About

OUR MISSION

Unbridled is a faith based organization that seeks to provide a positive environment for children at risk, disadvantaged or disabled. Unbridled's mission is to impart faith, hope and love through the redeeming power of the Lord Jesus Christ, to strengthen the family unit, and to rescue the equine partner. The relationship between the child and the mentor is of utmost priority and thrives in the ranch's welcome and safe environment. Participation in the work of the ranch provides the opportunity for children to develop their equestrian skills and to nurture the rescued horses. Unbridled is a place where children and horses find sanctuary. 

OUR VISION

Unbridled exists to provide a safe and encouraging environment for children to overcome crisis, trauma and disability. Here they can find friendship, strength, courage, self-worth, healing, purpose and a sense of belonging. Our hope is that Unbridled will become their refuge.

HOW IT BEGAN

Unbridled is built upon the faithful prayers of Carol Keeney and the dream of Tania Straub. In the spring of 2015 God brought together the two halves of His heart for the ranch when Tania was able to attend a seminar at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch to learn how to build a similar ministry.  In July 2015 Unbridled was incorporated and in the spring of 2016 received its 501(c)(3) approval. It is the goal of this ranch to partner children and horses to impart faith, hope and love. Unbridled is a place for children and equine alike to find healing and restoration through the values of trust, respect and understanding.

WHERE ARE WE LOCATED

Nestled into the Coburg Hills, at the foot of the Cascade Mountain range, a 532-acre ranch, rises from the valley floor, just north of Eugene Oregon. Though minutes from Eugene, Unbridled sits in Linn County and serves Lane/Linn/Benton county areas at its 34088 Priceboro Dr, Harrisburg OR location.

WE PROVIDE FAITH-BASED EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING AND ACTIVITES (EAL/EAA).

Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) is an experiential learning approach that promotes the development of life skills for educational, professional and personal goals through equine-assisted activities

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BENEFIT FROM EAL/EAA IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS

 Mentors become a consistent and safe friend who can help guide the Mentee into a deeper understanding of themselves and the affect they have on their environment utilizing EAL/EAA practices. Horses are incapable of deception, they live only in the here and now, only responding to immediate bio feedback of heart rate, the smell of chemical changes in the body and behavioral movements.  Mentors use the horse to help understand what is going on inside the child. They are then able to use the reactions from the horse to help the child see themselves and begin exploring their traumatized internal world through the reflection seen in the horse.  As they begin to learn more about themselves, they begin to discover how they can affect the external world around them and how to choose behaviors that bring the positive outcomes they desire. By practicing these choices, in a safe environment with their trusted Mentor, all while sitting upon a 1200 pound Equine Partner, children develop the self-confidence, awareness, and security to begin moving beyond trauma, hurt, fear, anger, and anxiety and begin finding faith, hope, love and the courage to move forward into healing.

SESSION HOURS

Our one/one session season runs September to June and follows school schedules.  Sessions run Monday through Thursday 2:30-8pm and Saturdays 10am-2:30 pm.

HOW MANY CHILDREN DO WE SERVE?

Today we have 44 children in services, 13 of those children currently receive one/one Mentorship Sessions, 25 in group sessions and 6 community children in riding lessons. Our desire would be to expand our one/one Mentorship program to provide 45 sessions per week in 2020. 

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ANNUAL COST TO SUPPORT UNBRIDLED

2016: $32,045   2017: $27,372   2018: $30,601   2019: $30,000   2020: As we enter our 5th year we are preparing for excelled growth.  In order to respond to the demand for services adding key staff personnel is essential.  Currently our 2020 budget is in committee as we evaluate critical positions and salary structure

COST PER CHILD

The average cost to provide free services to a child for a year is $1,000.

COMMUNITY COMMITMENT

Unbridled strives to integrate community into every day at the ranch.   Community events hosted at the ranch such as Potluck Fellowships offer family fun, food and relationship and are open to the public.  A traditionally structured riding lesson program, offered as a fee-based service, allows all community children to participate in the fun and excitement of the ranch. Riding lessons are provided by experienced professional horsemen at a reduced rate making our services affordable to those who do not qualify for one/one Mentorship Sessions.