Meet Our Contributors
Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to run a program. Below are many of the fabulous contributors and partners that make the ranch what it is today. We thank you!
Michelle Marlow’s creativity and vision combined with her horsey knowledge make her invaluable to our fundraising. Her event consulting team has more than 50 years’ experience planning social, business and nonprofit events locally, nationally, and internationally. Her creativity and vision are unparalleled. We are ever so grateful for her ongoing pro-bono services.
Creative Awakenings has partnered with us to provide art and social work therapy services. Sheri Gaynor is an LCSW, Registered Expressive Arts Therapist and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Learning Facilitator. Sheri designs creative activities specifically geared toward participant and educator needs, in relation to the participants experiential work with the horses.
Goldyn Equine
Dr. Melissa Goldyn, DVM, without who’s help, Smiling Goat Ranch could not exist.
Hal Williams Photography
Hal Williams Photography has generously donated time and talent to capturing countless beautiful images for us.
The Horse Boy Foundation has partnered with us to train 80+ volunteers and instructors to serve autism families and has provided us with a pipeline of working students.
Emily Hightower is a Resilience Coach who helps high performers who also have trauma exposure to become steady, empowered, rested and ready. She has advanced studies in yoga, adaptive Thai Yoga, Biofeedback, Breath as Medicine, Art of Breath and Integrative Nutrition. She supports us in our work with veterans.
Karp, Neu, Hanlon, Attorneys at Law provides on-going pro-bono services to Smiling Goat Ranch to support our continuing development and mission.
Craig Wheeless has generously donated his time and talent to creating professional marketing materials that are simply amazing. Including this website.
So grateful for our horse training mentors, the Valenca family, masters of classical dressage and Working Equitation, and the mentors to Horse Boy Centers worldwide. They guide us in building enough muscle on the horses so the work is easy for them. They help us also train their minds by altering their routines. We create horses flexible in mind and body to, in turn, create cadence and collection.
Dr. Sherbyn Ostrich, VMD
A final note from Sheryl - I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my father, the late Dr. Sherbyn Ostrich, past president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, who gave me the golden opportunity to grow up surrounded by the love of animals. I know you look up at me, Dad, from the eyes of the children we help here and from the eyes of our animals, the intimate members of our tribe who overflow every single day with unconditional love.
Photography on our website and social media courtesy of
Kaylee Martig
and Smiling Goat Ranch staff and volunteers.