HEALING WITH HORSES RANCH

Healing with Horses Ranch is a non-profit therapeutic riding center. In simplest terms that means we give riding lessons to folks with special needs. In reality it is so much more.

Our clients range in age from 4 to 74 and are dealing with challenges like CP, Downs, Autism; they may be at risk youth or in the foster care program struggling in school or at home; may be they have post-traumatic stress or are recovering from a stroke.

The goal of the program is to maximize the benefit from the engagement with the horse. Everything from the obvious physical benefit of horseback riding to the emotional, spiritual, and life skills benefits of caring for and bonding with a large animal. Horse herd dynamics provide great analogies to our personal interactions.

We currently have ~70 recurring clients each week; 9 staff members including PATH certified instructors and mental health professions; a herd of 15 amazing horses; and most significant a very large volunteer workforce. More than 2000 unique individual have volunteered at the ranch over the last 6 years and we have a large group of weekly recurring volunteers that do everything from feeding the horses to facility maintenance. Each lesson needs 1-3 trained volunteers.
We are located 20 minutes from downtown Austin on 43 wooded acres. We’ve cleared about half the property and establish ~5 miles of trails so far. In addition we have 2 outdoor arenas and a round pen, covered stalled, and building used for tact, offices, and classrooms. This year we add a large covered arena so our lessons can continue in the heat, rain, and evenings.

Although we do charge for our services, we are truly a non-profit with our fees covering only a portion of our operation cost. In addition, we have a scholarship program where families receive a discount base on their financial situation and veterans attend for free. We are very grateful for the grants, donations, and fundraising that enable us to provide these services.