Our Horses
In Memory of Hank
2002-2024
Bourbon
Dobie & Lacey
Ferdinand
Board of Directors
Founder/Executive Director
Dana Cooke has been an elementary public school teacher since 2000. She had a lifelong dream of owning her own horse, and that dream finally came true when Hank came into her life in May of 2018. With her teaching experience and the memory of Hank in her heart, she wants to share the healing power horses can give back to kids and adults with life challenges.
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Secretary
Rachel Freund has been a public elementary school teacher since 2000. She and Dana, our founder, have been teaching together for many years! It was only natural for Rachel to get involved with Five Hearts shortly after Dana started it. It quickly became her favorite place to spend time and find peace.
In addition to spending time at the farm, Rachel loves to spend time with her wife and three kids, take care of her many, many plants, and read all the books!
Marketing/Community Outreach
Alix Yokabitis is originally from Michigan but has lived in North Carolina since 2010. She received her Masters in Social Work from NC State University in 2012 and worked with adults and children with disabilities for 7 years before deciding to stay home with her two boys in 2017.
Alix loves spending time with her family, cooking, reading, watching true crime shows, and playing with horses every chance she gets!
Sponsorship Chair
Katie Canelo is the quintessential "Crazy Horse Lady". She has a grand total of 23 animals, which includes 2 horses, 2 dogs, 4 cats, a vast number of chickens, and a hedgehog named Olivia. Katie grew up explaining to her mom that yes, they could fit a horse in their 1/3 acre backyard, but her mom never fell for it, so Katie continued that love of equines into her adult years and recued her first horse at the age of 37. Katie met Dana, the Five Hearts founder, in a Harris Teeter parking lot doing a Facebook Marketplace deal and they instantly connected. Besides being a proud member of Five Hearts, Katie is also a Special Olympics equestrian coach in Johnston County, a mom to 3, wife of a husband who is suspicious every time she comes home with a new animal, and a technology director at a local video game company.
Treasurer
Julie Hoyes
Safety/Emergency Chair
Kathy Etheridge has been teaching elementary school since 1998. She grew up here in NC (local girl) and is now raising her two kids, Jayce and Baylee, and her perfect maltipoo, Jolene, here as well. Kathy, Dana, and Rachel have worked together for many years and her daughter started volunteering at Five Hearts two years ago so it was only natural that Kathy got involved too!
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Kathy loves her family time, snuggling with her puppy, and all things summer!
Volunteer Outreach Chair
Bailey Watson started out with Five Hearts as a volunteer back in 2021 but quickly got more involved as her love for Five Hearts grew. Hoping to get involved in the nonprofit world when she was older, she asked Dana to intern for the group. One thing led to another and that internship led to her current spot on the board.
Bailey is currently a student at UNC - Chapel Hill studying Biology and Global Studies. She hopes to take her skills and one day become a Physician's Assistant. In her free time she enjoys playing pickle ball and volleyball with friends.
Location
3 Bluebirds Farm
5101 Holland Church Rd.
Raleigh, NC. 27603
Contact Us
FiveHeartsTH@gmail.
© 2021 Five Hearts Therapeutic Horsemanship
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