We will continue to empower the reach and impact of our HHH Equine-Assisted HOPE and HEALING victories by training and certifying individuals (as well as other private horse facilities) to deliver our safe, trauma-informed programs that restore lives, rebuild families and support healthy communities.
Coming home does not always mean feeling at peace. For many veterans, service members, first responders, and their families, the stress of trauma can follow them into relationships, routines, sleep, and daily life.
Hope and Healing at Hillenglade gives them a quiet place to slow down, reconnect, and begin rebuilding trust – often with a horse beside them.
Who They Are & What They Do
Hope and Healing at Hillenglade is the kind of place where healing does not have to feel clinical. Operating since 2010, this veteran retreat nonprofit near Nashville offers free equine-assisted programs for military members, vets, first responders, and their families.
The sessions are built around groundwork with horses. Participants do not need to ride or have any horse experience. They simply spend guided time with the animals, learning how to slow down, communicate, build trust, and stay present.
Its work includes:
- Individual and group sessions: HHH offers guided equine-assisted sessions for people carrying service-related stress, trauma, or emotional strain.
- Horse-based connection: The horses become part of the process, creating a calm space where participants can practice trust and self-awareness.
- Support for the whole family: Hope and Healing at Hillenglade welcomes spouses, children, and family members, too.
- Trained leaders and handlers: Sessions are led by HHH Certified Leaders and Horse Handlers, with outside Certified Counselors involved when needed.
- A mission rooted in care: The organization’s herd includes rescued, retired, and donated animals that now serve as part of the healing team.
The Need They’re Filling
Trauma makes everyday life feel harder than it looks from the outside. A veteran, service member, or first responder may carry stress that affects sleep, relationships, patience, confidence, and the ability to feel calm in their own body.
Families often carry that weight, too. A spouse may feel the distance. A child may sense the tension. Everyone may be trying to reconnect without quite knowing where to start.
That is where Hope and Healing at Hillenglade can offer a different kind of support. Its free equine-assisted sessions give participants a quieter way to practice trust, communication, emotional regulation, and connection.
The need is serious. According to VA’s 2025 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, 6,398 veterans died by suicide in 2023. That painful figure underscores why veteran therapeutic programs and trauma-informed support still matter so much.
Hope and Healing at Hillenglade offers free, non-riding equine sessions in a calm farm setting that welcomes veterans, active-duty service members, first responders, and their loved ones.
Through guided groundwork with horses, participants practice trust, communication, emotional regulation, and connection without needing prior horse experience. The peaceful setting gives families room to step away from daily pressure, slow down, and begin rebuilding together.
Your Car Donation for Veterans in Action
Sometimes, an old vehicle funds something much gentler than another commute. When you donate your car to Hope and Healing at Hillenglade through Veteran Car Donations, your gift funds free equine-assisted programs for veterans, service members, first responders, and families.
After your vehicle is sold, the proceeds go toward guided sessions where participants spend safe, structured time with horses and trained leaders. That funding keeps family-centered programming available, giving spouses, children, and loved ones a place to reconnect when trauma has affected the home. It also provides practical care for the rescued, retired, and donated animals that serve as part of the healing team.
The process is simple. Share a few details about your vehicle, schedule free pickup, and we’ll handle the paperwork. Your donation qualifies as a tax deductible vehicle donation, giving you a practical way to fund veteran therapeutic programs that make room for calm, trust, and connection.
Why Hope and Healing at Hillenglade?
What sets Hope and Healing at Hillenglade apart is how the experience feels: quiet, personal, and unforced. There is no pressure to perform or explain everything right away. Participants can simply show up, spend time with horses, and begin practicing trust at their own pace.
That kind of setting matters for past and present service members, first responders, and families who may be carrying stress into daily life. The farm offers room to pause, breathe, and reconnect in a way that feels grounded instead of clinical.
Your gift funds free equine-assisted programs, family-inclusive sessions, trained leaders, and the peaceful farm setting where veterans, first responders, service members, and loved ones practice trust, communication, and emotional steadiness.
For donors looking for a veteran charity with a deeply human mission, Hope and Healing at Hillenglade offers a clear place to give. It is a registered 501(c)3 organization operating under Tennessee State EIN 36338688 for this donation program. Its parent organization, Jennifer O’Neill Ministries, Inc., holds federal EIN 68-0576587.
Start Your Donation Today and Support Healing Beyond Service
You don’t have to do something big or complicated to stand with veterans and families. Donating an unwanted vehicle supports a peaceful place where healing is allowed to happen slowly, gently, and without pressure.
Ready to give it a purpose you’ll feel good about? Fill out the form or call (877) 594-5822 to get started. Free pickup is included, and Veteran Car Donations will send your tax receipt after your vehicle is processed.
FAQs
What does Hope and Healing at Hillenglade do?
Hope and Healing at Hillenglade uses the natural bond between people and horses to support emotional healing. Its programs are built around non-riding groundwork, so participants do not need horse experience to take part.
As a veteran retreat nonprofit, it gives veterans, first responders, and families a slower, gentler way to work through stress, reconnect with loved ones, and feel more steady.
Who does Hope and Healing at Hillenglade serve?
The organization welcomes military members, vets, first responders, and the people closest to them. Its programs are designed for those who may need a quieter setting to process stress, rebuild trust, or simply breathe for a while.
No horse background is needed. Participants can come as they are and take part in guided, non-riding sessions at their own pace.
How does my car donation support Hope and Healing at Hillenglade?
Your car donation for veterans funds free equine-assisted sessions, horse care, family-centered programming, and the peaceful farm setting where these experiences take place.
It can also contribute to veteran therapeutic programs that give participants space to practice trust, patience, communication, and emotional awareness in a non-clinical environment.
Is my vehicle donation tax deductible?
Yes, your donation may qualify as a tax deductible vehicle donation. Hope and Healing at Hillenglade is a recognized 501(c)3 veteran charity, and Veteran Car Donations will provide the paperwork after your vehicle is processed.
The exact deduction amount can depend on IRS rules and your tax situation, so it’s worth checking with a tax professional if you want specific guidance.