Testimonials

“When I first approached The Refuge Ranch, I was broken in spirit and hope because of trauma and grief. The people and horses here offered me a true place of refuge for mind, body and spirit. The devotional time here teaches or reminds me of the principles of the Bible through the eyes of human-horse relationships. The connections and bonds I have built with the horses here are truly gifts from God.” S K

“We are in awe of what God has done in our children and family through The Refuge Ranch over the last year. We started coming to the ranch for our daughter, who was dealing with anxiety and related struggles. The safe, trustworthy people and environment allowed her to step away and reflect on her own experiences through what she observed with the horses, which was then tied into truth from God’s Word and immediately relatable to something going on in her life. Within months we saw a night and day difference in her perspective and ability to handle situations and she has continued to grow and mature in leaps and bounds since then. Throughout the course of the last year, our boys have joined in as participants and our daughter has started volunteering at the ranch. We have all grown in our own areas of struggle, in our relationships with the Lord and in our relationships with others. Life lessons are being illustrated in more impactful ways than I can imagine anywhere else. The kids are developing ‘muscle memory’ as they practice listening, observing, focus, compassion, teamwork, self control, flexibility, responsiveness, balance, boundaries, sacrifice, consistency, patience, communication, trust and so much more. As they see the impact that these things have on the horses, it helps them to better understand God’s great love and care for us, His relationship with us, and our relationships with others. The Bible study portion of our time points us to Jesus, the hope that we have in Him and the purpose that God has called us to in ministering to others and reconciling relationships of all kinds. God is using the ranch to not only heal wounds and strengthen weaknesses, but also to redeem those areas and use them for good! We are forever grateful for the eternal impact of our time with Mike, Rachel, Tonia and the horses in this blessed place.” G B

“We started visiting the Refuge Ranch in the last year. It has been a great experience for both my son and me, far exceeding every expectation. From the first time we met Mike and Rachel, they have taken an interest in our family and how things are going with our son. From the check in/devotional time to the closing at the end, each session is centered on teaching us more about horses and riding, with life lessons built in that teach about faith, relationships, emotions, and many other aspects of daily life. Tonia is an amazing instructor who does an incredible job of teaching us about horses, riding, and having/developing a relationship with the horses. We cannot thank the Refuge Ranch enough for the ministry they provide, the experience they create, and the memories that are being made each week for my son and me. It is very easy to see that everyone involved with the Refuge Ranch has a great love for God, people, and for the horses on the ranch. We look forward to our sessions each week. My son has said that the day we go to the Refuge Ranch is his favorite day of the week.” S S

“My kids have always been intrigued by horses and have always longed to have one. While this has never been an option for us, we’ve found an amazing alternative in the Refuge Ranch. My kids started attending the Ranch regularly to help with chores and just get a chance to be around horses. We really had no expectations other than wanting to serve Mike and Rachel and enjoy the animals. We got so much more than we asked or imagined! Weekly, my kids are shown God’s love through His Word, prayer, hard work and the amazing animals! I can see how my kids have grown in confidence in all aspects of their lives by spending time at the Ranch. They aren’t just learning to ride a horse, but gleaning life skills, courage to try new things, bravery to face the unknown, awareness of the needs of those around them, and love for God’s amazing creation. The Refuge Ranch has truly been a Godsend and blessing to our whole family and we’re so thankful that Mike and Rachel stepped out in faith and were willing to walk alongside our children.” S S

“Our family began attending sessions at the ranch in November 2023 after we had been praying and searching for help for our 4 year old daughter as we helped her work through some intense medical trauma and a dear friend had suggested meeting the ranch crew. It was a joy to meet Mike, Rachel and Tonia, as well as the horses and soon we were coming weekly with multiple of our children for family sessions. We have learned so much knowledge about horses, our children have gained confidence and responsibility in caring for the horses and the way they’ve bonded to the horses is incredible. On a weekly basis, our now 5 year old daughter can be heard telling Lilly, the horse she works with, that they’re best friends and telling Lilly how much she loves her as they nuzzle faces close together. The staff and experience of love, kindness and caring we’ve experienced at The Refuge Ranch is much deeper than we could have ever fathomed and it has been an integral part of our healing journey as a family.” A B