Faith Hope and Love Ranch

08/24/2026

I’m sharing this because I believe deeply in the work being done by Righteous Roots to advocate for people who have experienced trauma in the Gatesville community.

This work matters. People need advocates who will stand beside them, listen to them, and help them navigate some of the hardest seasons of their lives. But continuing this work takes a community willing to invest in it.

If you or your business are looking for a meaningful way to make a difference, please consider becoming a sponsor of Righteous Roots. Your support can help them continue being a voice and advocate for those who need it most.

Please take a moment to read their post below, share it, and prayerfully consider how you might help. ❤️

When we invest in people, we help create a stronger and healthier community.

It's time for Mission Righteous Roots' annual fundraising event, Spurs & Sparkles! ✨🤠

Join us on September 26, 2026, at the Gatesville Civic Center to learn how you can support victims of abuse in our community. You and your guests will enjoy dinner and a concert featuring special guest Justin Todd Herod.

Justin is a multi-award-winning singer, songwriter, and musician from East Texas. Over the past 30 years, he has toured full-time across the United States and has written and produced 12 Christian country, blues, and country albums.

Mission Righteous Roots is a faith-based crisis resource center dedicated to identifying and removing barriers so that abuse victims and those dealing with trauma can obtain the help they need. Our trauma-informed services are provided completely free of charge to residents of Coryell, Bell, Bosque, Hamilton, Lampasas, and McLennan counties.

By attending or sponsoring this event, you are helping Mission Righteous Roots provide life-changing support to men, women, children, friends, neighbors, and family members who live right here in our communities—because abuse does not discriminate.

✨ WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR SPONSORS! ✨

There’s still time to be part of Spurs & Sparkles as a sponsor, and sponsorships aren’t just for businesses!
Whether you’re a local business, farm or ranch, organization, family, or individual, we would be incredibly grateful for your support. Sponsorships can also be made in honor or in memory of someone special. ❤️

For businesses, farms, and organizations, sponsorship is also a great opportunity to promote your name and show your support for families in our community.

You can expect an unforgettable evening of great food, live music, raffles, a photo booth, and family fun!
Join our mission today and help those you love find hope, healing, and restoration. ❤️

🎟️ Tickets include admission, meal, and concert.

EVENT DETAILS

📅 September 26, 2026
📍 Gatesville Civic Center
🕠 Doors Open at 5:30 PM
🎟️ Purchase Tickets:
https://givebutter.com/righteousrootsconcert2026

📣 Interested in becoming a sponsor?

Reach out to Mission Righteous Roots to learn about our remaining sponsorship opportunities.
[email protected]

06/27/2026

Meet Blaze
Blaze is a handsome bay Quarter Horse estimated to be between 13 and 15 years old. We purchased him from the Elkhart auction, where we were told he was 11 years old. However, after examining his teeth—including the wear on his Galvayne’s Groove—we determined he was likely several years older.
Blaze is a finished Western Pleasure horse with a calm, willing nature. Although his physical training was evident, it quickly became clear that he carried a great deal of hidden trauma. Unlike horses whose pain is easy to see, Blaze’s wounds were the kind held quietly inside. He arrived underweight and struggling with significant gut, hoof, and nutritional issues. It took months of consistent care, patience, and proper nutrition before his body began to heal.
His emotional healing took time as well. For the first five months, the herd did not fully accept him, and he often remained on the outside looking in. As we began partnering with Blaze in our equine-assisted sessions, something beautiful started to happen. He slowly came out of his shell, finding confidence and purpose through connecting with people.
Today, Blaze is one of the first to greet everyone at feeding time. His cheerful, musical neighs let the entire barn know how grateful he is for the consistency and care he now receives. After six months, we reintroduced him to the herd, and this time they welcomed him with open arms. Today, he is truly one of the guys.
Blaze reminds us that healing isn’t always visible. Sometimes the deepest wounds are the ones no one else can see. With patience, safety, and unconditional care, both horses and people can learn to trust again, find where they belong, and discover that hope is always worth waiting for.

06/27/2026

Meet Dakota

Dakota is an 11-year-old Appaloosa with a story rooted in love and legacy. We purchased him from the Elkhart auction, where we learned only a little about his past—but what we heard touched our hearts. Dakota had belonged to an elderly woman who loved him dearly. After she passed away, her husband kept Dakota for many years because he represented the last piece of his wife that he had left. Eventually, he made the difficult decision to let Dakota go so he could continue doing what he was meant to do rather than spend his days standing in a pasture.

The moment Dakota stepped into the auction ring, my husband knew he was special. It was love at first sight, and we brought him home that very night.

Since then, Dakota has become an important part of Faith Hope and Love Ranch. He played a significant role in my Natural Lifemanship certification process last year, helping teach the principles of connection, trust, and relationship. His calm presence and willing spirit make him an incredible partner, both for learning and for healing.

Dakota has a way of winning people over wherever he goes. With his gentle personality and striking Appaloosa markings, it’s no surprise that he has become one of our crowd favorites. We are grateful for the journey that brought him to us and look forward to all the lives he will continue to impact.

06/25/2026

Meet Red

Red is a 26-year-old Quarter Horse with a lifetime of experience and a heart of gold. Before joining Faith Hope and Love Ranch, Red was used as a rope horse and had two caring owners who took excellent care of him. He was later generously donated to the foundation, where he has continued to make a lasting impact.

Over the years, Red has helped teach many beginner riders, earning a reputation for his patience, kindness, and willingness to meet each rider where they are. He has a special ability to adjust to the confidence and skill level of the person working with him, making him a trusted partner for those who are just beginning their equine journey.

When he’s not helping people learn and grow, Red can usually be found with his best friend, Major. The two are inseparable, and it’s a common sight to see them out in the pasture together, playing, grazing, and frolicking side by side.

Red reminds us that wisdom, patience, and a gentle spirit can leave a lasting impression on everyone they meet. We are grateful for the many lives he has touched and continues to influence through his calm and faithful presence. ❤️🐴

06/25/2026

Meet Southern Commander 🐴

Southern Commander is a 20-year-old, double-registered Chocolate Rocky Mountain Horse and Kentucky Mountain Horse who has become a very special part of our herd at Faith Hope and Love Ranch.

Commander came to us from the Bowie Kill Pen, and unfortunately, very little was known about his past. Despite efforts to trace his history through his registration records, the contact information was no longer valid, leaving much of his story a mystery. What we do know is that his future was given a second chance.

Today, Commander is my personal riding horse and trusted trail partner. Together, we have spent countless hours camping and exploring trails across Texas, creating memories mile after mile. His smooth gait, willing spirit, and dependable nature make him a joy to ride and a faithful companion on every adventure.

While we may never know where Commander’s journey began, we are grateful to be part of where it continues. We look forward to many more miles, campfires, and trail rides together in the years ahead.

“Sometimes the horses with the most unknown pasts leave the greatest footprints on our hearts.” ❤️🐴

06/23/2026

Meet Buddy 💙

Buddy is a 15-year-old Turkoman and Quarter Horse cross with a story that reminds us that every life has value.

In March 2020, I received a call from the Bowie kill pen. The owner told me that his dad had pulled a horse off a truck headed to Mexico because he saw something special in the horse’s eyes. That horse was Buddy.

From the moment Buddy arrived, he showed us exactly what his rescuer had seen. He is kind, gentle, and easygoing, with a quiet spirit that puts people at ease. Over the years, Buddy has helped teach several people how to ride, including individuals who had little to no experience with horses.

Buddy has a remarkable ability to meet people where they are. Whether he is carrying a first-time rider or simply standing quietly beside someone who needs connection, he offers patience, trust, and a calm presence.

At Faith Hope and Love Ranch, Buddy serves as one of our four-legged therapists, helping others build confidence, courage, and meaningful relationships. His journey from the brink of uncertainty to becoming a trusted teacher and companion is a testament to God’s grace and the power of second chances.

We are so grateful that someone saw something special in Buddy’s eyes that day. We see it too. ❤️

06/22/2026

🐴 Meet Major 🐴

Major’s story is one of rescue, second chances, and a heart full of love.

A dear friend of my daughter once drove all the way to Houston to look at a barrel horse she had seen advertised. When she arrived, the horse was nothing like what had been described. As she was preparing to leave disappointed, the owners said, “Hang on, we have one more horse.”

That horse was Major.

As soon as he was brought out, he walked straight up to my friend and laid his head against her chest, almost as if he was saying, “Please help me.” He was malnourished, but despite his condition, his gentle and trusting nature shined through.

Fighting back tears, the young lady knew he wasn’t the barrel horse she had been searching for, but she also knew she couldn’t leave him behind. She brought him home, nursed him back to health, and gave him the care and love he deserved until he was ready to find his forever home.

That forever home became Faith Hope and Love Ranch.

Major is primarily Saddlebred mixed with Quarter Horse, and he carries a playful, childlike spirit that brings joy to everyone around him. He loves spending time with the herd and can often be found playing with his best bud, Red—who you’ll get to meet later this week!

Major’s journey reminds us that sometimes the horse we need most isn’t the one we were looking for.

Stay tuned throughout the week as we continue introducing the incredible members of our herd and the special role they play in our equine-assisted services. ❤️

06/21/2026

Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing dads, grandfathers, stepdads, and father figures! We hope your day is filled with love, blessings, and special moments with those you cherish most.

This week at Faith Hope and Love Ranch LLC, we have something special planned!

🐴 Over the next week, we will be introducing the heart of our program—our herd of equine therapists. Each horse has a unique personality, story, and gift that helps make a difference in the lives of those who come to the ranch.

From building confidence and trust to teaching healthy boundaries, emotional regulation, and connection, our horses have a remarkable way of helping people heal and grow.

Be sure to follow along each day this week as we introduce each member of our herd and share what makes them so special.

We can’t wait for you to get to know the incredible partners who help make the work we do at Faith Hope and Love Ranch possible. ❤️

“The righteous care for the needs of their animals…” – Proverbs 12:10

🐴❤️🙏