Mentor a Troubled Teen in an Equine Assisted Learning Program

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About Zuma's Rescue Ranch

Location:

7745 N. Moore Rd., Littleton, CO 80125, US

Mission Statement

To pair at risk children and families with rescue horses. Together, with the help of Equine Assisted Experiential Learning we will teach both horse and child how to live, love and trust again.

Description

Over the past years Zuma’s has a developed great sense of community; the beautiful iron gates remain open throughout the day welcoming all that enter. It is truly a place for the nurturing of souls.

Most of the horses arrive with a history tarnished by abuse and neglect, completely stripped of their trust. Over time, the horses we rescue regain their health while mending their broken faith in the kindness of human beings.

In 2004, my husband Paul and I decided it was time to repay the horses for all they have given us in love and memories over the years. We made the decision to take our corporation, American Sport Horses, and turn it into a non-profit horse rescue. At that time Paul was working for a successful telecommunications company and we knew his income could provide for the rescue horses. Little did we know that just two years into our journey, Paul’s career, as countless others, had vanished. We were prepared to maintain ourselves with or without his salary...the 20+ hungry rescued horses were another story.

Needless to say, our undertaking has not come without a tremendous amount of effort. Often we are asked "how do you do it all with just the two of you?" My answer is, "I don’t know how not to do it." The horses need us and we do what is needed to provide for them. Neither Paul or I ride at all any more; there is no time to ride when caring for 40 horses.

Being the eternal optimist, I could not and would not give up our commitment to rescuing horses from slaughter. We continue to rescue horses and rehabilitate them on our life savings. After all, it is a labor of love and there is no turning back.

In 2008, we met Gail, a mother deeply rooted in the foster care system. Gail rescues children, much like we rescue horses. Together Gail and I began to pair our rescued horses with her at risk foster children. We molded this partnership into a therapeutic and healing environment and from this Zuma’s Rescue Ranch was born. Both the horse rescue and therapy are funded almost entirely by our savings and our unwavering determination to sacrifice everything to a vision we believe in with all of our hearts.

The birth of Zuma’s Rescue Ranch in September 2008 allows us to gain community awareness for the rescued horses and foster children. When a community comes together great things can happen for those less fortunate. Zuma’s would cease to exist without community donations and volunteers. We thank each and every one of you from the depths of our hearts for making Zuma’s a place for kids and horses to learn to love again."