“Ever since he has been enrolled in Wild Souls Ranch his confidence, leadership, and mental mind has changed in the most positive way. I see it in his sports, friendships, school, and all-around energy. I can’t thank you enough. He loves working with you. ”

“Our daughter loves her time at Wild Souls Ranch. The people that work there are caring and compassionate, and her experience working with the horses is something she looks forward to each week.
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“ My son Samuel was born with many medical challenges due to Spina Bifida and has a diagnosis of Autism. He journeys through the world in a wheelchair. I desire for him to be as independent as possible and to find ways to contribute and make the world a better place. After 39 surgeries, Samuel was finally medically stable enough to begin attending traditional public school. In his freshman year of high school, he signed up for an Agriculture class with a requirement to complete hours of supervised agricultural experience. Since he has always had an interest in horses, we emailed Wild Souls Ranch to inquire about completing the hours of service with their organization. The team was very welcoming and he was provided many ways to help out at the ranch and learn about caring for animals. Whether Samuel was watering their garden, cleaning riding equipment, brushing a horse, he always had ways to contribute and learn about life at the ranch and have fun. Who would have thought that the agriculture assignment would begin a very special relationship between Samuel and the ranch crew. Since the assignment in 2021, Samuel continues to volunteer. The staff have often provided rides to and from the ranch as needed, collecting him from both the high school and his home. He enjoys participating in community events he would not normally have because of the great relationships he has with the ranch crew. He looks forward to being part of the float preparation and riding in the truck in the Rodeo Parade and helping at other events hosted by or participating that the Ranch does in the community. Fast forward to the present, Samuel is now eligible for a Transitional Partnership Workability Program. It is an interagency vocational program funded by the California State Department of Rehabilitation in cooperation with the Humboldt County Office of Education and high schools in the Humboldt area. Naturally, he asked Wild Souls Ranch if they would allow him to complete this program at the ranch and they were delighted to accept. Now he is transitioning into a role of learning what it means to be an employee, showing up for work, completing time cards and working hard to earn an income. As a mom, I am thankful that Wild Souls Ranch accepted the request to help Samuel learn these skills necessary for life and independence.

Samuel and so many other children who have physical or emotional trauma and disabilities benefit from Wild Souls Ranch. It is truly a special place. Sponsors and donors help keep Wild Souls Ranch operating. I am truly thankful and grateful for everyone that gives their finances and time. Once you have been impacted by the ranch you understand how important this nonprofit is to the youth in our county that are adopted, in foster care, and experiencing challenges. Wild Souls Ranch is successful at their mission statement. I see it in the evidence of how Samuel has improved in understanding the value of hard work, developed a strong sense of worth and has a way to help out at the ranch. He is learning the value of relationships and developing more communication skills to share how he is feeling and be a friend. Most recently after more than a year interacting with the horses, Samuel bravely rode on a horse! The staff has done a wonderful job of accepting Samuel as he is and creatively finding ways to help him navigate the ranch. They have wonderful attitudes and do not place limits on him. The ranch allows children like mine, the time and space in a calm and neutral environment. Wild Souls Ranch has helped Samuel press on past fears, anxiety and sensory overload to break down barriers to accomplish more than what is maybe expected of a wheelchair user with Autism. It is my hope that other children, teens and the staff are inspired by his presence and being part of the amazing work at the ranch. Wild Souls is a place of refuge for my son and he looks forward to the days he is there.

I once asked Samuel early on when he was completing his volunteer hours what he did at Wild Souls Ranch and he said, “You just open the barn doors and have the best day of your life!”
So thank you to everyone who plays a part in helping keep Wild Souls Ranch operating. You have helped my son have so many best days of his life!
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“I have learned many life lessons and a lot about myself throughout the past five years I have been at Wild Souls Ranch. However, the most important thing I have learned about myself is that I will never stop growing and learning as a person. While being at the ranch, I’m always surrounded by intelligent and strong individuals. Each person has different skills that they bring to the table. Being around these individuals has allowed for me to learn significantly or much more than I ever imagined I could. Not only have I improved my horsemanship skills, I have worked through my challenges and have grown as a person. Early on at Wild Souls, I worked through coping with my anxiety disorder. Then as the years went on, I worked on having respect and good communication while working at the ranch. If I hadn’t worked through these challenges then I wouldn’t be where I am today. In order to help other people, we have to help ourselves first. Being able to see my boss and coworkers still growing and learning new things everyday has deeply influenced me to do the same. Like when we attended the Buck Brannaman Horse Clinic. Everyone was learning new skills and lessons whether we were watching or riding, we all learned something new. I will always have a lot more to learn and have a lot more growing to do, but Wild Souls Ranch was an amazing start to that journey. I’m forever thankful to have been able to be a part of Wild Souls Ranch.”

“My name is Sativa Simmons I am nineteen years old and am currently working towards my future and well being. My father was a farrier and had been around horses most of his life. After he passed away from cancer, I moved in with my mom, she had her own problems though and was most of the time incapable of raising a child. Things got harder when I became older my household became unsafe and I moved away from my mom. I’ve been able to reflect on the past and work on myself through guidance and leadership from Wild Souls Ranch. I’m ready for this long road of grit and dedication to become the best and healthiest me I can be. The things this place has done for me are unreal and unmatched to any program ive ever been apart of.

Wild Souls Ranch has helped me both mentally and physically their colt starting program has brought me immense opportunities such as a full ride scholarship to farrier school. I plan on taking this new set of skills and mindset to better myself and help out my community through horse shoeing. I’ve learned a lot since I first started coming to wild souls. I take better care of myself im able to accomplish more tasks my time management has improved greatly. My relationships and people skills have improved as well im able to take a step back and assess the situation and make decisions based on that. I look forward to the future and what horseshoeing school has in store for me. It’s been amazing having people who genuinely care and want me to succeed in life. Before wild souls ranch I was very self conscious and not completing daily tasks and setting life goals. Even at first I was unsure of what this program was gonna do for me but with some hard work caring people and a drive to become the best me. I soon realized that working with horses is what I want to be doing with my life. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been given a scholarship from wild souls and a purpose. I look forward to working and creating bonds with my community and at the same time helping horses live a better life. It’s a trip watching kids come in and receive help and love with open arms and get a proper base for growing up and maturing. Im beyond excited to start my journey and make a name for myself there’s so much to be taught and learned.

Overall being able to come in three days a week and really work and motivate myself has been a blessing I’ll never forget what this place and the outstanding people within it have done for my health and future. For anyone apart of making this happen and supporting the people that did I thank you and all your hard work and long days are greatly appreciated. I can only imagine where wild souls ranch will go from here.””

“Wild Souls Ranch has been a huge part of my children’s life for many months now. I have had my children in many programs to heal from trauma that they have experienced due to the life style I chose for many years. Wild Souls Ranch is different than all of them. My children and I are all members of the Round Valley Indian Reservation.  A year ago I left their father of 9 years, he was very abusive to my children and I.  Our home looked very scary; years of domestic violence and one incident were he was charged with felony child abuse against my two oldest children. He left one child with broken blood vessels in her eye because he hit her so hard and bruises on both of their faces and his continued drug addiction that would cause him in and out of our home for many years. The effects of this trauma has left my children afraid of relationships, sensitive to loud sounds, and most affecting is my children fail to have confidence. I chose to live a very unhealthy life style in front of my children, which I have a lot of guilt for.  I used many programs within Humboldt County to help heal my children, I am an  ICWA advocate, and I am obtaining my Masters of social work  at Humboldt State, so I am very familiar of trauma care for families, but many programs seem to not be reaching my children in a way of healing  until I came across Wild Souls Ranch. What this program has done for my children is priceless, the smiles that come from confidence and love for their new found friends at WSR, is incredible. They have gained tools that are not just seen at the stables, they have improved at school, home, and are learning to build trusting relationships with people they encounter. My children stated that they never want to leave Savanah (WSR founder) and the horses, they have found a healing, that I feel is very close to traditional practices of native culture, which my children have been drawn to since day one. I want to thank and support the team at Wild Souls Ranch for all they have done for my children. The healing in their heart is a priceless blessing that has changed our life forever….”
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