Small Ranch, Big Dream

Horses have always been a passion of mine. From the time I was little, I loved horses; I lived and breathed horses. They were my therapy during my teen years when I needed someone to listen, not judge, and my comfort as I dealt with grief as an adult. They are one of my greatest blessings from God and one of the biggest parts of my life. I am blessed to get to share my two greatest passions, Jesus and horses, with people who come to our ranch in the northwest corner of Minnesota.

The Beginning

It all started with a dream to share horses with youth. Horses have an impact on people’s lives in so many ways. They help build trust and self-esteem; they give hope and can change lives for the better. I wanted to use horses to help others because they have been such a help and comfort to me over the years. At first, a local church sponsored a weekend horse and Bible camp each summer. There were more campers than camps to attend, so we needed to add more.

We didn’t have a lot to offer in the early years of camp. There were no cabins or restrooms; the kids slept in tents and used an outhouse. None of that mattered; they were enjoying spending time riding horses, experiencing day-to-day ranch life and growing closer to Jesus.

Sometimes it’s not what you have to offer that matters, if what you offer comes from the heart.

Growing the Camp

Eventually, there was a demand to offer camps throughout the summer months. Thanks to many generous donors, we now have cabins to sleep in as well as a shower house and camp kitchen.

It isn’t as rustic as the first couple of years, but our mission remains the same: to share the gospel of Christ with everyone who visits the ranch. For the past 18 years, God has grown our horse and Bible camp ministry, and we have also added women’s retreats. In 2015, we became an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the name Blazin’ Saddles.

I love being able to give kids a place to be immersed in farm life. A peaceful place to detach from the distractions of life and screens. They can focus on interacting and building bonds with the animals. They feel loved and seen by the horses they ride. They are entertained by our goats and goat kids and love spending time with our farm cats and dogs. Even the free-range chickens are amusing.

Our campers experience what it is like to do chores morning and evening and find out that animals are fun, but also a lot of work to care for. Our ranch is a haven for the many youths who visit. Some who come year after year call it their “happy place.” Our small but devoted staff love all the campers and are excited to share the love of Jesus with them.

Women’s Retreat

In 2019, we were thrilled to host our first women’s retreat. With our busy and overwhelming schedules, we saw a need for an event women could attend to relax and de-stress. There is something rejuvenating about sharing stories around the campfire after a day of riding.

Our women’s weekends are full of trail riding, good food prepared by one of our camp cooks, devotions around the campfire and building friendships. We even bring in massage therapists to bless the women with relaxation massages and end the weekend with Cowgirl Church on Sunday before they hit the trail for home.

The Horses Behind It

The horses are a very special part of our ministry. The human and horse connection is truly amazing. Horses can sense emotions in the humans they interact with: sadness, fear, joy and apprehension.

It's a beautiful thing to watch a child who is nervous around horses at first, fall in love with their camp horse. They go from fear of even touching the animal to insisting they lead it, and eventually asking to ride unassisted. The horses make them feel like they belong and help them gain confidence. It’s interesting to see how individual kids connect with certain horses. The horses all have different personalities, just like people.

A lot of our horses were born and raised at Blazin’ Saddles and have gone through my training program. We have also been blessed with donated horses over the years. The kind of kid-safe horses we need for our riders are very expensive, so we are thankful when someone decides to pass along a good horse for us to use. They are well cared for at the ranch and very loved by our many campers. We generally run 20 to 25 heads of horses, so we have enough solid riding geldings for the camps, young stock coming up to replace the old ones and a few broodmares.

We keep a lot of the same horses from year to year, but sometimes we use a horse for a year or two, and can tell they are getting burnt out from so many different people riding them. When that happens, we find a good home for them. Not every horse can take the pressure of having many different riders. It takes a very special horse.

Built on Family Roots

My family owns the ranch where Blazin’ Saddles resides, and we own the horses used for the events. It’s where my dad grew up, and I have a lot of memories playing in “Grandpa’s Barn” when I was young. The 100-year-old barn was a dairy barn where my grandpa and dad milked cows. We converted it into a horse barn, and now it is where campers meet their horses for the first time.

One of the most exciting moments at camp is watching the campers run to the barn to meet their camp horse. After meeting their special camp horse, they help groom and saddle it.

It takes a lot of time to plan the events and keep things running smoothly on the ranch and it requires team effort. I spend my time taking care of the horses, organizing the camps and events, as well as providing riding instruction.

My husband, Josh, farms and owns a trucking company. He does a lot of the behind-the-scenes maintenance on the camp buildings and keeps the horses fed in the cold winter months. Our daughter, Tyla, helps with camps and leads worship with her guitar around the evening campfires. Our son, Jace, enjoys caring for our small animals: dogs, cats, chickens, goats and rabbits.

Our family is blessed to be able to work together in ministry. We are thankful to be able to share the horses we love with so many people each year. It’s a dream that became a reality and is now lived as a blessing to us and those who come to our ranch.