The founder, president, and heart behind Hearts & Hooves is Michelle Kropp. The vision and history behind our charity began with her dream.

Michelle Kropp was raised in the small city of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. She grew up knowing she always wanted to find a way to work with people and horses.

Growing up Michelle rode horses and worked as a stable hand at many horse farms where she learned a great deal about dedication, love, hard work, and the knowledge and skills needed to care for horses. As a youth and young adult Michelle showed Arabian Horses at the National and International Level. At 20 Michelle traveled to the United States and trained and worked there, she went on to show all across the US and at the famed US Nationals. At 23 years old she returned home and did an advanced placement to finish her University in Canada and became a certified Special Education teacher. Michelle went on to work and teach troubled youth and children with varying challenges in residential treatment centers, group homes, and worked as family crisis intervention support worker. At 26 years old Michelle moved to London, England and taught there at a school for troubled youth. Michelle worked and volunteered with local hippotherapy riding groups for children with disabilities and continued working with and teaching youth at risk. By the age of 32 Michelle is an acclaimed world traveler having visited 41 Countries, traveled across Canada and to 30 states in the US. Michelle is a whirlwind of surprise and her curiosity and belief in all things being possible continues to keep us all in awe and truly inspired.

In October 2004, Michelle went to Texas where she trained in the art of "Minis Indoors" and began Hearts & Hooves. Hearts & Hooves was founded as a Canadian federally registered charitable organization officially in 2005 and as an Incorporated Society of Alberta in 2008. Michelle’s vision molded Hearts & Hooves purpose aiming to help people using specially trained miniature horses who interact with people of all ages benefiting existing therapy programs and inspiring emotional healing.

In 2007 Michelle was honored as Edmonton's "Global Woman of Vision" for her dedication, inspiration, and vision in founding Hearts & Hooves and ensuring it’s mission truly focus bettering the lives of individuals and mini horses in need, in the community of Edmonton.

Hearts and Hooves Canada has grown with much love and belief from volunteers and community supporters to being an internationally recognized organization. Hearts & Hooves has visited well over 100,000 people since 2004. To date Hearts & Hooves has provided homes for, rescued, and adopted out 24 mini horses. Hearts & Hooves has hand selected, and worked with 10 individuals from all across Canada and the USA through our Level I Workshops to create like minded programs with in their communities.

Disclaimer: We are not affiliated with Hearts & Hooves in Texas, USA (H&H Canada believes in the integrity and value of the horses and the people we work with, running a charity/not-for-profit, requires responsibility and the assurance to our sponsors and donors that we are a legitimate organization).

Contact Michelle at hearts_and_hooves@yahoo.ca for more information.