Hooves and Paws for Aggie’s Heart fundraiser next Sunday, July 31

Little Hooves Mini Horse Rescue is hosting a fundraising event for the Borman family from noon-4 p.m. Sunday, July 31 at McHardy Park in Brandon. 

Aggie Borman underwent a heart transplant Thursday, July 7 after months of unexpected heart failure. The horse rescues are looking to raise money to support Aggie and her family during this uncertain time. 

“They’re both people that will stop and help anybody out,” Valerie Hicks, owner of Little Hooves, said. “I was like, somebody needs to set something up and let them know that people are behind them, because they’re a little terrified right now.”

The event is sponsored by Little Hooves based in White, Gentle Spirits Horse Rescue from Scotland, and Mini Acres in Yankton. The horse and animal rescues will bring their miniature horses to McHardy Park for pulled pony rides, petting and more. 

Lisa Brasel from Mini Acres will also have her nine English sheepdogs at the event. 

“I know that medical bills are insanely high and I also know that if anybody else had a problem, Aggie and Travis would be there to help as well. They’re that kind of people,” Brasel said.

Animal-themed face painting, balloon animals, craft areas and inflatables will be featured at the event. Each activity will have a suggested donation of $5, all which will go to the event’s cause. 

There will also be a silent auction where people can win gift cards to local businesses, as well as Hooves and Paws for Aggie’s Heart t-shirts for sale. 

In March, Aggie began having unexpected heart failure and was eventually air-lifted to the University of Minnesota for treatment after three trips to the ER in Sioux Falls. Following a six-week hospital stay, on July 7, Aggie received her much-needed heart transplant. According to her friends and family, the surgery was successful. 

However, the medical and travel expenses have put a toll on the family. Travis, Aggie’s husband, has been working seven days a week to support the family, which includes their son, Oliver, along with making frequent trips to Minneapolis to be with Aggie. 

“It’s been a very long journey for both me and Oliver and for her and the community’s help is very much welcome,” Travis said. 

During her stay in Minneapolis and away from her family, Aggie has missed her 43rd birthday, the couple’s anniversary, and Father’s Day, and she will also be absent from Oliver’s sixth birthday on Aug. 13. 

“Oliver said that he would give me his heart, but he said his heart can be naughty sometimes,” Aggie laughingly said. “I thought that was cute, a 5-year-old telling his mom that he’d give me his heart. He’s a very sweet boy, he’s my blessed child.”

Although Aggie is unable to be at the fundraiser while recovering in Minneapolis, Tiffany Ring from Gentle Spirits will be live streaming the event on the Gentle Spirits Horses Rescue Facebook page for Aggie and any others who wish to support but cannot attend. 

While there is no definitive goal in mind for the fundraiser, the money raised will go towards travel expenses for Travis to and from Minneapolis, medical and surgery costs and additional support once Aggie returns home. 

Travis has been helping at Little Hooves and Gentle Spirits for over 10 years and wanted the fundraiser to center around what Aggie loves most.

“I love horses, any kind of animal really,” Aggie said. “When Travis and I first started dating, for our first date, he took me to a horse rescue and we walked around the pasture and I had these two horses come up right behind me and laid their two heads right on my shoulders. They would follow me everywhere I go. Every time I stopped, they stopped. I walked, they walked.”

Travis said they hope to host another fundraiser in the future once Aggie returns to South Dakota.

“They’ve got a lot of expenses with Aggie in Minneapolis now at the hospital, Travis has been running back and forth, so there’s a lot of gas, and some of the tests and stuff insurance doesn’t cover,” Hicks said. “I figured as much as we can drum up, they can certainly use.”

The Borman’s would like to thank everyone that has helped them through these past few months and especially to the University of Minnesota hospital staff.