Kelly and Damien LaPar: Hearts and Horses Go Hand in Hand

Featured in Arabian Horse Times

Kelly and Damien LaPar are active members of many communities – including the Arabian horse community.  Kelly is an avid Arabian horse show competitor, and Damien and Kelly are the proud parents of two girls who show Arabian horses. In addition, they have made part of their family’s mission to serve the people who Damien impacts through his career as a pediatric heart surgeon. Their most recent appointment is serving at the Chairs for the 2026 Heart Ball for the American Heart Association of Houston. The couple is hoping that by bringing attention to the importance of heart health to their fellow Arabian horse lovers, that at least one person’s health within the Arabian horse community will be improved.

“Our hope is to encourage readers to think critically about their own heart health and the health of their beloved friends and colleagues within the Arabian horse community,” the LaPars say with care and concern. 

Wed for nearly 20 years, the LaPars say that Arabian horses – and the community that comes with owning them – have been one of their constants as their family has relocated throughout the country in connection with Damien’s career opportunities.. Watching his grandfather struggle with his heart health through a heart attack and a stroke led Damien to pursue a career in the cardiac field. He currently serves as Executive Director and Chief of Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery at the University of Texas in Houston’s Texas Medical Center. With their family’s most recent relocation to Houston in 2020, it has been important to continue their active involvement in the Arabian horse community.

The LaPars’ involvement in the Arabian horse world has been constant throughout the years. Their most recent venture as a family was Youth and Mid Summer Nationals, where both their daughters were named national champion in their respective showmanship classes with the family’s half Arabian mare Hollywood Snapchat.

“As a mother, my dream was to share this experience of riding and showing with my children – and my dream has come true,” Kelly explains. “The friendships and camaraderie that we all enjoy in sharing the passion for this breed is unique.  To that end, we feel that we should be advocating for each other. Damien and I very much believe the Arabian horse community is our community, and we want to share the message of heart disease awareness with this unique community of people with this common bond.”

Damien states that one of “the best sources of health and happiness is tapping into passions.” Anyone part of the Arabian horse community can attest to the impact this shared passion has on their lives.

“For equestrians and horse enthusiasts, the passion and love for horses certainly serves in this role.” He continues.  “In my opinion, the link between heart health and horses, exists in the wholistic impact that connecting with horses requires from an individual. Of course, there are the obvious benefits of exercise and cardiovascular health that occur with riding, training, and caring for horses and a barn. Beyond these realities, however, exists the potential for an important interaction between psychological, neurologic and immunologic pathways in our bodies that may be positively impacted.”

Kelly and Damien urge people to understand that the benefits they receive from being part of this community and sharing time with their horses is not a substitute for cardiovascular health, which include exercise, a heart healthy diet, and annual visits to their physician. The American Heart Association recommends that the average person start heart health screening at age 20, even without symptoms. That means most people reading this are of age to have already received a screening. Heart health can be intimidating, but for most people, these checks can be done during a routine physical with referrals to specialists as needed.

As co-chairs of the American Heart Association Houston Heart Ball and as fellow equestrians, the LaPars hope this message helps the members of their beloved Arabian horse community.  For more information about the upcoming event and for heart health resources, visit www.heart.org.  If any readers are interested in supporting the American Heart Association Houston Heart Ball, please contact Lacey Berlou, AVP, Houston Heart Ball at Lacey.Berlau@heart.org or 832-641-5490.