Stories

As a vet student, I came out to Handibear Hills horse sanctuary to gain some knowledge and experience with horses. My first day there I was helping with a children’s class. I showed up and Yogi passed me a lead rope with a pony and a small child and sent me with her team to help with this class. After the class Yogi asked me how long I’ve been working with horses. I looked at her and said “I started today” LOL. She told me I had a natural way about me and I fooled her. Her next words were “Well, if your going to be here helping out, you might as well learn to ride”. After that, I came weekly to help with the class (and learned to groom and tack alongside the 5 year olds) and then stayed late for some private riding lessons with Yogi’s students.

I’ve now been a vet for 10 years (small animal) and I still think of Yogi and all of the valuable lessons taught in that barn.

– Nicole Ford

Back in the mid 2000s I attended the summer horse camp with Yogi, and it completely changed my life! She is so patient, and willing to work with all sorts of children and people. At the beginning of the week I was scared to do gate duty, opening and closing the gate while others led horses in or out, but by the end of the week I was comfortable to go in, put a halter on and lead all the way to the bar, as well as ride or drive the cart! Going through the “Rainbow Bridge” section of the website brings back a lot of great memories. I always think back on my memories at Handibear Hills, and hope I can return some time to help out. Thank you for all you do, Yogi! <3

– Timothy O’Brien

The sanctuary was a wonderful place I went last summer and I am willing to go this summer too. Well I was there I met a lot of kind people and horses . I loved all the horses, even the ones that were a little cheeky, there was a lot of things to learn and do at the barn, like cleaning, riding, different plants and foods that can hurt the horses and learning how to stretch all horses. My favourite part was riding and then giving lots of treats to the horses.This place is very memorable and welcoming! Thank you guys so much for having me come their last summer and treating me like everyone else even though it was my first time there, I’m so excited to hopefully come back this summer and see everyone again! Love you all.

– Hayden Bomboir

Hello Yogi and Maxine,
A few weeks ago, my daughter Riley and I dropped by your sanctuary on our vacation. I thank you SO much for the conversation, visit, and impromptu pickup truck ride to feed the horses carrots! That experience was definitely one of the highlights of my life.

I am working on getting my life to a place where I can move to PEI permanently, hopefully in the near future. I don’t quite know how that is all going to work out yet (financially, logistically etc) but I do feel that that is the trajectory.

For SURE I will visit you again, and help out any way I can. I am setting up monthly donation via e-transfer to you ($25/month for now).

Please also say hi and thank you to Abigail and Shena.
Bye for now,
Lisa

One summer I went to an amazing barn and and I ended up staying all year. I got to learn so much. Yogi is a really nice lady, the horses are amazing, and it’s so much fun. I highly recommend Yogi’s barn!

– Grace Quackenbush

Went there for our E.A.R.T team for training. I was so amazed at the love and care for these horses by the staff, so well cared for and also great therapy. I live with anxiety and I was so much better when leaving, long lasting effect. I will be doing a monthly donation to help as it surely is needed. Seeing where the money is put to use is important and I’ve seen it first hand. Please contact them to go feed the horses, I am so very glad I went.

– Tammy McArthur

You have touched and given purpose to so many lives over the last quarter century! Nurturing everything and everyone that you met, taking the otherwise “written off” and giving them the tools to grow and sometimes relearn their purpose in life (which is an understatement)! The kindness of your heart would be enough to change the world if given the chance.

– Meredith Mackay

I started at Handibear Hills at 4 years old in the Smalls Program. This would have been in 2006. Mostly I rode a small bay pony with the personality the size of a Clydesdale. His name was Breezy. I moved away from PEI a few short years later but I have always cherished and held onto my memories of the sanctuary and of Yogi. I am now a horse trainer specializing in soft and slow foundational training as well as turning young horses that had a rough go into performance horses or kids horses. I credit a lot of my knowledge and passion to Handibear Hills and to the fabulous people and horses like Breezy and Yogi.

– Allison Rieber

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Yogi Fell a few years ago and have seen first hand the wonderful work she does at Handibear Hills Horse Sanctuary, both for the autism and non-autism community (including the HorsePlay PEI program for children with autism with Helena Reeves).

– Melissa Fernandez

It was such a great day! Thank you so much! We can’t wait to come back!

– Brittany Stephen Wright

Yogi Fell an amazing woman with an indomitable spirit, and open loving heart, especially for horses and the people who need that contact. I learned a lot by being her neighbour. A couple of memories stand out. One of them is rushing to help get in hay bales before it rained. Never, ever do that with short sleeves on.

– Stephanie Douglas

Thank you Yogi, for teaching me so much and for always being so willing to share your vast knowledge. I could never have realized my dream of having a horse without your generous help and guidance. You are one of the smartest, strongest, kindest women I know and I am so grateful to you. xo

– Heather Ogg