Excelsior Ranch

Excelsior Ranch Excelsior Ranch offers equine assisted therapy to promote growth and personal awareness.

Friendship doesn’t require you to change who you are.A white dog and a black horse… resting near each other, just as the...
03/24/2026

Friendship doesn’t require you to change who you are.

A white dog and a black horse… resting near each other, just as they are.

They don’t try to be the same. They don’t force it. They simply feel safe enough to rest nearby.

That’s the kind of friendship we all need.

Where you don’t have to perform, prove, or fit into someone else’s expectations.

Just show up as yourself… and be at peace. 💕

Winter storms don’t shake a horse the way they shake us. - They don’t panic about what’s coming. - They don’t replay yes...
03/17/2026

Winter storms don’t shake a horse the way they shake us.
- They don’t panic about what’s coming.
- They don’t replay yesterday’s storm.
- They don’t wonder how long it will last.

Instead, they huddle together, turn their hindquarters to the wind, lower their heads, and endure.
- They conserve energy.
- They stay connected to the herd.
- They trust their ability to make it through.

And when the storm passes… they go back to grazing.

Horses don’t build a story of the storm or build an identity around it.

There’s something in that for us.

In life, we spend so much energy resisting the storm—mentally fighting it, fearing it, analyzing it—when sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is what the horse does:
- Face it.
- Adjust.
- Stay connected.
- And keep going.

At Excelsior Ranch, we see this every season. The storm comes and the horses steady themselves.

They make it through—every single time.

You will too. If you are struggling today like so many others, reach out to your herd for help and know that this storm will pass.

There’s something beautiful about unexpected friendship. 🤍🖤This is Shiloh and Chino.Shiloh is our white Polish Tatra, a ...
03/05/2026

There’s something beautiful about unexpected friendship. 🤍🖤

This is Shiloh and Chino.

Shiloh is our white Polish Tatra, a rare livestock guardian breed we waited two long years for. She was born to live outside, protect livestock, and watch over her people. She is strong and steady, yet incredibly gentle.

Chino is our big black horse with a soft heart and a playful streak. And somehow… they chose each other.

A few times a week, they turn the horse pen into their playground. They chase each other around in circles! Shiloh will leap up toward Chino’s chest and lick him. Chino “grooms” her thick white coat with his teeth like she’s one of his own. Sometimes they even lay down side by side!

In this photo, the horses are walking in from the pasture. Shiloh always waits at this exact spot. When Chino sees her, he stops to greet her before going anywhere else, and she reaches up to kiss him.

It’s simple, pure, and loyal. It reminds me of something important:
- Friendship does not have to look like you.
- It does not have to come from where you expect.
- It does not have to follow the “rules.”

Sometimes the most healing connections are the ones you never saw coming.

If you are feeling lonely, unseen, or different… take heart. There are kindred spirits out there who will stop in their tracks just to greet you, to play with you, sit beside you, and choose you.

At the Ranch, we get to witness these small miracles every day. 🥰

☀️🐴 Anyone else dreaming of summer yet?This time of year always has us looking back at warm days at the ranch — kids lau...
03/03/2026

☀️🐴 Anyone else dreaming of summer yet?

This time of year always has us looking back at warm days at the ranch — kids laughing, horses getting extra baths to stay cool, water slide days, and sticky fingers from homemade ice cream.

Horse camp is one of our favorite parts of the year because kids get to unplug, build confidence, make friends, and spend their days outside with the horses instead of staring at screens.

We’re already looking forward to another great camp season and can’t wait to welcome both returning and new campers this summer.

If you’d like information or want to grab a spot early, you can sign up here:
https://forms.gle/yvDt9fSE9H65TVjq9

Summer will be here before we know it!

🐴 Confidence doesn’t always grow loudly. Sometimes it grows quietly.One of the things we see often at the ranch is a chi...
02/24/2026

🐴 Confidence doesn’t always grow loudly. Sometimes it grows quietly.

One of the things we see often at the ranch is a child arriving unsure, quiet, or anxious around the horses. At first, they might hesitate to lead, speak softly, or avoid taking up space.

But over time, something shifts.

As they learn to guide a 1,000-pound animal, set boundaries, and communicate clearly, confidence starts to build. Not overnight, and not dramatically, but steadily.

And often parents tell us they begin to notice those same small changes showing up at home or at school.

That’s one of the reasons equine-assisted sessions can be so powerful. Working alongside our mental health professionals and equine specialists, kids get to practice confidence, communication, and emotional regulation in a way that feels natural and safe.

Growth doesn’t always make noise. Sometimes it shows up quietly, one small brave step at a time.

If your child could benefit from time with the horses, we’re always happy to talk about how sessions work.

One thing horses teach us every day at the ranch is that leadership isn’t about force — it’s about trust, consistency, a...
02/16/2026

One thing horses teach us every day at the ranch is that leadership isn’t about force — it’s about trust, consistency, and calm presence.

The horses naturally follow the one who creates safety and clarity, not the one who tries to control everything. And honestly, the same lesson applies in families, classrooms, and communities.

As we head into Presidents Day, we’re grateful for the leaders, parents, teachers, and mentors who show up with patience and steady guidance, even when the work is quiet and unseen.

Sometimes the strongest leadership simply looks like showing up every day.

Wishing everyone a warm and restful holiday weekend from all of us at Excelsior Ranch.

02/14/2026

Valentine’s Day photoshoot plan: “Let’s get one adorable picture of Nugget and Snickers together.”

Reality:
They chose violence.
✔️ Running
✔️ Kicking
✔️ Play-biting
✔️ Absolute chaos

They love each other dearly — they just express it like tiny, fluffy WWE wrestlers. So here they are in their Valentine’s best — just not next to each other 😆

Sometimes love needs boundaries for the camera 📸😂

Happy Valentine’s Day from our wild little hearts to yours.

Valentine’s Day photoshoot plan: “Let’s get one adorable picture of Nugget and Snickers together.”Reality:They chose vio...
02/14/2026

Valentine’s Day photoshoot plan: “Let’s get one adorable picture of Nugget and Snickers together.”

Reality:
They chose violence.
✔️ Running
✔️ Kicking
✔️ Play-biting
✔️ Absolute chaos

They love each other dearly — they just express it like tiny, fluffy WWE wrestlers. So here they are in their Valentine’s best — just not next to each other 😆

I guess sometimes love needs boundaries for the camera 📸😂

Happy Valentine’s Day from our wild little hearts to yours.

Horsin’ Around at Excelsior Ranch 🐴Today’s episode features Willow- our sweet, gentle mare... and full-time escape artis...
02/10/2026

Horsin’ Around at Excelsior Ranch 🐴

Today’s episode features Willow- our sweet, gentle mare... and full-time escape artist.

At chore time, all the horses were calmly inside the pen, while Willow was peacefully grazing on the outside, because to Willow, fences are optional suggestions.

After about 30 minutes of detective work, I finally discovered how she managed her latest escape. Let’s just say Willow has strong opinions about fences and impressive determination when she wants a change of scenery.

The funny thing is that this clever girl, who once came from a kill pen situation and is now around 25 years old, is one of the kindest, softest souls in the herd… unless you’re a fence trying to keep her contained.

Maybe the lesson Willow keeps teaching us is that even after hard chapters, personality and curiosity don’t disappear. Sometimes, once someone feels safe, their real spirit starts showing again… even if it means testing a few fences along the way.

Life with horses keeps us laughing, humble, and constantly fixing fences… and honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Sometimes growth is happening in ways we cannot see yet.This week, I spoke with a parent walking through a hard season w...
02/03/2026

Sometimes growth is happening in ways we cannot see yet.

This week, I spoke with a parent walking through a hard season with their child. They are showing up, supporting, encouraging, and doing everything they can, yet still worry they are failing because progress feels slow or invisible.

Working with horses reminds me of something important. Every time we interact with a horse, we are training them, whether we realize it or not. They are always learning from our presence, our consistency, our energy, and our boundaries. Even small, everyday interactions shape trust and behavior over time.

Parenting is much the same. In difficult seasons, it can feel like nothing is working, but simply showing up, loving your child, and staying present teaches them safety, resilience, and trust in ways that are not always visible right away.

Real growth often begins underground. Roots form long before anything blooms above the surface. Strength and stability are developing even when we cannot yet see progress.

At Excelsior Ranch, our one-on-one equine-assisted sessions bring together mental health professionals and equine specialists who work alongside individuals and families as they navigate these seasons. Horses have a unique way of helping kids and adults build confidence, regulate emotions, and reconnect with their own strengths in a setting that feels safe and supportive.

If you are walking through a difficult season with your child, please know that your presence matters more than you realize. Even when progress feels quiet, roots are still growing.

Sometimes we just do not get to see the bloom right away. 🌱🐴

01/30/2026

❄️ Dreaming of summer on a cold day… and getting excited for Horse Camp 2026 at Excelsior Ranch! ☀️🐴

Watching the kids build confidence with the horses, cool off on the giant water slide, and even make homemade ice cream together are some of my favorite memories. Horse camp is so much more than horses! It’s friendship, confidence, teamwork, and kids getting to just be kids outdoors.

If you have a child who loves animals or could use a little confidence boost, we would love to have them join us next summer. Spots always fill faster than expected, so we have extra slots this year and are offering early sign-ups now.

You can grab details and sign up here:
https://forms.gle/yvDt9fSE9H65TVjq9

Already looking forward to another amazing summer at the ranch. 🐎💛

10/15/2025

It’s always a little hard when you plan your day and a client no call no shows, but today I turned it into something good!

Two rides, no saddles… just sunshine and stillness🥰

Sometimes the best therapy sessions are the ones we don’t plan!

Address

25777 257th Street
Princeton, IA
52768

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm

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