Healing for humans and horses
Kary Kruger and her horse, Denver, the honorary ambassador for Hillary’s Help nonprofit organization.
Kary Kruger and her horse, Denver, are a perfect match. Kruger is a wife, mother, grandmother, retired matchmaker and novice horse lover. Denver is a bay thoroughbred rescue. The two connected seven years ago when Kruger bought Denver after he was rescued from being sold for slaughter.
“I always knew I wanted to do healing work with him. I wanted him to be a therapy horse,” Kruger said.
Denver has several health issues, including a seriously injured rear leg tendon from an accident. He is currently rehabilitating and receiving holistic treatments to help his body recover.
Denver is the honorary ambassador for a newly formed nonprofit organization, founded by Kruger and two other women, Joni Dwyer and Tanya Papandrea. Hillary’s Help was created in honor of Hillary Jean who was an equestrian who lost her second bout with cancer in 2020. The organization matches humans or horses needing mental, emotional, or physical healing with alternative healing services through practitioners and energy medicine products.
“Things happen in life. We want to be a resource for people to come and get healing on the complementary alternative side,” Kruger said.
Kruger is using her talents from previous chapters in her life to facilitate healing. Over the years, she has worked in the health and wellness, life coaching and executive matchmaking industries. Kruger even worked with a Hollywood matchmaker on a show on The Oprah Winfrey Network, and helped cast for a reality dating TV show. All told, she has helped nearly 100 couples find happiness together.
“My advice to people is to date someone through every season and watch how they deal with life, the ups and downs,” Kruger recommended. “A lot of times people go for the ‘would be amazing’ and they don’t get their foundational needs met, like trust and honesty.”
Kruger and her lifelong partner, Mark, have been married for 34 years and live in The Canyons neighborhood. They were drawn to the view of Rueter-Hess Reservoir and being a part of a brand new community. They love spending time with their four adult children and chasing around their four grandchildren in Colorado and Minnesota. They also enjoy going to microbreweries, skiing vacations in the mountains and watching college and professional hockey.
Since becoming an empty nester, Kruger has found joy in riding horses and the unimaginable relationship she has built with Denver.
“I’m excited for other horses and humans to get the healing they need to live a healthier, happier life through Hillary’s Help,” Kruger said.
To learn more about Hillary’s Help, visit hillaryshelp.org.
Left to right: Annie Kruger, Ryder Stevens-Kruger, Mark Kruger, Emily Kruger and Kary Kruger enjoying a Colorado Avalanche game. Emily worked for the Avs for three years, and she even received a Stanley Cup ring.
By Mindy Stone; photos courtesy of Kary Kruger
