Connected Horse is excited to announce its third annual fundraising event, Lassos with Love—an inspiring, fun-filled afternoon supporting the Connected Horse mission of providing no-cost equine-guided workshops and programs for people living with dementia and their families.
Sunday, September 27, 2026
1:30-5:00pm
Five Star Equestrian
Pleasanton, CA
Join us for this amazing opportunity to dust off your boots, meet our horses, enjoy delicious food, and bid on some fabulous gifts and adventures—all while supporting an important cause.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Guests will enjoy meditation among the horses, a relaxed al fresco afternoon reception, and the opportunity to take part in both silent and live auctions featuring a selection of exclusive items and experiences designed to delight and inspire.
A true highlight of the afternoon will be a one-of-a-kind live art performance by renowned speed painter Amy Burkman, whose captivating talent and dynamic style are sure to captivate the audience and leave a lasting impression long after the event.
Tickets sales directly support our mission of providing no-cost workshops and programming for those impacted by dementia.Â
Contribute to Our Live and Silent Auction
This year we are excited to feature both a silent auction and a live auction for attendees to bid on their favorite items. Please consider supporting Connected Horse with your donation of an auction item; past auction donations have ranged from wine to artwork, fine dining to vacation rentals, jewelry to horse and stable essentials.
To donate an item (or items) to our auction, please complete the following form. Connected Horse is a 501 (c)(3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible and directly support our mission of providing no-cost workshops to people impacted by dementia.
Meet Our 2026 Sponsors
Event Sponsors
Highlights from Past Events
2025 Lassos with Love
Event Highlights
Connected Horse’s 2025 Lassos with Love fundraiser, held at Five Star Equestrian, was a vibrant and emotionally rich event focused on supporting individuals living with dementia and their care partners. Over 225 attendees gathered for an afternoon of performances, stories, recognition, and inspiration.
The event opened with a moving equestrian performance led by Kansas Carradine and her daughters, accompanied by their horse, Dude. Kansas set a reflective tone with a grounding meditation, inviting guests to calm themselves and fully take in the sensory atmosphere—horses, birds, soft breeze—before transitioning into a bridle-free ride and a lasso routine that underscored themes of trust, harmony, and genuine connection between horse and human. Also featured was a hunter-jumper demonstration by Five Star Equestrian, showcasing precision, rhythmic movement, and the rider-horse partnership.
The keynote speaker was Carla Preyer, a caregiver and advocate whose personal journey into caregiving began when her husband was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. Carla shared with attendees the emotional complexity of caregiving—grief, forgiveness, hope, humor—and offered excerpts from her role in the documentary Facing the Wind. Her presentation emphasized not just the challenges, but the human connections, emotional growth, and meaning that can emerge through caregiving.
During the event, Tammy and Paul Maida were honored with the 2025 Lassos with Love Impact Award for their substantial advocacy in promoting dementia-friendly communities and health innovation. Tammy, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s seven years earlier, described how participating in a Connected Horse workshop was transformative—it was the first time she truly felt accepted post-diagnosis, and it encouraged her to reimagine life beyond just the illness. Their advocacy also includes participation in influential clinical trials (such as Dr. Dean Ornish’s work and the U.S. POINTER study) exploring lifestyle interventions to slow or reverse cognitive decline. Their story has also reached wider audiences through TEDx and media interviews, reinforcing the message of compassion, community and proactive care in dementia.
Lassos with Love 2025 blended artistry, personal storytelling, recognition, and community to shine a light on dementia care and the power of connection—not only between humans but between humans and horses—as a pathway toward healing, acceptance, and renewed purpose.
2024 Lassos with Love
Event Highlights
Our 2nd Annual Lassos with Love fundraiser was a resounding success! With a sold-out crowd of 220 attendees, guests enjoyed the beauty of Five Star Equestrian — with the serene backdrop of nickering horses, beautiful rolling hills, and dramatic sunset —along with the energy and excitement of our silent, live, and online auctions. It was a special evening filled with connections, old and new. Guests were treated to a remarkable performance by Kansas Carradine, her daughter, and Dude from Cavalia, as well as inspiring stories from our honorary Chair Tammy Maida, Charlotte Driver, and Claudia Sonder, DVM. This year, we were thrilled to introduce additional events, including a Friday night lecture about the Gaucho Derby and a Saturday clinic with Kansas Carradine.
None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our 50+ incredible volunteers, generous community donations, and support from our sponsors. Thanks to this generosity, we raised over $100,000, allowing us to continue offering no-cost equine-assisted workshops and sensory engagement kits for those impacted by dementia. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this unforgettable night possible! Keep an eye out for our 2025 dates.
