Eagle's Nest Ranch - Elbert County Partnership

The Eagle’s Nest Ranch is a non-profit organization located in Elizabeth, Colorado. Suzy McKenzie is the Founder & Executive Director. The main purpose is to bring hope, trust and growth into the live of those who come to the Ranch. They serve children, adults and military participants who have experienced the invisible wounds of life. Their program is provided free of charge. One-to-One interactive sessions with a horse and facilitator are provided, as they work to provide healing and growth so they may soar above adversity.

Healing Horses for the Armed Forces:

The lingering effects of war are the invisible wounds that many service members carry. They offer support to our nation’s service members and veterans by creating a safe place for them to adjust, reconnect, and to remind them that there is always hope no matter what they have faced.

Service members can relate to a horse’s way of survival and learn how to adapt to new surroundings in a new herd (civilian life). Horses serve as steadfast companions in a service member’s journey home.

Soaring Program:

This program is for ages 7 and up, non-military families. In the safe environment of Eagle’s Nest Ranch, you can find renewal and healing, recapturing the life God desires for you…..so you can soar above the adversaries of life. Interacting with horses, the participants learn how to trust them and their trust in you.

First Responses Program and Buckaroo Days:

This event supports the first responder community through individual or family sessions with horses. The program helps the first responder and their family through the stresses they experience due to their intense work. These include law enforcement, fire fighters, paramedics and dispatchers. Additionally, we offer Buckaroo Days every summer for first responder families for ranch family fun, as well as encouragement.

The Ranch provides new hope, trust and growth to those who have struggled with challenges such as trauma, PTSD, divorce, depression or abuse.

The Elbert County Partnership encourages citizens to visit this outstanding program and facility. It is providing solution alternatives that reach out to participants and their families. As we bring attention these county gems and bring tremendous benefits to Elbert County.

In addition, consider becoming a donor on a monthly or annual donation to the Eagle’s Nest Ranch. They function solely on donations. There is a lot of need for volunteers to help in many areas around the Ranch.

Following are some great pictures from the Ranch:

This is a picture of Suzy McKenzie and “Cowgirl”. Some horses donated to the Ranch have experienced traumas in their life. “Cowgirl” has been recovering from losing a life-long horse mate. Horses experience many of the feelings that humans experience. She loves integration with people and is well on her way to full recovery. She has bonded with many of the participants.

Gathering Nest — A gathering “nest” for guests to meet. It is used for meetings, classes and sessions.

Modern indoor stalls for the horses. They are spacious, clean and protect the horses from the elements.

Large indoor arena — A large indoor arena for special events & participant sessions where they are in a safe and comfortable place. This arena offers participants a quiet open space with privacy of being indoors and away from the elements. Buckaroo Days is an event for First Responders and their families, held here 3-4 times a year as a fund raiser but focused on getting participants and horses together for a day of grooming horses, riding horses and and fun events along with families.

Danny the horse — “Danny” is a horse that loves meeting people. He always likes to be petted and scratched. Call him by name and he will come to you in a heart beat. He is in the outdoor stalls area where he is eating and taking in the sun and fresh air of the Ranch.

The Ranch has sent out hundred of Christmas cards to the military serving overseas. Here is one of the letters of appreciation from Afghanistan. Here is an area where volunteers would be able to help each November.

Family picnic area — In conjunction with Buckaroo Days, as well as other donations from the public at large, the Ranch is moving forward to turn this area into a family park, picnic area and playground for families to enjoy while their love ones are participating in a session.

Sessions last about 90 minutes that includes a 30 minutes “work” session where the participants help clean out stalls, brush horses and other tasks around the Ranch. This is followed by a 60 minutes session riding the horse and bonding with the horse to create a wholesome experience.

Participants experiencing PTSD, domestic violence, molestation, trauma from an accident, and other such incidents will learn to gain confidence in themselves, learn to take control of their live and learn to deal with the issues and pain in their life.

The Ranch builds hope, trust and growth to those who need the help most.

Participants come from Elbert County, Douglas County, Arapahoe and El Paso Counties. Please consider making a sustained donation to make sure that this facility and organization will be able to continue helping those in need throughout the county and surrounding areas.

You may reach the Ranch at 303-596-2784 or at [email protected] or go to their website at www.eaglesnestranch.org.

This story has been sponsored by the ELBERT COUNTY PARTNERSHIP, making Elbert County a better place to live.