Healing with Horses Ranch

12/03/2025

💭 Giving (verb) “to freely transfer the possession of something to someone” (adjective) “providing love or other emotional support” 📖

After the flurry of shopping during Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday… then comes Giving Tuesday. I find it so interesting that the order comes this way. While some may argue that it’s meant to bring the focus back around to generosity & gratitude, it still feels a bit like an afterthought; an ask after the pockets have been emptied. Would it be different if it were first in the lineup? Who’s to say.

As the day comes to a close, I’m reflecting on the past year. The economy has hit people hard, and many are living in a limbo state of uncertainty. We as an organization have felt it too. It can feel tiresome or even fruitless to ask for donations when we know our community is struggling.

So where do we land from here? We carry on. We’ve made it through tough places before (COVID lockdown! 👀) We look to our greatest teachers, the horses, for support. They don’t worry about finances, because they know we will always take care of them & provide for them through storm or sun. So, dear community, that is how I look toward tomorrow this Giving Tuesday; knowing that you sustain our mission in the very same way.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here. If you have room in your wallet today, we will receive any gift with the utmost gratitude & appreciation. Whether $5 or $500, you help us change lives. That impact is truly priceless.

https://www.healingwithhorsesranch.org/donate/

- Rebekah Fookes, Development Director

11/20/2025

11/20/2025

🚨MVS is aware of the announcements regarding a recent outbreak of EHV-1 originating from a barrel event in Waco, Tx🚨

We are here for any and all questions and concerns but want to provide a little bit of information.

1) What is EHV-1?
- EHV-1 or Equine Herpes Virus-Myeloencephalopathy is a neurological strain of Equine Herpes Virus, that can be fatal. Symptoms include neurological changes/deficits, fever, nasal discharge & cough.

2) Booster vaccinations are currently highly recommended for everyone!
- Vaccinations, while not perfect, can help minimize symptoms and decrease viral shedding. Even if your horse was knowingly exposed to EHV-1 within 2 days time, boosters are still indicated.

3) What can you do to minimize risk?
- STAY HOME! Minimize travel with your horses as much as possible during this time. This virus can lay dormant in many horses and often times viral spreading is silent. Avoid horse shows, events, or “play dates” to the best of your ability. Minimize cross contamination of buckets, tack, brushes etc. between horses (even on the same property).

4) Monitor for….
- Fever 🤒! Fevers are typically the first “silent” symptom to appear. Monitoring your horses temperature 1-2x daily is key. Any temperature above 102.5° should be reported immediately.
- Nasal Discharge & Coughing
- Weakness, trembling or loss of coordination

We know times like these can cause uncertainty; Matthews Vet Services is here to help where we can. Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns.

We are closely monitoring the containment level and guidelines directly from the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC).

Please report any symptoms immediately to MVS or your primary care veterinarian for guidance. Reach out at (512)-575-3231 with questions, concerns or inquiries to schedule an on-farm booster vaccination appointment!

11/19/2025

Thank you Healing with Horses Ranch for honoring us with your "Friends of the Ranch 2025" award. It's always an honor to partner with such an amazing organization in the mission of helping veterans.

11/14/2025

BARN BASH IS ALMOST HERE 🤠

We’ve had a wild few weeks of back to back events and this is our cherry on top! Time to celebrate & enjoy the fruits of the past year with our friends & community.

https://www.healingwithhorsesranch.org/barn-bash/

In addition to an open bar & delicious dinner by , we are so excited to get a specially curated dessert selection from Sophie’s Sweet Treats🧁🍪

And in addition to our silent auction, we are beyond thrilled to offer up a raffle prize valued at $1,200 from our friends at 🦞 And guess what?! You can enter the raffle right from your couch if you’re not joining us at Barn Bash!

https://www.healingwithhorsesranch.org/barn-bash/

Both Barn Bash tickets AND raffle tickets are available by visiting our website 🎟️ There are only a handful of seats left for Barn Bash so now is not the time to snooze!

(Dash & Calloway reserve the right to not-subtly encourage you to visit our website until you get those tickets)

That’s all for now! See you on Saturday!

https://www.healingwithhorsesranch.org/barn-bash/

10/29/2025

What better way to introduce the newest member of the Ranch fam than 🐈‍⬛ Meet Magpie! It didn’t take long for this little guy to integrate into the herd. Like his adopted sisters, he showed up one day & decided it was too good to leave. After a vet visit, shots, and snip snip surgery recovery, he’s just in time for spooky season! 👻

Of course, Mouse & Minnow needed to share some recents of their extremely difficult job being barn cats as well.

The felines want to remind you to come out to our annual Trick or Treat Trail this Friday aka Halloween to see their equine counterparts all dressed up 🎃🍬💀🕸️ RSVP is required to help us manage parking!

https://www.healingwithhorsesranch.org/halloween-trick-or-treat-trail/