"Together we can do so much!"
Collaborating with others gives Brook Hill Farm the opportunity to have a greater impact on the community, and as a result, the farm is able to help even more people and horses every day! Brook Hill Farm’s mission begins with education, and collaboration is a great way to educate the public about rescue horses and the benefits of Equine Assisted Services.
Our Community
Bedford County Animal Control
Brook Hill Farm has partnered with Bedford County to provide rescue services to horses in need. This agreement ensures that all horses donated from the county will receive immediate care including feed, medical attention, rehabilitation and foster care as set forth in Brook Hill Farm’s policies.
Padfoot came to Brook Hill Farm through Animal Control. Take a good look at her feet. Thanks to lots of TLC from the farrier, she is now in her adoptive home, with proper foot care along with lots of love and proper health care!
Area Public Schools
Brook Hill Farm partners with the area school systems to help the youth who don’t fit in the alternative school or are truant graduate from high school in the Schooling with Horses program. This partnership has been so valuable for the students and Brook Hill Farm, and has a 100% graduation rate, helping both students and horses succeed!
Colleges and Universities
Brook Hill Farm partners with the local colleges in the area providing internships and volunteer opportunities, as well as offers classes and guest lectures at the following colleges:
Randolph College, University of Lynchburg
Liberty University, Sweet Briar College
Central Virginia Community College
The Executive Director, Jo Anne Miller is a retired college professor of Equine Science, and our interns help to keep us up to date on the latest research, as well as fulfill our mission of equine education.
The Bonner Program is a four-year, service-based college scholarship program at the University of Lynchburg that affords students an access to education and the opportunity to serve. Students are placed in work-study roles at nonprofit agencies for 10 hours per week. We have at least two Bonners each semester!
Our State
VAERO
The Virginia Alliance of Equine Rescue Organizations was begun with the idea to unite the non-profit rescues or shelters in Virginia that care for horses in need. Because rescuing horses is expensive, stressful, and requires lots of hard work, Brook Hill Farm, the Equine Welfare Society and White Bird Appaloosa brought the rescue groups together to help each other. The VAERO alliance allows all of us to better share resources, network, and support each other in working to support horses in need.
Virginia Partnership for Horses
Virginia Partnership was formed to engage the horse-loving citizens of Virginia with the work being done for equine rescue across the Commonwealth. They strive to provide a holistic, transparent and interactive view of the equine welfare community within our state.
Their second mission is to internally strengthen Virginia’s equine welfare community through connection, collaboration, and resource-sharing. Brook Hill Farm is an advisor for this wonderful group!
Your voice for the expanding equine industry in the Commonwealth of Virginia
The Council is a non-profit organization formed by horsemen for Virgina horsemen. The membership and Board of Directors represent all breeds and equine industries. The purpose of the Virginia Horse Council is to promote and improve the horse industry in Virginia.
Their mission is to serve as the umbrella organization of the Virginia Equine Community and to monitor legislative issues affecting horsemen and horses in the Commonwealth. Our Executive Director, Jo Anne Miller is honored to serve on the board.
Equine Welfare Collaborative of Virginia
The Equine Welfare Collaborative of Virginia was formed to promote the safety and security of Virginia equines by facilitating best practices within the equine welfare community, securing resources for equines identified at risk and organizations committed to the welfare of horses, and establishing collaboration to manage those equids. Jo Anne Miller and Anna Baucum are among the founding members of this organization. Current projects include working with Equus and the AAEP to develop a pilot accreditation program of equine rescue with onsite inspection in Virginia, a continuation of data collection, provide education for animal control, and in the future help to financially support Virginia rescues.
Virginia 4-H
In conjunction with Virginia Tech, Brook Hill Farm has a 4-H Horse and Pony Club open to participants. The 4-H Horse Program teaches equine selection, nutrition, management, riding, recreation, fun, and horsemanship. The 4-H program believes that horseback riding provides an outdoor sports fitness program for physical, personal, and emotional development, including confidence building. The sport can develop into a life-long hobby or business. Our Executive Director, Jo Anne Miller and our Assistant Director Tracy Russler, serve on the Central District Horse Council administrative board and the State Equine Advisory Council, helping to promote the educational programs in both the district and the state. 4-H members can participate in Equismartz, the State Horse Show, State Fair, the State 4-H Horse Camp, the Mary Cole 50-mile Horsemaster Trail Ride, Horsemanship Skills, the 4-H Horse Ambassador Program, curriculum development, and other horse programs.
Old Dominion Region United States Pony Club
The United States Pony Clubs, Inc., develops character, leadership, confidence, and a sense of community in youth through a program that teaches the care of horses, riding, and mounted sports. The Assistant Director has served on the Old Dominion Regional Board promoting sportsmanship, stewardship and leadership through horsemanship.
Therapeutic Riding Association of Virginia
The Therapeutic Riding Association of Virginia (TRAV) states its mission as a “… non-profit formed to foster equine-assisted services by offering education and networking opportunities to operating centers and to raise public awareness of the benefits of these services to individuals with disabilities.” Our Assistant Director, Tracy Russler, serves on the board.
Our Nation
United Horse Coalition
Brook Hill participates in the Equine Welfare Data Collective, a collaboration that accumulates, analyzes, and reports data to enhance programming for transitioning and at-risk equines.
Equus Foundation
The Equus Foundation is the only national animal welfare charity in the United States 100% dedicated to safeguarding the comfort and dignity of America’s horses throughout their lives and sharing their magic and power with as many people as possible. The organization’s mission is to protect America’s horses and strengthen the bond between horses and people. Our Executive Director is the Chair of the Equine Welfare Committee and helps with educational webinars for the organization.
Brook Hill Farm has obtained the highest standards for business and equine welfare practices. These organizations are recognized for their commitment to ensuring the well-being of horses and fostering the horse-human bond.
The Executive Director chairs their Equine Welfare Committee.
Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance
The 501(c)(3) nonprofit Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, retire, and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding. Funded initially by seed money from Breeders’ Cup Ltd., The Jockey Club, and Keeneland Association Inc., the TAA is supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, aftercare professionals, and other industry groups. Since 2012, the TAA has granted more than $10.8 million to accredited aftercare organizations. Currently, 64 organizations (with approximately 180 facilities and 7,000 horses) hold TAA accreditation.
The TAA’s Code of Standards and accreditation process have been reviewed and approved by the American Humane Association and the American Association of Equine Practitioners, and has received the 2013 Special Eclipse Award honoring extraordinary service, individual achievements in, or contributions to the sport of Thoroughbred racing.
Brook Hill Farm is proud to be fully accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. Brook Hill works as an adviser with other thoroughbred rescue organizations in order to meet the standards needed to reach full accreditation by this important organization in the aftercare of thoroughbreds.
Homes for Horses Coalition
The Homes for Horses Coalition is a national coalition dedicated to increasing collaboration, professionalism and growth in the equine rescue and protection community. The members are committed to ending horse slaughter and all other forms of equine abuse. The coalition is a joint initiative of the Animal Welfare Institute, the ASPCA, and the Humane Society of the United States. There are currently more than 440 members representing horse rescue and sanctuary throughout the United States and beyond.
Jo Anne Miller and Anna Baucum have done webinars for this organization and look forward to supporting their annual national conferences offering education to the coalition members.
The Herd Institute
The HERD Institute®️ provides exceptional training to the next generation of Equine-Facilitated Practitioners and inspires professional and personal transformations. Our vision is to create a culturally competent and collaborative global community of certified practitioners who incorporate horses into mental health and educational spaces.
Jo Anne Miller was thrilled to be a part of the herd in 2023, teaching a grant-writing session at the Herd Gathering. It is our hope to do more with this wonderful organization!
The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. (USPC or Pony Club) is the largest equine educational organization in North America. Started in 1954 and originally based on Great Britain’s The Pony Club, the curriculum teaches riding skills and the care of horses through mounted and unmounted lessons. Anna Baucum and Jo Anne Miller have had the honor of coaching numerous successful show-jumping teams, many of which have earned top placements at Championships. In addition to their coaching achievements, both are regular speakers at the National Pony Club Conferences, where they share their expertise on equine welfare.
USEF Community Outreach Organization
Established in 2021, the USEF Community Outreach Organization initiative is a program dedicated to supporting life-changing equine-based learning organizations across the United States. These organizations must meet certain standards of horse and human welfare, including USEF Safe Sport requirements and must abide by the USEF Non-Discrimination Policy, as well as offer their services for free or on a sliding scale of fees based on financial need. Brook Hill Farm will be working collaboratively with USEF to share the powerful ways horses make a difference in people’s lives, sharing their knowledge with the participants in their programs.
Our World
Human and Horses Research Foundation
The Human and Horses Research Foundation was created to invest in rigorous research, serving as a catalyst to advance global knowledge of horse-human interactions and their impact on health and wellness. Jo Anne serves on the Board of Directors, and both she and Anna Baucum serve on the Equine Well-Being Committee. They both present at conferences and webinars and help to facilitate and talk to the public about new research in the area of equine welfare.
Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries
Every day, all over the world, wild and domestic animals are abandoned, displaced, or injured by natural causes and by humans. The sole purpose of The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) is to ensure that these animals receive the highest standard of care during rescue, rehabilitation, and for the rest of their lives.
GFAS is the only globally recognized organization to certify that a facility meets their very rigorous Standards of Excellence, and recognizes such a facility as a true “sanctuary”. As such, facilities around the world, large and small, come to GFAS for guidance and support to strive for, achieve, and maintain the coveted “GFAS-Accredited Sanctuary” status.
The Vision:
A world in which sanctuaries provide lifetime humane care to all animals in need.
The Mission:
To continuously improve the quality of care for animals requiring sanctuary by:
Accrediting sanctuaries based on worldwide standards of excellence
Facilitating operational and financial support
Enhancing effectiveness, recognition, and collaboration
Brook Hill Farm continues to meet those rigorous standards, and is proud to be fully accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. Brook Hill helps and supports GFAS’s educational programs in a number of ways, including providing a webinar on how to create a business plan, and reviewing educational modules for the organization.
PATH International Premier Accredited
Mission
The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl) promotes safety and optimal outcomes in equine-assisted activities and therapies for individuals with special needs.
PATH Intl. Vision
The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) is a global authority, resource and advocate for equine-assisted activities and therapies and the equines in this work that inspire and enrich the human spirit.
What is PATH Intl.?
PATH Intl. was founded in 1969 as the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) to promote safe and effective therapeutic horseback riding throughout the United States and Canada. Today, PATH Intl. has more than 880 member centers and more than 8,000 individual members in countries all over the world, who help and support more than 66,000 men, women and children–including more than 6,200 veterans–with special needs each year through a variety of equine-assisted activities and therapy programs.
Though PATH Intl. began with a focus on horseback riding as a form of physical and mental therapy, the organization and its dedicated members have since developed a multitude of different equine-related activities for therapeutic purposes, collectively known as equine-assisted activities and therapies. Besides horseback riding, the organization includes work in therapeutic carriage driving, interactive vaulting, equine assisted learning, hippotherapy, and equine facilitated psychotherapy. The PATH Intl. Equine Services for Heroes®, uses a variety of disciplines specifically to help war veterans and military personnel. In addition, many PATH Intl. volunteer-driven committees are working on identifying and refining even more disciplines and activities that might be put to use in the world of Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies.
Many of the staff works with PATH International in providing articles for their Strides Magazine, presents educational sessions at the state and national conferences, and have served on the Equine Welfare Committee, the Programs and Oversite Committee, and the Inclusion and Diversity workgroup.
The Federation of Horses in Education and Therapy International AISBL
With members in over 45 countries worldwide, the Federation of Horses in Education and Therapy International AISBL is a non-profit organization established in 1974. Their mission is to facilitate the worldwide collaboration between organizations and individuals whose objectives are philanthropic, scientific and educational in the field of equine assisted activities and therapies. HETI has held 16 International Triennial Scientific and Educational Congresses and has an annual peer-reviewed journal ‘The Scientific and Educational Journal of Therapeutic Riding’ with an archive containing over 20 years of publications.
Jo Anne Miller, the Executive Director, was proud to present Brook Hill Farm’s research on Equine Assisted Learning at the 2018 HETI World Conference in Dublin, Ireland, and has served on the Equine Welfare committee. Her research paper has been published in the 2025 Heti Journal of Research in the area of equine assisted learning in academics. She also helps peer-review research submissions.
The International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHAIO) is the global association of organizations that provides international leadership in advancing the field of Human-Animal Interaction. This is accomplished through research, education, and collaboration among the membership, policy makers, practitioners, other human-animal interaction organizations and the general public.
The Executive Director, Jo Anne Miller participated in the international conference at Green Chimney’s in Brewster, NY in 2019 for the 5th IAHAIO Conference. She presented Brook Hill Farm’s research in Equine Assisted Learning in Education to the attendees.
If Everyone Joins Together, Just Think What We Can Accomplish!
