CREATIVE ILLUSTRATING

 

When Ana Bruck’s father returned from military service with PTSD, the family got involved with a horse therapy program called Little Blessings. The Military Kids’ program uses horses to help kids adjust to the difficult parts of military family life.

Ana began volunteering with Little Blessings, brushing horses and cleaning manure. She also rode a Clydesdale named Blessing. It was her mother who suggested that she write and illustrate a book about the experience. The result was “Hope On Four Hooves.” Begun when she was only fourteen, the book was completed a year later. Her brother Zeke helped publish it through Ingram Spark and made it available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Little Blessings gifts one to each military child who goes through their program.

That experience led to another adventure in illustrating. In the spring of 2024, Ana entered a VFW national art competition with a charcoal drawing of a Vietnam veteran and his dog Lucky. The dog had died in Vietnam saving the man’s life. Ana’s drawing won first place, and she was awarded a $15,000 college scholarship as well as a $1000.00 Michigan first place prize and $200 from the local VFW.

“Hope On Four Hooves” tells the story of the family’s experience through PTSD and the role Little Blessings played in that process. A percentage of profit from sales of the book continues to go to support the ongoing work of that organization.