A Distinct Identity
Who We Are
Blue Sky Ranch strives to provide a community environment where everyone is welcome to experience time with horses. Whether you are an experienced trail rider, a novice, or looking for for a safe place to spend some quiet time, we have all that! Blue Sky Ranch is a 501(c)(3) not for profit, bringing the community together through teaching, community programs, and outreach. Blue Sky's youth programs teach youth about horse communication, teamwork,leadership and how to safely bond and ride a horse. Volunteer and learning opportunities are available for every age.
Turning Interest Into Action
A Bit About Us
Here at Blue Sky Ranch, we’re committed to investing our expertise and resources in order to further achieve our cause, community inclusion. Starting in 2017, we’ve been supporting our community members in a variety of ways and measuring our success not by monetary size, but by more qualitative measurements such as the scale and effectiveness of our efforts. Just imagine what we can achieve together!
Creating opportunities...
Blue Sky Ranch is in the business of changing and shaping lives. The work we do at our Nonprofit Organization is aimed at providing a holistic approach to solving some of our society’s biggest challenges. We make sure our partners are empowered by creating opportunities for individuals and communities.
Young Guns Youth Program
Ages 10yr-18yrs
With our organization’s mission always in mind, we strive to find new strategies in community outreach. Our youth program is one of our pilot programs and our team is working each and every day to make a positive impact on our youth. We work with teens in a variety of ways; we teach leadership skills and tools through teamwork, confidence, compassion, and empowerment to become a valued team player. In exchange for their free horseback riding lessons, our teens volunteer their time at the barn and/or in the community.
Littles Youth Program
Ages 9yrs and under
With this initiative, our goal is to promote opportunities for those little ones who want to learn to ride a horse safely. With access to the right resources, children can become empowered by their own abilities and gain the confidence to fulfill their potential. At Blue Sky Ranch, we very much believe in the healing power of horses and all animals. We want children to become familiar and comfortable handling/being around big animals.
Rough Riders
Adult Riding
Every Saturday 1pm-4pm
Equine Therapy Riding
At Blue Sky Ranch, we are dedicated to stepping up our efforts in addressing this issue. We hope to be certified in equine therapy soon!
Veteran Riding Program
Our goal here is to promote great opportunities for those service men and women. Veterans and horses have many things in common that make them perfect partners for therapy. For one, their senses are more sensitive to activity than most: veterans because of their service in combat zones; horses because they are prey animals by nature. Moreover, horses are more sensitive to human emotion and behavior, sending cues from humans so they can better communicate with each other. PTSD is an affliction that never really goes away. The hope is that the participants can go home with new understanding and new means of coping with what the veterans brought home from the war.
​
Where in this wide world can man find nobility without pride,
Friendship without envy,
Or beauty without vanity?
Here, where grace is served with muscle
And strength by gentleness confined
He serves without servility; he has fought without enmity.
There is nothing so powerful, nothing less violent.
There is nothing so quick, nothing more patient.
~Ronald Duncan, "The Horse," 1954
​
​
How to Donate
You Can Make a Difference
Your support is important to our work at Blue Sky Ranch. There are many ways you can contribute towards our causes, and every little bit that you commit goes a long way in helping us fulfill our mission. Learn more about how you can get involved and take advantage of the opportunity to do some good.
Partner with Us
Want to join our efforts but not sure where to start? Partner with Us and take advantage of this incredible opportunity to lend your support. It’s a great way to contribute to our cause, and every little bit counts towards paving the path for a better tomorrow. Get in touch with us today for more details about how you can help.
Volunteer Your Time
This is one of the simplest ways to help out our cause. We believe the best way for our initiatives to be successful is for the community to actively get involved. This is an easy and efficient way of contributing to the great work we do at Blue Sky Ranch. Get in touch with any questions about how you can Volunteer Your Time today.
Make a Donation
Our organization always appreciates the generosity and involvement of people like you, with every contribution going towards making Blue Sky Ranch an even better Nonprofit Organization than it already is. We want to provide you with the correct and appropriate information pertaining to your mode of support, so don’t hesitate to contact us with your questions.
Key People
Coming together from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences, our skilled team of professionals is the backbone of Blue Sky Ranch. Their ideas help shape the direction and mission of our organization as it continues to develop. Read on to learn more about some of our incredible team members.
Bert Dennis
Executive Director
Ms. Dennis is an expert in the areas of behavioral analysis for individuals with developmental disabilities; assisting public and private entities in managing the changing needs of citizens and analyzing residential, case management, clinical and day support services in a waiver funding environment
Ms. Dennis is a National American forensic counselor certified by the American College of Certified Forensic Counselor which is certified by the Commission of the National Association of Forensic Counselors (NAFC)
Ms. Dennis has over 25 years in public and private entities supporting individuals wirth developmental disabilities
Currently, Ms. Dennis is discussion with Raton Economic Development Board (Raton NM) and local community organizations on implementing the concept of the Natural Occurring Living Community
Education: Ms. Dennis has a BA from McMurry College and a MA from Eastern New Mexico University in psychology; Doctoral Studies (ABD) at the University of Texas in social work and a PhD. in Psychology from the University of Integrated Studies from the Association for the Integration of the Whole Person (A.I.W.P.).
Dana White
Program Director/Barn Manager
Dana is our program director/instructor, and trainer of the program animals. A city kid with the heart of a cowgirl, Dana worked at Fort Lincoln State Park in ND as a teen,leading trail rides into the state park for many years. An Air Force veteran, Dana was stationed at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque in 2001 and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Dana has worked in health care for over 10 years and pursued her Health Care management bachelor degree after service, graduating in 2015. Dana worked at a large equine boarding barn and followed under a horse trainer in WI for 3 years before moving to NM. She is self taught and has created her own training program with the animals using choice and gentle techniques. Attended a week long Mustang Training Retreat in 2019 for a week in Colorado and learned new gentling methods that are being incorporated into programs currently.
AgePlan
Umbrella Company
AgePlan, Inc. is a leading nationwide provider of educational and consulting services to agencies, businesses, communities, families and individuals with regard to aging and disability. AgePlan® is a registered trademark of AgePlan, Inc.
With over 75 years of combined experience in health and business fields, our interdisciplinary team is at the forefront of Aging & Gerontology. Experience has taught us no two situations are alike. Academic, business, health care, technology, social sciences, management and organizational backgrounds come together to solve complex problems with relevant, flexible solutions.
www.http://ageplan.com