Central Oregon Wellness Ranch

The Central Oregon Wellness Ranch offers innovative and integrative programs to Veterans and Trauma survivors. We partner with horses to deliver holistic clinical treatments in a “non-clinical” ranch setting. Located in Tumalo, Oregon, this innovative Equine Therapy Wellness program takes place on a private, serene and scenic ranch just 7 miles outside of Bend, Oregon. This private ranch was designed specifically to accommodate trauma survivors and Veterans. This unique and Western themed ranch setting is like no other facility.

The Ranch is located 7 miles West of Bend off Highway 20. 

The therapists at The Wellness Through Horses Ranch are highly credentialed professional counselors with a trauma focus and multiple levels of certifications in equine assisted psychotherapy and Natural Horsemanship. One therapist is also a Neuro-Psychologist. They also have broad training working with Military populations and extensive training in dealing with trauma.

The other trauma focused health professionals at The Wellness Through Horses Ranch are credentialed and certified in their respective areas as well as being trauma informed and have extensive experience with Veterans. The therapists utilize Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) to partner with horses in the therapy process. The horses serve as catalysts for change and emotional growth. With this hands-on, experiential approach to therapy, clients will learn more about themselves and find deeper meaning and understanding of their mal-adaptive patterns and behaviors by participating in activities with horses.

The program also incorporates “ranch” style yoga and battlefield acupuncture. The ranch YOGA is gentle relaxation & restorative yoga held in the Yoga “Saloon”. We also offer iRest YOGA through ZOOM classes which was developed by a military doctor and helps with sleep. An atrium style Western themed building was uniquely designed and constructed by Jon for the “cowboy stretching” (yoga) classes with spectacular views of the mountains and the horses. The acupuncture is the NADA protocol specifically used to treat PTSD symptoms and also takes place in the YOGA Saloon or the grass area in a group setting. The ranch contracts with a Naturopath and licensed acupuncturist who also has a black belt in martial arts. Dr. Michelle teaches some of the yoga classes and performs the acupuncture. She utilizes trauma informed care and is trained in the battlefield acupuncture modality through the NADA protocol. The ranch also contracts with a Marine Veteran as a Yoga instructor for some of the in-person classes. Our female yoga instructor is the daughter of a Marine Veteran who served in the Vietnam war. Rebecca is certified in yoga, meditation, and Perfect Health by the Chopra Center for Wellbeing, and has specialized training in Trauma-Conscious instruction from Connected Warriors. Rebecca has over seven years of experience teaching and facilitating wellness events and retreats all over the world and trains yoga instructors to teach Veteran yoga classes through Vetitation. Rebecca teaches the ZOOM yoga classes weekly and also facilitates the yoga with the mini’s. The ranch also utilizes Veteran Peer Support Volunteers. Two Army Veterans, a Marine and an Air Force Veteran.

Our therapy horse herd consists of 3 miniature horses, 2 Haflingers, 5 Quarter Horses and a Kiger Mustang. The therapy horses are trained using Natural horsemanship. These horses are NOT rescue horses but horses that have been professionally trained and are healthy and sound. We work with them consistently outside of the therapy sessions and utilize a professional trainer on a regular basis. These horses also receive consistent chiropractic or acupuncture care.

The Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Model is effective because it embraces the science that humans learn best by doing. This clinical model prescribes a hands-on approach where clients are given the space to project and analyze their situations, make connections, and find their own solutions. Since the solutions are personally experienced in conjunction with intellectual understanding, they tend to be deeper, more profound, and longer lasting. The equine assisted psychotherapy is an evidence-based clinical intervention. It is not therapeutic riding and does not involve riding of the horse. It is not a recreational activity it is a clinical intervention. No horseback riding is involved. Instead, effective and deliberate techniques are utilized where the horses become metaphoric in specific ground-based experiences utilizing natural horsemanship techniques.