animals – I took that and ran with it. Hand, Hoof and Heart began as a therapeutic horseback riding program, but I knew I wanted the program to offer more than just one type of experience. As my idea grew, we started offering different kinds of animal assisted activities that support cognitive, physical, social and emotional functioning. It grew into a therapeutic and recreational outlet for people with and without disabilities. It became a place of inclusivity, acceptance and support for anyone that could benefit from it. I believe that this was my goal all along. As I tried to find my own place in the world, I was able to create that space for myself and so many others along the way.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My journey with Hand, Hoof and Heart began with my love for animals. Animals have always provided me with unconditional love, acceptance, and serenity. Whenever I was in a situation that triggered my anxiety, if there was an animal around I was always able to break away from those negative feelings. They provide me with an immediate feeling of relief. My experience with anxiety brought me to a point in my life where I wasn’t able to function independently outside of my home. The first step in finding my freedom was therapy which led me to find the confidence to explore social opportunities. I began by volunteering with programs that involved animals – specifically horses and dogs. When I began volunteering as a puppy raiser for South Eastern Guide Dogs, I truly stepped out of my comfort zone. Being a puppy raiser allowed me to bring my guide dog in training with me everywhere I went so my puppy could be exposed to different experiences on his journey to being a guide dog. This experience turned out to not only be a training experience for the puppy, but also an extension of exposure therapy for myself. It forced me to interact with strangers and go out into the world independently. It solidified my passion of wanting to help others find the same sense of relief; so I began putting my ideas to paper and Hand, Hoof and Heart’s story started to unfold.

I was the girl that never thought that I would break free from the anxiety chains, but once I did, I knew that I could help others do the same. I realized that I could potentially do this by sharing my own experiences and connecting with people through our similarities. I wanted to create a space where people could connect with themselves by working with animals and branching out of their comfort zone without any expectations. I believe that Hand, Hoof and Heart provides just that. The biggest accomplishment that I am most proud of is the community we have built through this program. Everyone involved in this program has become a family. There is an overwhelming feeling of support, unconditional love and acceptance throughout the farm. You can feel it as soon as you walk through the gates. This program was created to encourage independence, creativity, self confidence and a sense of community. The goal was to inspire anyone who came to the farm to have the confidence to create their own path of self growth and I think we have done just that.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

The entire story of Hand, Hoof and Heart illustrates resilience in myself and everyone who has continued to support this journey. The program has bounced around from multiple locations and each time it moved, it was like we were starting back at square one. Each move we made has it own story and lessons learned. There were many experiences along the way that showed me what a true support system looked like and what kind of people I needed on my team. My stories of resilience include deception, betrayal, and uncertainty. Instead of highlighting the details of what happened, I want to highlight where I ended up. 9 years have gone by since I began this journey and it landed me in a place where there is unconditional support and dedication, as well as a place where I am surrounded by the right people. It took 9 years to find the true feeling of stability and loyalty. After all that time spent with people who weren’t meant to be part of this adventure and places that weren’t meant to house such an incredible program, we finally found our meant to be’s. I say we because the story that best illustrates my resilience isn’t just my story. It’s the story of everyone that makes Hand, Hoof and Heart what it is today. When I walk through the gates of the beautiful 15 acre farm where Hand, Hoof and Heart thrives, all I see is resilience and for that I am incredibly grateful.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

This is an easy answer. My family. Whenever someone asks me how I was able to start something like this, I always make sure that it is known how much support I received from my family. After struggling with the traditional college route, I brought my idea to my parents and received an overwhelmingly amount of encouragement. This dream would truly have not become reality without them. There are not enough words to thoroughly explain just how much my family has supported this journey financially and emotionally. It started well before Hand, Hoof and Heart became an idea. Their investment into Hand, Hoof and Heart began with their investment into my mental health. Without that, I wouldn’t be sharing my story with you all today.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.handhoofheart.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handhoofandheart/?hl=en
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/handhoofheart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-chimberoff-02870384/