runnin-free-ranch

Happenings at the Ranch – June Edition

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 23:03:18 GMT

Gratitude Corner – june Edition

A Season of Growth and Blessing

As we look around the ranch this month, we are reminded of how many lives are being woven together to make this mission possible. Every volunteer, donor, prayer, and act of kindness becomes part of the story God is writing here, and we never want to take that for granted.

Because of your incredible support, we surpassed our Horses for Mental Health campaign goal, raising $10,800 . What an amazing reminder that when a community comes together, healing and hope become possible for so many individuals and families.

We are also excited to welcome a wonderful two interns and a part time licensed professional counselor-associate who are joining the journey. Kristy is gaining hands-on experience in equine-assisted psychotherapy while being mentored in Natural Lifemanship principles. Her heart is to help people move beyond simply surviving and begin truly thriving.

Soon, we will also welcome Morgan, our counseling intern from Tarleton. We are already thankful for the compassion, dedication, and fresh perspective she will bring to the ranch.

Each month brings new opportunities to witness healing, connection, and hope. Thank you for being part of this mission and for walking alongside us as God continues to work through Runnin' Free Ranch.

Off the Hoof with Eli

Some days at the ranch feel simple… and then there are days when something sacred happens right in front of you. When the veterans from Serenity Village came out this week, I, Eli, met someone I won’t forget. I don’t speak in words, but I feel things deep. And the moment this fella walked toward me, I felt a heaviness on him — the kind of tired that sinks past the muscles and settles
into the soul.

Not just worn out… but the tired of someone who hasn’t had a safe place to lay his head or rest his heart in a long while. He reached out slow, almost unsure if he deserved gentleness. I stepped closer anyway.

There was a longing in him — for connection, for safety, for a moment where he didn’t have to be strong. I’ll never understand how someone who served this country can come home and still have to fight battles no one sees. But I did understand the ache in his spirit. Horses know when a heart is hurting.

So I breathed with him. I stood still with him. I let him lean into my warmth.
And in that quiet space between us, something shifted. I felt strength rise in him — not loud or showy, but steady, like a small flame refusing to go out. I felt peace settle over him, soft and slow. And I felt hope… fragile at first, but real.
Our connection wasn’t complicated. It was honest. It was needed. It was healing.

Sometimes all a person needs is a moment where they’re seen — truly seen — without judgment, without pressure, without fear. That day, I got to be that moment for him.
And I won’t forget it.
Signed, Eli Your friend on four hooves

Raema, our marketing intern from Nelson University, shared that she was looking for a place where she could make a genuine difference. She told us that the first thing she noticed about Runnin' Free Ranch was the heart behind the work and knew she would grow not only professionally, but personally, by serving alongside this community.

Upcoming Events at the Ranch — June & Beyond

✨ Save the Date: Annual Fall Gala — September 19 Our Annual Fall Gala is officially set for September 19 at the historic Telico Gin .

This year, we’re stepping into a bold new direction — a refreshed look, an elevated atmosphere, and an evening you won’t soon forget. We’re keeping a few surprises under wraps for now, but trust us… what’s coming in September is worth the wait.

�� Join Us in Making a Lasting Impact

Horse sponsorship - Check HERE to learn about our horses stories and consider sponsoring one of our SPECIAL therapy horses.

As we continue to grow and serve our community, we are prayerfully hoping to expand our family of monthly supporters. Your ongoing generosity sustains the daily work of the ranch — caring for the animals, supporting our programs, and creating a place of hope and healing.

If you feel led:

�� Click HERE to become a recurring monthly donor OR make a one‑time gift

Every gift, no matter the size, helps us continue the mission we’ve been entrusted with. Thank you for believing in this work and walking alongside us in such meaningful ways.

Happenings at the Ranch – May Edition

Wed, 13 May 2026 19:34:55 GMT

Gratitude Corner – May Edition

We are continually in awe of the way God is moving and working in so many areas of the Ranch. Every day, we’re reminded that Runnin’ Free Ranch is sustained by the generosity, prayers, and dedication of the people who believe in this mission. Our donors, volunteers, and supporters truly mean the world to us.

Monthly Donor Spotlight: FBM

This month, we are honored to highlight FBM as our featured monthly donor. Their generosity and consistency have been such a blessing to Runnin Free Ranch. We deeply enjoyed our recent visit with their team and are incredibly grateful for their faithful support. Their partnership helps us continue serving our community in meaningful ways.

At the same time, we are excited to welcome our new marketing intern, Raema . We’re thrilled to have her join the team and look forward to the creativity and passion she will bring. Picture soon to come.

Every season at the ranch is shaped by the people God brings through our gates, and we are so incredibly blessed.

Off the Hoof with Zeke

Some afternoons at the ranch feel ordinary, and some settle deep into an old horse’s heart. This week gave me one of those moments.

Amy had finished a session and was sitting quietly in the grass when Jaime, our Director of Donor Relations, joined her after attending an Ennis Chamber of Commerce meeting. There, a mother openly shared about her family’s experience at the ranch years ago during one of the hardest seasons of their lives. She had lost a child, and her other son had lost his spark. I remember the heaviness he carried and the way he stood beside me like he wasn’t sure he belonged anywhere anymore.

But at that meeting, the mother shared something beautiful. She said the ranch helped bring her living son back to life. She watched the light return to his eyes and found peace here she could never replace.

And now? That young man is thriving. Strong. Successful. Living with the spark we all knew was still there.

Hearing that made this old horse’s heart swell with pride. I remember the moment he finally let me stand close, breathed a little deeper, and let the ranch hold him.

That’s the quiet healing of this place—steady, patient, life-changing work, one afternoon at a time. And sometimes, years later, we’re reminded why it matters so much.

From my pasture to your porch,
Zeke

Celebrating Our Interns

We are blessed with the very best interns at Runnin’ Free Ranch. This month brings both a heartfelt farewell and a joyful welcome.

A heartfelt thank you to Chick-fil-A of Ennis for generously providing lunch to celebrate Caitlin , our counseling intern, on her last day at Runnin Free Ranch. We are so thankful for the time, compassion, and dedication Caitlin poured into serving our clients during her internship. Her impact has been truly meaningful, and we are grateful to have been part of her journey.

Upcoming Events at the Ranch — May & Beyond

Horses for Mental Health Campaign – Begins May 1
We’re honored to share that we’ve been selected once again to participate in the nationwide Horses for Mental Health campaign. This initiative brings awareness to the healing power of horses and the importance of mental health support. We are excited to share that we have a $5,000 matching donation. When the Ranch receives $5,000 in donations a donor will donate another $5,000!!! Click HERE to give now to Runnin Free Ranch's Campaign in Horses for Mental Health in May!!!

✨ Save the Date: Annual Fall Gala — September 19 Our Annual Fall Gala is officially set for September 19 at the historic Telico Gin .

�� Join Us in Making a Lasting Impact

Horse sponsorship - Check HERE to learn about our horses stories and consider sponsoring one of our SPECIAL therapy horses.

If you feel led:

�� Click HERE to become a recurring monthly donor OR make a one‑time gift

Every gift, no matter the size, helps us continue the mission we’ve been entrusted with. Thank you for believing in this work and walking alongside us in such meaningful ways.