The Founder of JRQ Ranch grew up loving and working with horses in Southern California.  She was disappointed that no matter how much she pleaded with her parents, she could not have one of her own. Life went on as she moved to Arizona, got married, gave birth to her only daughter, got a divorce and eventually moved to Texas for a better life.

However, she carried a dirty little secret for over 40 years.  She was a victim of childhood sexual abuse. Incest. Aside from the shame it brought, her family refused to acknowledge that it even happened. Yet, SHE was the one living with the scar, the black spot on her back, the fear of never being comfortable in any relationship and struggling with an obesity that kept her safe and warm in her own pity.

Many years of counseling didn't help.  She didn't need to keep talking about it. She needed healing.  In late May of 2017, she decided to do something impulsive. She was finally going to test the waters and bid on a kill pen horse.  On June 3, 2017, an 11 year old abused Appaloosa she named J.R. (after her favorite actor and TV character) came to the stables in Garland, Texas.  It had been many years since she had been around or been on a horse.  She had no earthly idea what rescuing an abused horse, a horse so frightened and unsure of himself and humans, would entail.  It was rough. He spooked easily and was deemed unsafe to ride.

Something happened after that. An abused horse and an abused owner formed a bond with each other. As J.R. settled down​, the two grew closer. He was definitely HER horse and she was definitely HIS person.   The relationship experience is intense because both are considered "prey" and understand each other.  "I can tell him anything, good or bad, unlike a best friend who might be biased even though they want the best for you," she described, "there's no judgment and no opinion here." 

As the bond grew stronger, the heavy scales of shame, doubt, depression and anger began to give way.  Opportunities began to present themselves, both in business and in personal affairs.  She became a vegetarian and dropped 70 pounds.  Things that were roadblocks and hurdles to healing finally started to become goals.  All the hurt and the fear began to melt away.  She was beginning to heal.

There's so much more to this story, but it's time to write YOUR healing story.  At JRQ Ranch, we believe every horse should be given a chance to have that one person.  We also believe that every woman, whether teenage or way into adult years, should be given that chance to heal through that one special horse.