Smiling Goat Ranch helps humans heal through interactions with horses and other animals.

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“We need more places like Smiling Goat Ranch where they apply out-of-the-box methods to help those suffering with mental health issues. Their clinically proven program puts those with neurosensory conditions like PTSD, autism, anxiety and depression into a healing environment. There is so much potential to help people where they integrate the outdoors and the healing qualities of animals.”

— Lt Colonel Dick Merritt, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret)

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Programs

Our clinically proven program puts those with neuropsychiatric conditions like PTSD, autism, anxiety, and depression into a healing environment using horses, small social animals, and movement-based activities. In these activities, specific movements activate the cerebellum and prefrontal cortex, helping participants achieve emotional regulation, communication, learning, and more.

 
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Students

Smiling Goat Ranch offers working student and internship positions for gap year and college students. We focus on building self-image, accomplishing not just a new physical skill or emotional breakthrough but providing a context for the student to experience a new sense of self-worth by doing meaningful work alongside their peers, instructors and volunteers.

 
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“My time spent at Smiling Goat Ranch has been life changing! I come from a Registered Behavior Technician background working with adults with autism. I found Sheryl when working with one of my good friends with Autism and she changed the way I looked at his life forever. She opened my eyes to the horse boy method and that is when I started to see a change; not only in my friend with autism but myself as well! I started to work in a whole different direction with my friend and he started to really grow. By using the horse boy method outside of the ranch I was able to realize different ways to increase my friends independence and his own self esteem. After attending the ranch for approximately four months my friend was becoming more verbal, completing tasks independently and much more comfortable doing new or unpreferred activities.

I

am so fortunate to have crossed paths with Sheryl and her lovely team of therapeutic horses. No matter how I am feeling when I arrive to Smiling Goat Ranch I always leave with a smile on my face and the biggest glow in my heart! Sheryl and her team are breaking autism boundaries and giving kids and adults an experience that will last a life time.”

- Bre, Volunteer

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