Painted Ponies

March 17

Painted Ponies

American Healing Arts Foundation (AHAF) a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity unites with Horses Help, along with Trail of Painted Ponies for the “Painting Live Ponies” event. The gathering is held in the sculpture garden at the Arizona Fine Art EXPO (southwest corner of Scottsdale Road and Jomax Road) March 17, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Renowned artists Bob Coonts and Gene Dieckhoner will kick off the biggest live horse painting event of the year in Arizona by painting the first horse with washable watercolor paints that are harmless to the animals. Veterans from AHAF classes, as well as any other veteran attendees, will paint the second horse. Children of Fallen Heroes will paint a miniature pony.

Veterans are invited to sign up for AHAF and Horses Help classes during this event. AHAF offers free art classes for our U.S. veterans by award-winning art instructors for art therapy. For the veteran that would like to take therapy to a deeper level, the foundation also has licensed art therapists.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder continues to affect both wounded and uninjured soldiers, and suicide and divorce rates continue to soar. Art is proven to be a great form of therapy for victims of all backgrounds. These classes are also intended to reunite veterans with their fellow service members, away from hospitals and the battlefield, in a peaceful environment.

Horses Help provides horse therapy for veterans and those with disabilities. Classes are held at their therapeutic riding center in Phoenix.

480-717-9888

www.americanhealingartsfoundation.com; www.art4heroes.org