About the Herd
Beyond offering various services to aid individuals in their journey towards healing, Mending Strides Ranch is dedicated to providing a permanent home for the horses we rescue.
In addition to the vast services being offered to guide people on their healing journey, Mending Strides Ranch provides a forever home to the horses we adopt and to bring awareness to their situation. We provide a safe haven for the wild horses to live a healthy life as they were intended to by caring for their physical needs.
Mustangs and Burros bring something special to therapeutic sessions for trauma survivors, because of their keen survival instincts. These special creatures have the following unique qualities that make them ideal therapy companions:
- Prey Animals: Unlike humans, horses are prey animals. Their survival depends upon their ability to observe and interpret all activity in their environment. They must live as if everything is life or death because to them it is! Trauma survivors can relate to this, and parallels can be drawn to help them understand what they are experiencing and to help develop coping skills.
- Social Animals: Like humans, horses are social animals, and they rely on each other for safety and survival. They have distinct personalities and defined roles in their herd. Interacting with horses provides an opportunity to work on relationship dynamics, such as one’s role in their family and community, trust, communication, boundaries, and assertiveness.
- Non-judgmental: Horses are non-judgmental. They do not care about race, sex, age, or weight. People can connect with horses without fear of rejection or criticism.
- They live in the present: Horses live fully present in the moment. They do not worry about their past or the future. Trauma survivors often spend a great deal of time thinking about their past and worrying about their future. Horses provide opportunities to help trauma survivors learn new skills to cope with their thought patterns.
- Horses are large and powerful: Their size creates an opportunity to overcome fear and develop confidence. It allows a chance to accomplish tasks despite fear or feeling uncomfortable and provides insight to dealing with other challenging or intimidating situations in life.
Visits by appointment only please
“Those Who Teach The Most About Humanity, Aren’t Always Humans.”
– Donald Hicks
Rango
Our herd leader began his life as a wild pony on the Paiute Indian Reservation, where he was rounded up as a foal and sold at an auction in Fallon, NV. But, it was his lucky day to be purchased by Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue instead of going to slaughter. He then made it to the Wild Horse Rescue Center in Florida where we adopted him. As the leader, he commands respect from the other horses but he has a soft spot for the love of his life, little Petunia. Rango, struggles with allergies and we affectionately call him Itchy Scratchy. His favorite summer pastime is to hangout under the fans with his best bud Eywa.
Eywa
Affectionately called Velcro for his strong connection to Rango. You rarely find the two very far apart. He was born in 2015 in the black hills of South Dakota. He and his dam (mother) came in to join the horses being fed at the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary when the blizzards were too severe and his herd was starving. He was adopted by the Wild Horse Sanctuary in Florida in 2016 and we adopted him with Rango in 2018. He was the first horse to greet me when I entered the corral to choose horses and he just seemed to say, “Pick me”. He is curious and quiet, and seems to enjoy helping clients work on their assertiveness skills. His favorite things in life are treats, grass and Rango.
BB’s Evening Primrose aka “Prim”
Prim’s life began in the desert of Beattys Butte, Oregon where, as a foal, she was gathered with her mother and herd mates by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Nov 2015. She was shipped to a holding facility in Ewing, IL and then picked up by a tip trainer to be gentled. She was then adopted by Mending Strides in Feb 2018. Prim is a gentle soul who reads situations well and just seems to know what is needed in the moment. Many clients are drawn to her sweet, sensitive nature. You just have to whisper to her and she responds. She watches over the littles like a mother hen and enjoys sharing scratches with her new bestie Heaven.
Heaven’s Poppy
The newest herd member is a young Mustang born into the Fox Hog herd in California and gathered by the BLM. She is as friendly as the day is long and will stand all day for neck and chest scratches. Dinner time is her bewitching hour and you will find her frolicking and trying to get someone to play with her. Mud is her best friend and she enjoys nothing better than covering every square inch until her beautiful palomino color completely disappears. We affectionately call her our “Mudstang”.
Buttercup
What’s Up “Buttercup” was the first equine to arrive at Mending Strides Ranch. Her keen vision and sense of hearing alert her to intruders and she takes her job as guardian very seriously, chasing all critters including our barn cats out of the corrals. Clients and volunteers are drawn to her slow, quiet, sweet nature. It’s hard for anyone to resist those big brown eyes and oversized ears.
Petunia
The oldest member of our herd is in her mid-twenties. She was adopted from Equine Rescue of Aiken. Petunia likes to fly under the radar and you often find her alone. Clients are often surprised to find under that aloof nature a sweetie pie who loves her butt scratches. She spends her afternoons napping beside her boyfriend Rango.
Ruby Rose
Don’t let the tiniest member of our herd fool you. Big personalities come in small packages! Ruby is a gal who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. She was rescued by Harmony Farms Animal Haven as a neglect case. She was severely underweight and very skeptical of people. To see her today you would never know how thin she was. She never met a meal she didn’t like and her belly shows it. Ruby is often the first horse clients work with because she knows her stuff. She balances just enough attitude and assertiveness to help clients on their journey.
Minion
Little Minion also came from Equine Rescue of Aiken. We don’t know much about his past but he hadn’t had good farrier or vet care. He was adopted by a friend, but when his pasture mate died he spent a long time alone. We borrowed him for camp one summer, and she let him stay with his new companions. Minion views himself as quite the lady’s man and knows how to strike a Fabio pose. He is faithful to his love Ruby and spends his days thinking he is keeping her safe from other herd members.
Maggie aka “Meow, Meow”
Both cats were feral, living in the pasture and hunting along the stream when the farm was first purchased. They watched the coming and going from a distance and gradually Maggie came closer and acted like she wanted to be friendly. A few cans of cat food and she was hooked, eventually allowing us to pet her. Strongly independent with superior survival skills she majestically watches over the barn never straying far. She lets you know when and where you can pet her but her meow is worse than her bite.
Bear
Bear took a lot longer to warm up to attention but once he saw we didn’t harm Maggie, he joined in for meals and moved in full-time. And not just into the barn, but the office as well. Heaven forbid another cat stops by. He’s not about to share the good thing they’ve got going and will promptly chase them away. Both cats take their roles as therapy cats very seriously and clients and volunteers alike are soothed by their calming presence.
Mending Hearts,
One Stride at a Time
Mending Strides Ranch is the premier equine-assisted psychotherapy establishment in the Charlotte Metro area, committed to creating a sanctuary for individuals facing the impacts of trauma, abuse, and emotional obstacles. Our approach involves guided experiences with equine-assisted therapies that are specifically tailored to enhance mental well-being, build confidence, and find more joy in life.
6 Benefits of Equine-Assistance Therapy
Improved Confidence
Better Communication Skills
Trust
Connection
Growth
