Our Mission
New Beginnings at Circle T Ranch is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for the benefit of trauma survivors, developmentally disabled, and people dealing with psychological conditions to include PTSD, depression, anxiety, and addictions. Participants of our program interact with horses in a safe, peaceful environment which is referred to as Equine Assisted Learning (EAL). EAL helps reduce stress, teach important life skills, and facilitate rehabilitation. Participants work with a certified Equine Specialist to guide them through a safe, positive experience with our horses.
Other Activities
While EAL is our main focus, some days some people want to engage in friendly, soothing interactions with a number of other animals on the ranch including dogs, cats, miniature donkey, ponies, goats, and sheep. All activities are designed to give participants an uplifting experience to carry with them for the rest of the week.
The Benefit
There is significant evidence of horses having a calming and healing effect on humans. Research suggests that activities and therapies involving interactions with horses can reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression trauma, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Supervised interactions with horses can improve the quality of life for victims as well as developmentally disabled persons. Our program aims to provide equine-therapeutic interventions to heal trauma, enable deep self-reflection, develop life skills, and improve wellness. We even can travel to off-site locations like schools, juvenile centers and correctional facilities. We have seen dramatic results in these sessions including incarcerated participants leveraging their gained empathy, life skills and awareness to realize accountability and take responsibility for past actions, significantly enhancing the rehabilitative efforts of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Testimonial
When I struggled with PTSD and anxiety, I did not have anyone advocating for me. My family and close friends that walked with me through some very hard years had no knowledge of PTSD or education on anxiety, but they were very patient and loving. I don’t know why and how I made it to the other end of it, as I am writing right now, overcoming both, but it was only by the grace of God, so God must have a reason. This was stirred in my heart when I was walking around at Circle T Ranch this morning. Thank you Denise Taylor for letting me participate in Equine Assisted Learning! New Beginnings offers such a beautiful thing with their equine learning activities.