Stories Which Touch Our Hearts

It all started over 20 years ago shortly after my family and I moved to Roseville from the Bay Area. I was yet again standing across the street from my house in front of the chain link fence that lined the pasture, trying to catch a glimpse of the grazing horses shining like pennies in the summer heat. I was obsessed with horses at the time, watching the Saddle Club, Black Beauty, Seabiscuit, and anything else horse related that I could get my hands on. My mom was with me, walking to the mailbox as I stared longingly out into the open field. “You know,” she suggested, “you could walk over there and see if the owners need any help. Maybe they’d let you ride if you helped in the barn!” Little did we know that her small suggestion would change the trajectory of my childhood and launch me into a world that would have a profound impact on who I would become as a person in adulthood. With my mom’s homemade pumpkin bread in hand, I would eventually make my way over to Brandi’s front door and pitch her my proposition of working in the barn in exchange for riding lessons. Brandi, with her megawatt smile welcomed my offer with open arms, making me the first Barn Kid at MoonRock Ranch. The program at MoonRock Ranch looks very different today than it did in its early days. Back then, there were no PonyBucks, no structured requirements, and no set number of hours to complete before earning a lesson. But even in those early stages, the core values that define the program today were already deeply embedded in everything we did. Whether you’re experiencing them now or 20 years ago, the lessons learned at MoonRock Ranch stay with you, shaping who you are and who you become for the rest of your life. I firstly nurtured my love of animals in the barn, grooming the horses and braiding or brushing their manes and tails. I’d play with the cats hidden amongst bales of alfalfa and race the dogs from the main gate to the barn. I learned how to interact and truly see animals then; not just seeing with my eyes, but looking past the obvious and intuiting their needs and emotions. This helped me not only better understand myself, but also other people as I grew older. Being able to read behaviors and interpret them to create action is a powerful tool that helped me feel confident in my decision making, both as a child and into adulthood. I learned how to be responsible at MoonRock, as I had to manage my schedule and balance school, clubs, and extracurriculars with my duties at the ranch. I would ride my bike over after classes let out to muck stalls, rain or shine, because the animals needed me and I respected my commitment to them. Even something as small as the gate code was something I had to be aware of and responsible for. There were no iPhones back then to make note of the code, I just had to remember it! It wasn’t always easy — schlepping a wheelbarrow of manure in the rain or the beating sun is hard work, but seeing through my commitment and achieving my goal of having riding lessons along with knowing that my work made an impact on the lives of the animals kept me excited to show up as often as I could. They depended on me, and that made the difficult task of managing my responsibilities incredibly fulfilling. I learned to value hard work and the importance of sweat equity at Moon Rock. Boredom is nonexistent at the barn, because if you’re bored, you’re not looking hard enough for something to do! With so many ever-present tasks and opportunities to help, there are no shortage of ways to earn your time riding. Eventually, when you’re galloping through the lower pasture or navigating a narrow trail, adrenaline pumping and a huge smile on your face, there is nothing sweeter than knowing you earned it all on your own using your own two hands and feet. Working hard to achieve your goals and reaping the rewards of that hard work builds long-term self-confidence, and the days on the ranch have absolutely contributed to my confidence as an adult. I made many mistakes at the ranch as well despite my best efforts! Every once in a while, I would try to cut corners mucking stalls only to rightfully be sent back to re-do the work I knew I hadn’t done. I once grabbed a fly trap thinking it was a glow stick and got bug guts stuck all over my hand and arm. I even learned not to touch the electric fence the hard way! But despite the challenges, I was afforded the opportunity to learn from each and every mistake. There was no guilt or shame for doing something incorrectly, only the chance to make it right, move forward, and not repeat the mistake in the future. I still carry this mindset with me today in my career and echo it to my colleagues and friends – there is no failure, only the opportunity to try again with more knowledge. Most importantly, I learned to believe in myself at MoonRock. Everything I earned I earned myself, good or bad. I came to realize that my life and my future are in my hands, and that if I’m able to work hard enough, I can achieve anything I set my mind to. I built my confidence in adolescence at the ranch and overcame anxiety and self-doubt through my dedication to the animals. Learning to truly count on myself became a grounding force for me in the face of difficult times in the future, and if you believe in yourself, you'll find that even when everything else feels uncertain, your inner strength will carry you through. The community and experiences I had at MoonRock Ranch have been instrumental in shaping the person I am today. The resilience, confidence, and sense of purpose I carry into adulthood were forged in that barn, where I learned to face challenges head-on and grow through them. MoonRock Ranch offers something truly rare: a space where both children and adults can discover new strengths, feel an undeniable sense of belonging, and be swept up in its powerful, transformative energy. I will always be proud to have been the very first Barn Kid — it’s a title I carry with deep gratitude and pride. I look forward to many more years to come for both MoonRock Ranch and the Barn Kid program, and encourage anyone who is curious to throw your boots on and get involved!

Letter from a parent, 2024 ”During the pandemic our teenage daughter R was one of many who struggled with her mental health. As her world narrowed, she spiraled into a deep depression. My wife and I spent countless hours talking, praying, and strategizing how to help our girl. Therapy and mediation hadn't helped. Hospitalization had made things worse. One day soon after R returned home from the hospital after a suicide attempt, my wife said she had woken up with a strong impression that we should try to enroll R in Ms. Brandi's program helping with horses at MoonRock Ranch. We hadn't seriously considered this option before, as we knew the popular program had a long waiting list, and we needed a more immediate solution. But we tried anyway. I think Ms. Brandi was skeptical at first, as R's cautious and reserved nature didn't seem likely to gain the respect of MoonRock's large Friesian horses. We understood, but also knew R had a deep sense of strength that we were confident would grow and emerge in the right environment. We shared Ms. Brandi's concerns, however, as R seemed overpowered by each horse. That is, until she met Max, a retired Friesian show horse. Max and R immediately formed a strong connection with each other. R's strength gradually emerged as she led him around the field and helped with his care. Whereas before we couldn't get her out of her shell, now she returned from Ms. Brandi's with an endless flow of stories and pictures of Max's latest adventures. In a relatively short time, R's depression eased then left entirely. She regained her confidence and sense of purpose as she developed a strong support network of like minded kids doing meaningful things. She stayed at the ranch from 2021-2022, and her depression has never returned. It is not hyperbole to say that we owe R's life to Ms. Brandi, Max, and MoonRock Ranch.” Names removed for the privacy of the individuals. No other editing has been made.

MoonRock Ranch is more than just a barn— it is a unique space where kids in the Roseville, CA community can grow, learn, and thrive. It also serves as a transformative chapter in my childhood, shaping who I am today in countless ways. The program created wasn’t just about riding and caring for horses; it was about building character, fostering resilience, and finding a community that felt like home. Looking back, I realize how much of my personal and professional foundation was laid during my time at MoonRock Ranch. Mentally, the ranch taught me lessons I carry to this day. As a young kid in elementary school, I learned the importance of showing up and following through. Whether it was feeding animals, mucking stalls, or earning time to ride the horses, the program instilled a deep appreciation for hard work and responsibility. Rain or shine, we showed up to contribute, and with every task, I grew more resilient and accountable—values that have served me well into adulthood. Emotionally, MoonRock Ranch became a refuge during a challenging time in my life. My home life when I was young became tumultuous shortly after entering the barn kid program. These events at home led to great amounts of anxiety and depression at a young age that I struggled with greatly. However, the barn was a constant—a place of stability, safety, and support. I spent most afternoons and weekends there for many years of my youth, surrounded by friends, mentors, and the natural world. It gave me a sense of purpose, community, and a healthy escape from the stressors I was facing at home. I truly believe that the stability and connection I found at the ranch helped me navigate those tough years and become the person I am today. Some of my most treasured memories come from the lessons taught by Brandi, the owner of MoonRock Ranch. Her commitment to not only teaching us about animal care and riding but also about being compassionate, responsible individuals was invaluable. She made sure we understood the value of cooperation, the importance of caring for the animals and environment (and ourselves), and the joy that comes from giving back. Her influence, and the program itself, extended far beyond the barn— fostering better students, better children, and better stewards of our natural world. While my path didn’t lead to a career in the horse industry, the impact of those years is undeniable. I now work in the sustainability sector, and my time at MoonRock Ranch played a big part in shaping my love for nature and my commitment to protecting it. Spending so much of my youth in the outdoors and around animals taught me to value other species and our environment deeply. And although I’ve stepped away from riding for now, I hope to return to it as a hobby in the future when it’s more feasible. MoonRock Ranch is a truly special program that nurtures not just a love of horses but also a love of learning, resilience, and community. I genuinely believe that any child that has the ability to be a barn kid is changed for the better. I am forever grateful for the role it played in my life and can’t imagine where I would be without it today.

I love MoonRock Ranch with all of my heart. I have learned so much at MoonRock. Even in the short amount of time that I’ve been there, I've had So many opportunities, learnt so much, and never felt more at home at a place than I do at MoonRock. There are girls that have been at this barn for so much longer than me, yet I always feel included and part of a family there. MoonRock not only teaches you so much, like how to take care of a horse, when they're sick, when they're old, when they need help, anything. It’s not like a lesson barn where you come once a week to ride then leave. You get to know the horses, and the other kids there. It creates a group, where everyone loves each other, we’re all here because we have such a love for horses. But it also gives the kids there a place to go, a place to feel safe, welcomed, included and happy. Sure, there have been times when I haven't wanted to go to the barn, but as soon as | get there, my mood lifts. Being with the horses, the other kids, Mrs. Brandi, they all make it better. I've gone through some really hard times in the time I've been at MoonRock, because of other factors in my life, and there were times when I didn’t even want to get out of bed, but I came to the barn. It helped me feel better, even when I didn’t think it was possible, it gave me people to talk to, horses to snuggle, and a shoulder to cry on. While, of course, it's about the horses, it’s a ranch, a lot of MoonRock is rooted in the relationships we are able to make with Mrs. Brandi and the other amazing kids that we form friendships with from there. We can also form a real connection to the horses since we spend a lot of time with them, we get to know them, their personalities, how to handle hard situations, how to train them certain things, which is rare for a kid in today’s horse world. So many kids just pay a lot of money to get handed expensive horses that do whatever they them to. But at MoonRock we listen to the horses. They have voices too. We learn to work with them, not against them, a relationship with any animal should be a two-way street of respect. And we're allowed to let our opinions and suggestions be heard as well, Mrs. Brandi always wants to improve, wants what's best for the horses and us. The horse industry is getting smaller as the years go by, and even still is lacking in equestrians that really care about the well-being of the horses over shows and ribbons, and MoonRock helps to create more equestrians that are in it for the horses, not the sport. Overall, I've never been to, or even heard of a barn quite as amazing as MoonRock Ranch, I love it here so much and I can't imagine it not being a part of my life.