Willow Ranch, Equine Assisted Counseling

There is something truly special about the connections made at Willow Ranch. 💚🐴

Connections between people and horses.
Connections between volunteers and visitors.
Connections that grow into friendships, encouragement, and community.

Every person who gives their time, talents, resources, or simply their presence is a gift to this ranch. We are incredibly grateful for the relationships God continues to bring through our gates and for the blessing of being part of something bigger than ourselves.

Together, we are creating a place of hope, healing, and wellness—one connection at a time. 🙏🐴

“Every good and perfect gift is from above…” — James 1:17 NIV

Thirteen years ago today, I stood at my son’s funeral. And hundreds of miles away, my granddaughter took her first breath. We were supposed to be in Texas that week. Our daughter was about to have her first baby, and we were going to be there. Instead, we were burying her brother. She couldn’t be with us at the worst moment of our lives. We couldn’t be with her at one of the best moments of hers. But all day, in the middle of the funeral, our phones kept lighting up. Updates. ‘She’s in labor.’ ‘Baby’s coming.’ ‘Mom and baby are healthy.’ Then a picture. Here’s what I’ve learned, as a brain surgeon and as a dad who’s been in the deepest dark there is: your brain can hold two true things at once. Grief doesn’t cancel joy. Joy doesn’t erase grief. They sit right next to each other, because that’s how the mind is built, and it’s how faith has always described this life. Scripture doesn’t promise no darkness. It promises light in the darkness. Not instead of it, in it. See John 10:10 and John 16:33 So if you’re in your darkest moment right now, I’m not going to tell you it’s not dark. I’m going to tell you this: somewhere in that darkness, there is still light. Look for it. It’s there. And that means there is still hope for you. Save this if you needed it today, and share it with a friend who needs it. Follow me for daily connections between neuroscience and scripture. Comment BOOK and I’ll show you where to start., my New York Times bestselling book. #selfbrainsurgery #neuroscience #thedrleewarrenpodcast #faithandscience

Feeling especially grateful today for the incredible volunteers and supporters who make Willow Ranch possible. 💚🐴

What a blessing it is to have our own herd of volunteers—people who generously give their time, talents, hearts, and resources to care for our horses and help us continue bringing hope, healing, and wellness to our community.

We truly could not do this without you. Thank you for believing in the mission and walking alongside us. We are stronger together. 💚

Happy National Nonprofit day!💚

Today, we celebrate the heart of our communities and the tireless nonprofit leaders who turn compassion into action every single day.

Thank you for leading with purpose, serving with passion, and changing lives.

When we support nonprofits, we strengthen the fabric of hope for everyone. We’re honored to partner with you in building stronger, more resilient communities!💫

A Typical Day at Willow Ranch 🐴💛

There is so much that happens behind the scenes each day to care for our herd and keep Willow Ranch running—feeding, watering, grooming, giving medications, cleaning and filling water troughs, moving horses, picking up supplies, fixing the things that inevitably break, grant writing, and preparing for our clients.

It truly takes a herd. ❤️

We are incredibly grateful for our volunteers who give their time and energy, for the people who lend their skills when something needs fixing, and especially for Zack Milner, who continually goes above and beyond to help get the supplies our horses and ranch need.

Every chore, every repair, every filled water trough and every act of service helps make Willow Ranch a place where horses and people can connect and experience hope and healing.

None of this would be possible without our donors, whose generosity makes our daily work and long-term care for the herd possible.

Thank you to everyone who helps make the everyday work possible. We couldn’t do this without you. 🐴🙏

🐴 Stronger Together

Our herd reminds us that we were created for connection, relationship, and community. We aren’t meant to walk through life alone. Just like the herd, we are stronger when we stand together. 💚🐴

“Two are better than one…” — Ecclesiastes 4:9 NIV

This is Rudy this am☀️🙏❤️🐴thank you to Rise Concepts, Chris Leal, Rex Boatright and family, Steve and Christina Reese, Jeannie Kern, Toni and Doug James, Chloe Bjornberg, Christi and Todd Landis, Angie and Chris Reynolds, Sarah Johnson, Jennifer Guipre, Zack Milner (donated his leather art gifts for the staff at Oakridge)and Glenda and Mike Nation for financial help providing this LIFE SAVING care.

https://www.willow-ranch.com/donate

🐴 Rally for Rudy 💚

Hi, friends. We’re asking our Willow Ranch community to Rally for Rudy.

Today, our little Rudy underwent emergency colic surgery. The veterinarians discovered a fecalith—a hard mass that was blocking his intestine—and thankfully, they were able to remove it.

Rudy may be small, but his impact at Willow Ranch is anything but small.

About three years ago, Rudy and his brother Rowdy were donated to us by Bill and Linda Dickinson when they could no longer care for them. Since then, Rudy and his brother have become treasured members of our herd and incredible partners in our Equine Assisted Counseling and Equine Assisted Learning programs. As you can see in these pictures, children, teenagers, adults, and families are often drawn to this little guy.

Some may say, “He’s just a pony.”
But to us, Rudy is family. And he is part of the work of hope, healing, and wellness that happens every day at Willow Ranch.

His surgery and medical care are currently approximately $7,700, and we are asking our community to help us cover these unexpected costs.

We are incredibly thankful and encouraged that Rudy is expected to recover and, God willing, will soon be back home with his herd and the people who love him.

Every gift matters. Every prayer matters. Please help us Rally for Rudy. ❤️🐴

Thank you for loving Rudy and supporting Willow Ranch!

If you feel led please make a donation.

https://www.willow-ranch.com/donate

Thank you,

Donate — Willow Ranch, Equine Assisted Counseling Support UsWillow Ranch is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization providing hope and healing. Your contributions support sessions for individuals and families, as well as horse care.Charitable contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law in the U.S.If you are interested in setting up recu...