We are a Rehabilitation & Equine Experiential Learning Centre
We offer horses and humans the chance to regain hope together. In the process of rehabilitation, horses additionally teach humans a myriad of beneficial life lessons.
Rising Hope Ranch seeks to rescue and rehabilitate troubled, abandoned, or abused horses and retrain them while simultaneously pairing them with people willing to learn the lessons these wise animals have to teach. No previous horse experience is required. Our highly qualified staff will lead the sessions, which are designed to meet a wide range of needs. The teaching opportunities provided by working with these horses are endless.
Horses rescued from trauma and abuse are uniquely powerful in the work of teaching people life lessons. These horses do not have trained responses to stimuli and as such will offer humans an immediate and raw response to stimuli. This provides a “mirror” to human behavior giving feedback from which to learn and grow.
We are a small herd of five at the Ranch
Because we are a rehabilitation center, the horses in our herd change from time to time. We bring in horses that need a good home, and we help them recover from the stress in their lives. Once they are stable and in a good mindset, they may move on to a new and appropriate forever home. At the moment we are working with these lovely creatures- including the humans!
Angie Nelson
Our Head Coach
Angie has loved horses since she was a very young girl and now has over 35 years experience working with horses. She has a wide range of experience as a Secondary Science teacher and a natural horse trainer. Angie has a passion for working with horses and humans to bring out the very best in both.
Her Masters research at the University of Sydney on Equine Assisted Therapy & Learning revealed that horses and humans can work together in a way that is potentially healing to both (Nelson, 2015).
Angie is qualified in Parelli Natural Horsemanship and Therapeutic Riding Instruction for a wide range of disabilities. Her passion is helping you to better understand and lead your horse in a way that creates a loving and willing partnership. Her approach is holistic - teaching you to become a better leader on the ground and a more sensitive and balanced rider.
Darya Boukata
Our Management
Darya hails from the world of management consulting but her true passions is reconnecting people with nature. She was born a horse lover and only recently found a way to bring together her equine calling together with a social enterprise - for the benefit of both horses and humans.
She has a Masters of Management from University of Sydney, has worked for the likes of McKinsey & Company and Social Ventures Australia. But when not in the office, she found joy in working at Centennial Equestrian Center and Megalong Valley in Blue Mountains.
Darya manages the Ranch and takes care our clients and all the fun back-office bits like admin.
Crystal
Our Herd Leader
Crystal is our head of the herd and although some people think she's bossy, she's just a sensitive soul that expects fair treatment.
She's a 13 year old Percheron cross mare- stunner! She has a lovely kind nature, but has had her share of stressful times. As a youngster she was western trained as a barrel racing horse and then went on to work in a busy riding school. She learned early on that she hated being ridden. She is very leery of any pressure from legs or bits and is quite happy to run off with her riders!
She is now being retrained through natural horsemanship methods and is learning to enjoy her life again. She is even being ridden in a halter with very long reins and not running off! You will love working with Crystal on the ground due to her kind, sweet nature.
Ali
Our Good Looker
Ali is the handsome man of the herd but despite his dashing looks he has little confidence. He is a 19 year old Trakehner Warm Blood gelding standing 17 hands tall- high! Our very own gorgeous Black Beauty! Ali has retired from the dressage show world where he learned to endure a great amount of pressure put on him to perform. He now is learning to relax and enjoy his horse life, put on weight, and learn to carry his body himself, without ropes to pull him into place. Ali is very playful in his human herd as he has perhaps never had the chance to play before. Come enjoy a relaxing, and learning experience with this gorgeous horse!
Amber
Our Cuddly One
Amber an 18 year old Welsh/Australian Riding Pony mare. She has a lovely kind personality. She is very gentle and always at the bottom of her horse herd. Amber is hard to catch and always wary of the human herd. She has learned to run from pressure, both on the ground and under saddle. Amber is learning to trust humans and relearning to be ridden without being afraid. Come meet this tender personality and see if she will trust you enough to let you catch and pat her.