Bearfoot Ranch

Bearfoot Ranch Our PATH certified therapy instructor offers lessons for children and adults with special needs.
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Bearfoot Ranch is a non-profit horse rescue and offers therapeutic riding lessons for children with special needs in a safe, effective, and compassionate environment. THERAPEUTIC RIDING LESSONS

http://www.bearfootranch.org/services/therapeutic-riding-lessons/

At Bearfoot Ranch, we truly feel that everyone benefits from interaction with horses. PATH International (Professional Association of Ther

apeutic Horsemanship) was founded in 1969 as North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) to promote safe and effective equine assisted activities and therapies in the USA and Canada. PATH International now has centers and members in countries all over the world.

Hey HOMESCHOOLERS.... do you need a fun activity for Physical Education credits? Sign up for P.E. at Bearfoot Ranch!The ...
02/10/2025

Hey HOMESCHOOLERS.... do you need a fun activity for Physical Education credits? Sign up for P.E. at Bearfoot Ranch!
The program is 10 weeks long, one class per week on either Tuesday or Thursday from 1 pm to 2 pm.

You Will Learn:
-Science: Riding healthy horses, biology of horses & horticulture
-Math: Horse measuring and weighing & economics of ownership
-History: History of horses & traditions of breeds
-Physical Education: Riding and conditioning for riding
-Social Studies: Herd dynamics
-Literature: Horses in film, books & media
-Art: Drawing and painting horses
-Equine First Aid and Safety
-Build self confidence and leadership skills

The 10 week program is only $300 per child which can be paid in two installments.

Call or email today! Spots are limited and we expect this program to fill up fast!

678-805-7433
[email protected]
Bearfoot Ranch
www.bearfootranch.org

CHURCH post-surgery update!Our sweet boy has been home for a week and is doing amazing! The surgery was successful in re...
01/25/2025

CHURCH post-surgery update!
Our sweet boy has been home for a week and is doing amazing! The surgery was successful in removing the infected bone and tissue from his hoof. His hoof is cleaned daily, he is on stall rest and is being closely monitored for HYPP episodes.
The surgical site is a hole in the bottom of his hoof which needs cleaned and packed. Next, the protective metal plate is bolted to the shoe for maximum protection and allows healing.
Church stands still during the process and is noticeably more comfortable. He is the best boy!
If all continues to go well, will see the vet again at the five week mark and will give you another update. Please continue to keep Church in your prayers, he is healing great but, he is not out of the woods yet. Everyday we have him is a blessing!
Bearfoot Ranch
www.bearfootranch.org

THANK YOU Four Scythes Haunted Attraction for your donation to Bearfoot Ranch! Your support year after year means so muc...
01/23/2025

THANK YOU Four Scythes Haunted Attraction for your donation to Bearfoot Ranch! Your support year after year means so much to us! Zorro, the cutest mini in the world, is also very appreciative!

To learn more about the amazing group at Four Scythes Haunted Attraction, visit their website at https://fourscytheshaunt.com/

Their attraction is 100% volunteer run and the profits they collect are donated to local charities. This year, $70,000 will be donated. We LOVE their big hearts!

Their donation will go toward extra hay needed because of the extreme cold weather we are experiencing. Our horses are eating more than normal because forage consumption keeps them warm during the bitter cold nights. We've experienced over 14 days this month where the overnight temperature did not get above freezing. Remember, we are in Georgia and not used to this! Thank you Four Scythes Haunted Attraction for keeping our horses tummies full so they can stay toasty warm!

Bearfoot Ranch
www.bearfootranch.org

Our gorgeous Reba looks tre’chic in her new blanket that was donated from our Amazon Wish List. The days are a **little*...
01/14/2025

Our gorgeous Reba looks tre’chic in her new blanket that was donated from our Amazon Wish List. The days are a **little** warmer, but nights are still in the teens, so a lot of our horses still get a blanket overnight.

Reba is a 12-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse. She is a beautiful chestnut color with Birdcatcher spots. The spots are named for the Irish-born Thoroughbred stallion Birdcatcher. Birdcatcher spots are small, white or cream-colored markings that appear on some horses. They are a type of pigmentation disorder that is usually cosmetic and not a sign of other problems.

In 2022, we noticed Reba was not acting herself under saddle. Our vet did radiographs and found she had kissing spine. Kissing spine is a painful skeletal abnormality in horses in which bony projections on the vertebrae of the spine touch or “kiss.” (Image is an example of what kissing spine looks like).

Because Reba was young and in great shape, and her kissing spine was not yet severe, we decided to have interspinous ligament desmotomy (ISLD) surgery, commonly known as the ligament snip.

University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine performed the surgery and she had a full and successful recovery. We now use her in our lesson program, but are careful to appoint riders that she is physically able to carry.

Reba is loved by so many because of her quiet, sweet demeanor. She will follow you and politely ask for pets and neck scratches.

Thank you again for the blanket that helps Reba stay comfortable on chilly nights. If you would like to donate something from our Amazon Wish List, visit: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/178A9NHIDD8IU?ref_=abls_nvfly_yl

Bearfoot Ranch
www.bearfootranch.org

For more information on kissing spine, visit:
https://madbarn.com/kissing-spine-in-horses/?srsltid=AfmBOooXAspH0ZTGRXjVcG7IfRBMGYBmalZ-NBc-L98jcN5kkjmzLU5W

January 14 UPDATE: Church had surgery today and everything went according to plan! We are expecting him to come home to ...
01/13/2025

January 14 UPDATE: Church had surgery today and everything went according to plan! We are expecting him to come home to BeBearfoot Ranchhis Friday. Vet did say that he will need surgery on his left front hoof when the right one has healed. We suspected this but the vet confirmed it today. Recovery can be as little as 12 weeks or as long as 12 months. We don't know how long his recovery period will be but we will be there for him every second of it. When he gets home, we will give another update. Thank you for the outpouring of love for this sweet boy.

January 13 UPDATE: There were many emergency colic calls today, not uncommon with the severe winter weather we’re experiencing SO, Church’s surgery was rescheduled for tomorrow. Keep sending him your love ❤️

Church has arrived at the surgical center and will have surgery today to Bearfoot remove the infected bone and surrounding tissue in his right front hoof. Please say a prayer and send good vibes his way. When we get updates, we will let you know. Thank you for your donations that made this possible!
Bearfoot Ranch
www.bearfootranch.org

It was a triumph of resilience, but we persevered through 3 days of freezing weather, snow, sleet and wind. Some remarka...
01/12/2025

It was a triumph of resilience, but we persevered through 3 days of freezing weather, snow, sleet and wind. Some remarkable experiences we encountered: ***remember…we live in Georgia ***
-Horses had icicles on their ears. -Horse blankets were frozen stiff from sleet freezing into ice. Two of our horses were terrified of the “crunchy” and hard blankets and needed a lot of love and relaxing care to be calm enough for us to safely put on a dry blanket.
-Walking the ranch Friday night at 8:30 pm checking for shivering horses, had to be creative and find shelter for them to warm up, even using our indoor arena as a holding area and rotating them being tied in the barn, just long enough to get warm enough to go outside so we could bring in the next group of cold horses.
-No hot water, but so grateful to at least have water! Boiled water on the stove to make many, many warm timothy and alfalfa mash snacks to keep horses warm.
-Using horse cooler blankets to wrap up in as we tried to get a few hours of sleep overnight.
-Trying not to fall on black ice, on an incline, in the dark, with a 1,100 pound animal.
-Breaking ice in water troughs many times throughout the day and one last time at 9:00 pm.
-Checking, double checking and triple checking every horse had enough hay, chop hay or warm mash. -Adding Purina RepleniMash to waters to encourage drinking to prevent colic.
-Checking gates and fencing closures to prevent them from freezing shut.
-Double checking all horses blankets to make sure they were properly secured so no one got injured.
-Using our portable heaters to warm the pipes in the apartment which made the living quarters chilly.
-Praying that our 49 horses and overnight crew of three be safe (Jackson, Addison and Jamie).
-Jackson and Jamie walked approximately 15 miles each and Addison helped to look after the inside barn.
-Thankful for a warm dinner of Manwich, macaroni and cheese and hot chocolate and a hot breakfast of eggs and bacon.
-Appreciate all the help before the storm (Susan, Tony, Laura) and after the storm (Susan, Susan, Billy, Maggie, Sydney, Darrith, Kahlan, Wes).
-Relieved that we made it through and everyone was ok.
Bearfoot Ranch www.bearfootranch.org

We hope everyone stays safe during this winter storm but if anyone needs help with property damage from the storm, pleas...
01/10/2025

We hope everyone stays safe during this winter storm but if anyone needs help with property damage from the storm, please give Oasis Restoration a call!

- Busted or Frozen Pipes
- Tree Falls
- Roof Leaks
- Fire Damage from Heaters
- Sewage or Septic Tank Backup

Oasis Restoration's owner, Johnny, is part of the Bearfoot Ranch family! His company has volunteered and given back to Bearfoot several times last year and has a standing pledge to donate proceeds back to our non-profit rescue, from those who mention their connection to friends and family of Bearfoot Ranch.

They have amazing reviews, family owned and extreme attention to detail. Don't forget to mention Bearfoot Ranch!

Bearfoot Ranch
www.bearfootranch.org
Oasis Restoration
https://oasisrestorationatl.com/

Yes, this sunrise is the real deal! Beautiful in so many ways. River, Sam and Bear are patiently waiting for breakfast. ...
01/09/2025

Yes, this sunrise is the real deal! Beautiful in so many ways. River, Sam and Bear are patiently waiting for breakfast. Photo credit Tony Rixom, one of our key volunteers and Dad to rescue horse Doodle Bug.
www.bearfootranch.org
Bearfoot Ranch

Reflecting back on 2024 was easy, yet difficult at the same time. We had an amazing year but how do you QUANTIFY success...
01/05/2025

Reflecting back on 2024 was easy, yet difficult at the same time. We had an amazing year but how do you QUANTIFY success, goals met, growth, love and relationships? We put together a few numbers of interesting facts about Bearfoot Ranch but there are so many more to celebrate, we just couldn't list them all. Our success is because of YOU! Our family, friends, volunteers, advocates and donors. We are a 501c3 nonprofit and depend on all of you to keep our barn doors open to accept rescues and surrenders and to provide therapeutic lessons for special needs children. Cheers to you, cheers to a successful 2024 and cheers to growing our programs in 2025.

Please continue your support by donating via our website: https://bearfootranch.org/donate/

Or ordering needed items from our Amazon Wish List:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/178A9NHIDD8IU?ref_=abls_nvfly_yl

It’s a beautiful day at Bearfoot Ranch! Skip and Sam are ready for breakfast.www.bearfootranch.com
12/30/2024

It’s a beautiful day at Bearfoot Ranch! Skip and Sam are ready for breakfast.
www.bearfootranch.com

Merry Christmas from Bearfoot Ranch! Cheers to you and yours today and everyday. Our hearts are full from the outpouring...
12/25/2024

Merry Christmas from Bearfoot Ranch! Cheers to you and yours today and everyday. Our hearts are full from the outpouring of love and generosity this year. Thanks to each and everyone one of you that volunteered your time or made a donation to help the horses and provide a therapeutic lesson program for children with special needs. We are a 501c3 and depend on you to keep our barn doors open to accept and help both animals and humans. Looking forward to 2025!
www.bearfootranch.org

Address

12976 Cumming Highway
Canton, GA
30115

Opening Hours

Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

(678) 805-7433

Website

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Videos

Zorro got busted in the hay room. Best 20 seconds of his life! Bearfoot Ranch #bearfootranch #mini horses #bearfootranchrescue #rescuehorses #mini hot

Tibo is happy to ring in the 2025! Cheers to the New Year! Bearfoot Ranch

Most of our posts feature our horses because they are the heart of the ranch. Without their service we could not offer lessons. The lessons geared towards our special needs riders go beyond learning in the saddle. Here, Gabby is bonding and communicating with Zorro and showing him love, compassion and responsibility by walking him. The joy in her laugh made our day! Thank you for being awesome Gabby! We love you! 🥰 Bearfoot Ranch www.bearfootranch.org

Church is obviously very uncomfortable walking. He tries to keep as much weight on his back end to keep his front feet from hurting.

Church having a mild HYPP episode. You can see his muscles fluttering or twitching. HYPP is a muscular disease caused by a genetic mutation that disrupts the sodium ion channel and results in an excessive amount of potassium in the blood (hyperkalemia). This causes the muscles to contract more readily than normal. Horses with HYPP can experience unpredictable attacks of muscle tremors or paralysis, which in severe cases can lead to collapse and sudden death due to cardiac arrest or respiratory failure. HYPP is primarily associated with horses with heavy musculature (although not necessarily all well muscled horses are affected). - UC Davis Vet Med website

Bitsy loves rolling around after her blanket came off today. Finally some warm sunshine! www.bearfootranch.org

It’s falling a flood a Bearfoot Ranch! www.bearfootranch.org

Another big THANK YOU for our wish list gifts from Amazon! To everyone that has gifted us these items, we can’t thank you enough. Your thoughtfulness and generosity has made a change! Www.bearfootranch.org

Thank you Alexandria Meyer and The Egan Family for the Christmas gifts for our horses! We are so grateful for your orders off our Amazon Wish List. Www.bearfootranch.org

Thank you Lance and Diane for gifts from our Amazon wish list ❤️ gypsy was enjoying the new brushes and Hillo and Trinket were getting a red light therapy session. We are so blessed to have you at Bearfoot Ranch!

Elsa LOVES RepleniMash by Purina! In fact, all our horses love it. Great for hydration and a meal topping. If you haven’t checked it out, do it now. You won’t be disappointed!

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