Welcome to The Living Hope Ranch!

We’re glad you’re here.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a LIVING HOPE through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

1 Peter 1:3-5

The Living Hope Ranch is a faith-based ministry dedicated to offering hope and healing to horses and children in need. We are located in central Michigan.

The Living Hope Ranch traces its beginnings back to a struggling brown and tan brick building responsible for educating elementary school students of inner city Lansing, Michigan.  It was in this little school full of disheveled and disillusioned children that Ranch Founder, Jennifer, first felt the need to reach hurting children with a message of HOPE.

For months, Jennifer worked with the third graders of Grand River Elementary school, and made little to no headway in connecting with them or improving their reading skills, as was her job.  Toward the end of the school year, the idea came to her, why not bring the children out to the barn – to meet and ride her horse, Fox?

After arranging transportation for thirty-some third graders, the big yellow bus pulled onto the 80 acre farm that Fox called home.  The children piled out of the bus, wide eyed on this sun splashed, warm spring day of 1998.  They could hardly believe the sight before them: wide open rolling hills, weathered pine boards standing shoulder to shoulder for miles, making fences.  Sun pouring liquid gold rays down upon their faces, their eyes now sparkling.  And the smell!  Sweet earthy scent of grass and fresh loam, rich and beautiful, moving under their feet, joy rising up, finding release in bursting smiles!  Jennifer brought them into the barn where Fox was waiting.  Excited chatter filled the air as the children beheld the lanky chestnut gelding with a flaxen mane and tail, his big brown eyes, softly returning their gaze.

“Can we touch him?”

“Will he bite?”

“Can I ride him?”

Questions came in a flurry, as numerous as the barn swallows who darted quickly through the rafters, declaring the good news of spring: harbingers of new beginnings.  Jennifer was awestruck.  Nine months of trying to connect with these children had yielded precious little result.  And now this horse was building a bridge.

“Yes, of course you can touch him, he would LOVE that!  Right here, just like this, oh, he loves that brush!  Oh no, he will not bite, just keep your fingers from his mouth so he doesn’t mistake them for carrots!  Oh yes, you sure may ride him!  Let’s get his saddle on, and here’s a helmet for your sweet noggin’!”   The children gobbled up every answer like hungry guppies in a prolific pond as Jennifer gave answers almost as quickly as they could raise questions.

On the bus ride home, quiet contentedness rested on the faces of the children, children who were so used to carrying their war face with them, wrought over years of witnessing abuse, crime, drug use, and despair in their community, in their homes, in their schools.  And what was the change?  What made the difference?  Jennifer had been the same young woman in Lansing as she was today at the barn.  The same woman, with the same passion for kids.  But today was different.

Fox.

Yes, Fox made all the difference.  And the LORD spoke gently, directly into Jennifer’s heart, “You’ll do this someday.  This:  Bring hope to the hopeless, Bring joy to the broken and the downtrodden, Bring love to the parched hearts of children. You’ll do this.  You’ll be a Change Agent.  And Horses will be the Bridge.”

That spring day of 1998, the dream was born for what would one day become The Living Hope Ranch.

“In all their affliction He was afflicted, 
And the angel of His presence saved them;
In His love and in His mercy He redeemed them;
And He lifted them and carried them all the days of old.”

Isaiah 63:9

The Living Hope Ranch offers one-on-one Ranch Sessions for children and youth ages three to fifteen.  Sessions vary in length from 30 minutes for the youngest children, or those with short attention spans, to 90 minutes for the oldest of the Ranch youth.  Each Session at the Ranch is comprised of Ranch work (mucking paddocks, scrubbing water tanks, feeding and caring for the animals), Horse time (learning to lead, groom, tack, ride and interact with the horses), and Bible time (time to read, talk, and pray with the Session Leader).

Sessions book early and quickly, so contact the Ranch early to secure your spot for the season.  Call Jennifer at 517-651-2474 to register your child.