The Veterans Ranch is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Veteran Horse Retreat.
It is our mission to help those individuals lay down their heavy
coat of burden, leave it there and move forward.

SPONSOR A VETERAN TODAY

World War II

Korean War

Vietnam War

Iraq War

Afghanistan War

Remembering Those Who Didn't Make It Home

LEARN ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION

WHEN YOU SPONSOR A VETERAN

Your donations help with...

Horses

You will be able to help us get more horses for more Veterans, First Responders, and Children to work with. More Info

Feeding and Hay

Horses eat a lot every day. So you will be helping feed these majestic animals to stay strong. More Info

Saddles

We want to offer the best equipment we can for the protection of the horse and the comfort of the rider. So, when you give know that everyone is well taken care of. More Info

Veteran's Lodging

Veterans will have the ability to stay in cabins for a week at a time free of charge and go through our programs. More Info

Bridles and Halters

These are all vital parts to working with a horse. Like any part, they can wear out. So part of your donation ensures that participants always have the best and safest equipmet to use. More Info

Hiring of Veterans

We only hire Veterans and their immediate household family. So if you have a DD214 in your house then we can talk. More Info

Donate Today

For The Love Of A Horse

A benefit of working with horses is the fact that humans and animals require no words to communicate.

This opens up a line of communication that may not be breached were the Veteran trying to reach a traditional therapist. One unique aspect about working with horses is the way that these animals intuitively mirror feelings that a Veteran may be experiencing – whether or not they are aware of it. Horses are very empathetic and they may reflect sadness, angst, or discomfort back towards the person they are working with.

This can help to promote self-awareness and open-mindedness, should the person make an active effort to interpret their horse’s behavior as a reflection of their own. This feedback loop can help an individual see deeper into the patterning of their own brain, leading them to understand their emotional reactions.

A Soldiers Story

A Veteran's Ranch Success

At one of our Veteran horse clinics we paired up an active duty Airman with the most gentle 18 hand high horse (6 feet from hoof to the top of the shoulder or withers as they are known) and this gentleman was maybe 5’5″ with boots on. You could feel the tension just pouring off of him and the horse was agitated because of this. His wife came over to us and said J.R. you got to help my husband he is freaking out. So I and a retired Marine went over and talked to him. We found out that he was from the Bronx and he had never even seen a horse much less be on one of this size.

We finally got him on the horse but then he was over squeezing his legs and pulling on the reigns because he thought that he was going to fall off. We showed him how to breath, and relax and once he did the horse started immediately responding to him more favorably. We took him around and showed him how to guide the horse more with his feet than with his hands and once he was comfortable we took him out on a trail ride.

By the time we came back he had an ear to ear grin on his face. We asked how he was doing, and he said, “well, I’m walking a little funny but I want to get something to drink and can I please go out on the next ride?” Ladies and gentleman, we and the horse did our job. We helped someone over come a fear that he didn’t even know that he had. He left there that day standing just a bit taller, prouder, and more confident in himself. His wife who had been riding for over 20 years was very proud of him as were we.