Unbridled: Rescue, Redeem, Restore

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Our Story

Unbridled is a Youth Ranch and Equine Rescue. We exist to provide a safe, encouraging, and positive equestrian environment for all children including those who are at risk, disabled and disadvantaged. Our programing uses 3 angles of approach. The first is our Mentorship Program imparting faith, hope, and love to program children. The second is our Impart Program designed to strengthen the family. The third is our Equine Rescue Program. At the heart of everything that happens on the ranch is our Mentorship Program. All other programing exists to support, and enhance the Mentorship Program and its families. Mentorship sessions pair 1 child/ 1 equine partner/ 1 session leader (mentor). Through the equine partner and session leader’s guidance, children develop faith and learn to trust, renew hope and receive encouragement, and experience unconditional acceptance and love. During this time, focus is given to assist the child in developing greater empathy and understanding of others, self-awareness, and communications skills. Sessions are 1 ½ hours long and include instruction on basic horsemanship, equine husbandry, riding lessons as well as many other fun activities however, focus is on the Mentor/Child relationship rather than riding accomplishments seen in traditional riding lessons. All session leaders are carefully screened and qualified mentors who are highly skilled in horsemanship. These individuals are selected based on their previous experience with youth programing, ability to relate and communicate with children, desire to make a difference in the life of program children, as well as their equestrian background. The Mentorship Program accounts for approximately 36 hours per week. This equates to 19% of the program hours. All other programs are designed to integrate and complement this primary program. The Mentor Program is offered free of charge to all participants. Funding for this program comes in the form of founder support, four annual fund raisers, donors, grants, and is powered by volunteers. A significant part of Unbridled is the Impart Program which focuses on strengthening the family unit. During sessions the child’s support team (parent, guardian, advocate) is invited to watch and cheer their child’s personal accomplishments. While sessions are in process, staff and ministry partners are available to talk and pray with the support team and/or family members. This time allows for deepening relationships with the support team/family members. By listening, encouraging and helping to find resources within Unbridled, or through our community partners, we are able to help meet the individual family needs. Quarterly events such as our Spring BBQ Bash, 4th of July Parade, Hillside Harvest Festival, and Hometown Christmas Party bring the families, as well as the greater community, together in a celebratory environment. These fun family events provide a safe environment for families to build strong bonds, and life long memories. Beautiful open spaces are provided for family members to walk, sit and enjoy the view, reflect and rest. This provides a time of respite in which to regain one’s personal strength. The Impart Program accounts for approximately 40 volunteer hours per week which is 21% of our program hours; however, the ranch is open for visitors needing a quiet place to rest and reflect 9am-6pm daily. This program is offered free of charge and is fully supported by donors and volunteers. Our Equine Rescue Program currently supports 6 to 20 horses. Some of the horses have come from quality homes. Others have been rescued from serious neglect, abuse, and abandonment. Due to the fact that Unbridled does not have a legal right to confiscate horses in need, we partner with local veterinarians, humane societies, and the community. It is also necessary to attempt to build relationships with the equine owner in an effort to purchase the animal in need. Each rescued equine receives a 30 to 90 days training and evaluation before being retained as an equine partner. If the horse is unsuited to working with children, or requires special care, it is rehomed to a carefully selected and pre-screened adopter. As appropriate a horse that shows an affinity for children however, due to the effects of abuse, neglect, or lack of training, needs more time, the decision may be made to keep the horse an additional 6 to 12 months for further evaluation. While not in session our team of equine specialist, and facilities crew tend to the grooming, feeding, stall cleaning, training and more intense health needs of the rescued equine. During session hours the equine is nurtured by the program children with the assistance of their mentor, veterinarians and farriers. Program children are taught how to properly groom the horse, change bandages, administer routine vaccinations, de-wormers, and medications. All of our programing for the children pivots around the compliment of the Equine Partner and rescued horse. This presents the opportunity for the children to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Working with the rescued horses provides an optimal learning forum for the children to see the consequences of poor human choices, and learn to be responsible individuals. The Equine Rescue Program accounts for 112 volunteer hours per week and the bulk of our annual budget. The 112 volunteer hours equates to 60% of all volunteer hours and is the hub that supports all other programing. Funding for our Equine Rescue is acquired by the 4 annual fundraisers, donations, grants, and founder support, as well as individual sponsors, for our rescue horses. This program is carried out by a highly devoted team of equine specialist, each with at least 10 years of equine experience and our facilities crew dedicated to the stall cleaning, feeding, and turn out needs of the horses all of whom are volunteers. As previously mentioned all programs are designed to complement each other. While the majority of volunteer hours and funding needs are directly related to the equine rescue, the horses involved are critical to the mission of mentoring child children, as well as imparting to their extended family units. All three primary programs interact to form one fluid organization known as Unbridled.