CUSTOMER STORY

Hearts & Horses

Wranglr turned volunteer scheduling from a bottleneck into a smooth, self-managed system for staff and volunteers alike.

Where Healing Begins

As the sun rises over the Front Range in Loveland, Colorado, the barns at Hearts & Horses begin to stir. Horses shift in their stalls, volunteers arrive with quiet purpose, and soon the arena fills with moments of trust, courage, and connection. Here, individuals facing physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges—at-risk youth, veterans, children, and seniors living with Alzheimer’s—find healing through the steady presence of a horse and a caring human beside them.

When Scheduling Stood in the Way

For Emmy Soyka, Director of People & Culture, that human connection is the heart of the organization. She leads the volunteer community that makes Hearts & Horses possible, but not long ago, the systems meant to support that community were holding everyone back. Scheduling lived behind a desk and ran through a single person. Every change meant a phone call. Every opening required time that staff simply didn’t have.

Bringing Simplicity to Volunteer Coordination

When Hearts & Horses made the switch to Wranglr, everything shifted.

Suddenly, volunteers had agency. They could log in, see opportunities, sign themselves up, or cancel when life happened—all without bottlenecks or back-and-forth emails. Notifications let them know when openings appeared. For longtime volunteer Deb Barnett, the simplicity stood out immediately. Wranglr was easy to use, clear, and empowering. It made volunteering feel accessible rather than complicated.

Returning Staff to the Barn

For Emmy, the biggest change was where her work happened. Instead of being tethered to her desk as the sole gatekeeper of the schedule, she could be out in the arena and the barns—talking with volunteers, answering questions, building relationships, and supporting the mission hands-on. The work became more human again.

Confidence Through Clear Visibility

From a leadership perspective, Executive Director Jan Pollema saw another layer of impact. Wranglr didn’t just save time; it provided insight. With real data and visibility, the organization could forecast needs, plan future programming, and operate with confidence. Affordable and efficient, the platform helped ensure that limited resources were used where they mattered most.

When Filling Shifts Became the Easy Part

The results were almost surprising. What used to be a struggle to fill volunteer shifts turned into a new kind of problem—volunteers jokingly complained that everything was already full. Positions no longer sat open. People were signing up for what they loved, when they were available, and the programs ran smoothly because of it.

More Time for What Matters Most

At Hearts & Horses, the mission has always been about creating space for healing and growth. With Wranglr quietly running in the background, the staff and volunteers are free to focus on what truly matters: the individuals they serve, the horses they care for, and the moments of transformation that happen when everything comes together just right.