Hopewell Ranch

What Hopewell Ranch does

HopeWell Ranch is a non-profit animal-assisted therapy center founded in 2004 and located on a 6410 W Leiter Road working farm in Weidman, Michigan. The organization provides equine-assisted therapy, horsemanship and riding lessons, and specialized programs to four primary constituencies: children and youth (notably the Unbridled Potential summer program for ages 8–15), veterans and military personnel (through the year-round Project Solomon program launched in Spring 2016), families, and individuals seeking mental health support for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and related conditions.

The core therapeutic methodology is the EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) Model — an internationally recognized, experiential, evidence-based framework that emphasizes ground-based interaction with horses rather than riding, co-facilitated by a licensed mental health professional and a certified equine specialist. The organization has integrated Equine-Assisted EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) as a specialized trauma therapy modality, and combines EAGALA methodology with an explicit Christian faith foundation. Programs are delivered by a credentialed team that includes EAGALA-certified mental health professionals (LLMSW and MA LLP level), certified equine specialists, a Military Designated Equine Specialist, and a riding instructor. The organization maintains a working herd of 21+ horses plus mini donkeys, mules, and smaller animals, supplemented by rescue animal partnerships with Last Chance Corral and Living Hope Ranch.

Revenue is generated through three streams: (1) program fees including $50 per person for 90-minute group riding lessons and $60 per person for private lessons (with a $20 discount on a 6-lesson prepayment), (2) fees for therapeutic sessions conducted by licensed mental health and equine specialists, and (3) donations, grants, and capital campaign contributions — the latter including a $2 million campaign (with a $100,000 dollar-for-dollar match available through July 4, 2026) targeted at constructing the Center for Healing and Hope by 2027. Veterans' services under Project Solomon are provided free of charge. Marketing and go-to-market rely on community-based channels including the ranch's website, social media, email, word-of-mouth referrals from churches, schools (SVSU, CMU), veteran organizations, and recurring fundraising events. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors including co-founders Ty Stuber (Board President) and Jodi Stuber (Executive Director).

Name

Hopewell Ranch

Legal name

HopeWell Ranch

Website

https://hopewellranch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

HopeWell Ranch is a non-profit equine-assisted therapy center in Weidman, Michigan that delivers EAGALA-based therapy, horsemanship lessons, and specialized programs to children, families, individuals with trauma or PTSD, and veterans through Project Solomon.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal-Assisted Mental Health Services

NAICS

Horses and Other Equine Production (112920), Support Activities for Animal Production (115210)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Equine Working Ranch & Trail Operations (non-tourism) (AFAEAGAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Equine-assisted therapy
• Animal-assisted therapy
• Mental health services
• Veteran support programs
• Therapeutic horsemanship

Headquarters

HQ city

Weidman

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: HopeWell Ranch relies heavily on monetary donations from individuals, families, churches, and organizations. Donations can be made online via the website, by check mailed to the ranch, or through PayPal. The ranch also accepts animal sponsorship donations and memorial fund contributions.
2. Program Fees: Fees charged for therapeutic and learning programs including equine-assisted therapy sessions and horsemanship/riding lessons. Fees help offset costs of licensed mental health professionals, equine specialists, and facility operations.
3. Capital Campaign Fundraising: A capital campaign is underway to raise $2 million by 2027 to build the Center for Healing and Hope, including a dollar-for-dollar match opportunity up to $100,000 (goal: July 4, 2026). Naming and legacy opportunities are available for major donors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HopeWell Ranch is a non-profit animal-assisted therapy center providing equine-assisted therapy and learning programs using the EAGALA Model and Equine-Assisted EMDR methodology. Core programs include Project Solomon (free PTSD program for veterans), Unbridled Potential (children's summer program), general equine-assisted therapy for individuals and families, and horsemanship/riding lessons. The center operates on a working farm in rural Michigan with 21+ therapy horses.

Product overview

HopeWell Ranch is a non-profit animal-assisted therapy center offering a portfolio of therapeutic and educational programs centered on equine interaction. The core offerings include Project Solomon (veterans' PTSD program), Equine-Assisted Therapy and Learning, Equine-Assisted EMDR, Unbridled Potential (children's summer program), and Horsemanship and Riding Lessons. These programs are supported by Internship and Volunteering opportunities, animal sponsorship, and a Memorial Fund donation program. The organization is currently running a $2 million Capital Campaign to build the Center for Healing and Hope, scheduled for completion in 2027. The EAGALA Model underpins the therapeutic approach, emphasizing experiential learning and emotional safety.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Project Solomon A veterans' program developed in Spring 2016 providing PTSD support, equine interaction, experiential activities, and EAGALA group sessions for military personnel and their families, held every Tuesday year-round as a gift (free of charge).
• Equine-Assisted Therapy and Learning Ground-based therapeutic sessions facilitated by an equine specialist and licensed mental health professional, addressing challenges such as anger management, low self-esteem, conflict resolution, attachment issues, substance abuse, and trauma without horse riding.
• Equine-Assisted EMDR
• Unbridled Potential
• Horsemanship and Riding Lessons

Quantifiable outcome

• 84–90% of single-trauma survivors no longer met PTSD diagnostic criteria after three 90-minute EMDR sessions (per cited research Shapiro, 2017; Watts et al., 2013)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018HopeWell Ranch is an EAGALA-certified organization and utilizes the EAGALA Model — a globally recognized, evidence-based approach to mental health and personal development. The Becca Galloway Memorial Fund has sent several HopeWell staff members to receive EAGALA certification. EAGALA provides the standard and training framework for the organization's therapeutic programs.
• Joe Claybaugh / JBS ContractingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJoe Claybaugh of JBS Contracting is serving as Project Manager for the Center for Healing and Hope construction project, overseeing design and building of the new facility.
• SVSU (Saginaw Valley State University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHopeWell Ranch frequently hosts SVSU interns across disciplines including child development, education, recreational therapy, social work, event planning, and business administration, creating a pipeline of trained professionals.
• CMU (Central Michigan University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHopeWell Ranch partners with CMU for internship placements in multiple fields of study, expanding its reach into academic communities and developing future talent for therapeutic equine services.
• Last Chance CorralminorOthersLast Chance Corral rescued Hope's Noble Star (Noble) from a kill pen as a baby. The organization is a horse rescue that works to save horses from slaughter, providing a critical pipeline of rescue animals to HopeWell Ranch.
• Living Hope RanchminorOthersLiving Hope Ranch generously donated Noble, a rescued horse, to HopeWell Ranch. Noble was rescued out of a kill pen by Last Chance Corral as a baby, and Living Hope Ranch facilitated his donation to HopeWell.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association): Global standards-setting and certification body for the EAGALA Model that HopeWell Ranch uses as its core therapeutic methodology. Comparable because it defines the same evidence-based framework and trains/certifies the same specialist-plus-mental-health-professional team configuration.
• Horses & Humans Research Foundation: Non-profit that funds and disseminates research on equine-assisted services. Comparable because HopeWell cites the same Shapiro/Watts EMDR evidence base to support its therapeutic claims, making it an adjacent research and validation partner in the same evidence ecosystem.
• Last Chance Corral: Horse rescue organization that supplied rescued horses (e.g., Hope's Noble Star) to HopeWell Ranch. Comparable as an upstream animal-supply partner in HopeWell's operational ecosystem rather than a therapy competitor.

Direct peers

• BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding & Educational Center: Non-profit equine-assisted therapy center serving veterans, children, and individuals with disabilities in the Midwest. Comparable because it shares HopeWell's EAGALA-grounded, faith-rooted, veteran-focused program mix and combines riding lessons with clinical therapy.
• Mane Stream: Non-profit equine-assisted services center offering therapy, adaptive riding, and veteran programs on a working farm. Comparable because of overlapping equine-assisted therapy/learning programs, military/veteran services, and a working-herd model anchored in a single rural campus.
• Hearts & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center: PATH Int'l Premier Accredited non-profit therapeutic riding center offering equine-assisted activities and therapy for children, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. Comparable because it operates a working ranch with a multi-population program portfolio similar to HopeWell's Project Solomon and Unbridled Potential.
• High Hopes Therapeutic Riding: Non-profit therapeutic/adaptive riding and equine-assisted services organization serving children, adults, and veterans. Comparable due to similar program mix (adaptive riding, equine-assisted therapy, veteran services) and reliance on a credentialed instructor + specialist model.
• Soldier's Sanctuary: Non-profit equine-assisted program dedicated specifically to veterans with PTSD and trauma. Comparable because of its overlapping Project-Solomon-equivalent veteran focus, free-of-charge delivery model, and equine-mental-health methodology.
• Stable Strides Therapeutic Riding Center: Non-profit equine-assisted therapy and adaptive riding center serving children and adults with disabilities, mental health needs, and veterans. Comparable because it runs an equivalent multi-population equine therapy program on a working ranch with volunteer-supported operations.

Broad incumbents

• PATH Int'l (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International): The largest US credentialing and accreditation body for therapeutic horsemanship. Comparable because it sits adjacent to HopeWell's EAGALA ecosystem as the dominant alternative framework for the same equine-assisted services market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hopewell-ranch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hopewell Ranch