WQBQ Talk Track: Healing Hearts with Horses at Heartland Haven Foundation

The Chamber, The “Q,” and You on WQBQ is a free on-air opportunity for Chamber members to share insights, highlight their services, and connect directly with the community.

During a recent episode, listeners heard from Angela Jackson, Founder and Executive Director of Heartland Haven Foundation, a nonprofit equine-assisted healing and learning center now located in Sorrento.

Heartland Haven Foundation uses rescued and retrained horses to help people work through personal growth, emotional healing, and self-discovery in a peaceful, nature-based setting. For Angela, the work is about giving both people and horses a second chance — helping horses find new purpose while helping individuals reconnect with themselves in a different kind of therapeutic environment.

A New Home in Lake County

Angela shared that Heartland Haven Foundation recently moved from Apopka to Sorrento after outgrowing its previous space.

“We needed more room to move,” she explained during the interview.

The new location gives Heartland Haven the space it needs for its herd and its growing work with clients, groups, volunteers, and community partners. Located at 31707 Orange Street, off Wolf Branch Road, the property provides a private setting where appointments and sessions can take place with care and intention.

How Horses Help People Heal

One of the central themes of the conversation was the unique way horses respond to people.

Angela explained that horses are prey animals, which means they are naturally tuned in to energy, emotion, and subtle shifts in body language. In a session, that awareness can create powerful moments of reflection.

When a person enters the round pen feeling scared, shut down, emotional, or overwhelmed, the horse often responds to what is happening beneath the surface. That response gives the coach or therapist an opportunity to help the client explore what is coming up in real time.

As Angela put it, “Whatever is going on in my round pen is going on outside my round pen.”

Support for Many Different Needs

Heartland Haven works with a wide range of people, including children, foster care youth, individuals navigating grief, people on the autism spectrum, and those who may be looking for something different after traditional talk therapy.

Angela shared that some clients come to Heartland Haven because they are grieving. Others may be dealing with substance abuse, trauma, anxiety, or feeling stuck in life. Some are verbal, some are non-verbal, and some simply need a safe space where healing does not have to begin in a traditional office setting.

For Angela, the beauty of the work is watching the connection happen.

“The non-verbal, they can feel the horse, the horse feels them, and it’s this beautiful thing to witness,” she shared.

A Different Kind of Therapeutic Setting

For many people, especially children and teens who have already spent time in therapy, sitting in another room and talking through difficult experiences can feel overwhelming.

Angela emphasized the importance of getting people into nature and into an environment where they can feel, move, observe, and connect.

“Everybody needs help at some point in their lives,” she said.

That simple message became one of the strongest takeaways from the segment. Whether someone is dealing with grief, trauma, loss, stress, or a season of change, Heartland Haven offers a setting where healing can begin in a different way.

The Mission Behind the Foundation

Heartland Haven Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. Its mission centers on rescuing, rehabilitating, and retraining horses while using those horses to help people rediscover themselves and move toward renewed confidence, peace, and personal growth.

The foundation’s process is rooted in three words: Rescue, Rediscover, and Renew.

Horses that have experienced neglect, hardship, or transition are given care, rehabilitation, and a new purpose. In turn, they become part of a healing environment for people who may also be working through difficult chapters of their own lives.

Appointments, Groups, and Volunteers

Heartland Haven is open by appointment only because of the private nature of its work. Angela shared that the foundation offers individual sessions as well as group opportunities, with weekends often being a popular time for people to participate.

The organization also welcomes volunteers and community support. For those who may not be looking for a full session but still want to spend time in a meaningful environment, helping with the horses — grooming, feeding, caring for them, and simply being around them — can be its own kind of connection.

Learn More

Heartland Haven Foundation is located at 31707 Orange Street in Sorrento.

To learn more, schedule an appointment, volunteer, donate, or explore support opportunities, visit HeartlandHavenFoundation.org or call 321-356-7378.

Through rescued horses, compassionate coaching, and a peaceful Lake County setting, Heartland Haven Foundation is helping people and horses find healing, purpose, and a path forward.