I wanted to take a moment to share the incredible progress I’ve seen in Robert since he began participating at Turning Point Ranch.
I’ve worked with Robert for nearly seven years. Throughout that time, he has struggled deeply with emotional regulation. He often isolated himself, sometimes remaining mute for months. He was easily overwhelmed, withdrawn, and hesitant to engage in any kind of therapeutic work.
Since starting at the ranch, we’ve seen a remarkable transformation. Robert is now much more engaged—he talks openly, participates in therapy, and is building meaningful social connections. The shift in his demeanor and emotional openness has been truly encouraging.
Thank you for creating such a supportive and healing space. The impact on Robert has been life changing.
My name is Natalea Watkins and I have been around Turning Point since its earliest days. I learned about therapeutic riding the hard way – fighting my way back from a spinal cord injury– paralyzed from the chest down.
After the rehab hospital cIosed its therapeutic riding program before I could try it, I showed up at Turning Point’s first session in 2000 in the Vet Med parking lot. Since I still had a halo screwed into my skull while another crack in my spine was healing, I couldn’t ride. But I could help!
Over the last quarter century, there is hardly a job I haven’t done. I’m a Board Member, retired certified instructor and volunteer. But efforts from earning Premier Accreditation to designing websites and t-shirts pale in comparison to the accomplishments I have seen riders achieve at Turning Point.
From the start, I was interested in the impact the horses had on students’ abilities to succeed at school, at home and in life. I heard words from non-verbal riders. I saw out-of control behavior change to focus. I watched students demonstrate knowledge, empathy, teamwork and joy! And I saw unsteady walkers become runners!
The Horsetales Literacy Program at Title One Schools is a particular favorite of mine because getting first graders excited about reading changes lives! I love the impact Turning Point has on college volunteers who learn to recognize the abilities of individuals with disabilities and take that understanding into careers and communities. I marvel at the moments of clarity the mini horses bring to seniors struggling with the inertia and silence of dementia. I salute the magic of horses who adjust their behavior to the needs of different humans who need them.
I am excited about the new Portfolio Program to help riders with disabilities build a book of skills and capabilities to show potential employers. I believe the new Equine Assisted Leadership Program will prove a real asset to businesses and organizations serving the Stillwater area.
As I talk about Turning Point around the state, the most frequent reaction I get is envy. Everyone wishes they had access to the programs Turning Point offers Stillwater.
Our son started therapeutic riding at turning point 2 years ago. He has had behavioral and emotional issues since birth. He had difficulty with crowds and new experiences because of anxiety. After a couple of lessons, he became eager to go to the ranch. He became more confident with the volunteers and the horses with each lesson. They showed him how to care for the horses before and after riding.
He now has his own horse and is caring for the horse with minimal assistance.
He is now volunteering at Turning Point Ranch helping with the grounds and upkeep.
I observed the volunteers with the other clients in the class with a range of various physical and emotional issues. They are very good relating to the kids and allowing them to control the horses at different levels according to their abilities. Rachel and the volunteers are exceptional people.
Turning Point has been such a great help to my granddaughter whom had a brain tumor removed almost 5 years ago. She loves going there and her horse "Larry" is very special to her. The therapy she receives riding has improved her balance, confidence and overall state of mind. Rachel has been outstanding in developing the program, staff, volunteers and horses. The staff and volunteers are very knowledgeable, friendly and supportive of the therapy my granddaughter and others receive. You could not find a better organization that supports and treats disabled children and young adults. The results are just phenomenal.
Stillwater Public Schools (SPS) has partnered with Turning Point Ranch (TPR) for many years. The services they provide for our special needs students provide unbelievable opportunities for growth and development. Our students learn valuable skills, such as working as a team member, patience, empathy, and many more! The TPR staff collaborates with special education teachers to provide information that can be documented as goal achievement and new goal development. Students also gain physical benefits from the activities. Core strength and balance are always areas that our students need to improve upon. Therapeutic horseback riding is one of the best ways for them to improve! Working with such an outstanding organization as Turning Point Ranch has been and continues to be an honor. Our community will continue to reap numerous benefits from them as they grow!
I have partnered with Turning Point Ranch for almost 10 years as a professor at OSU. Students taking HDFS 2123: Developmental Disabilities volunteer for one session a week throughout the Fall or Spring semester. The level of hands-on training and professional skills students acquire from their experience at Turning Point Ranch is phenomenal! Volunteering at Turning Point brings the concepts we are studying in the classroom to life and allows students to both apply and reflect on critical issues. THANK YOU, Turning Point staff for helping us to teach and train the next generation of human service professionals!
I fell in love with Turning Point during the great flood of 2019. I have followed their mission ever since. Recently I have had the chance to become more involved. Last year I donated Jessie, my heart horse, to Turning Point. Letting my personal equine therapist go was the hardest thing I've ever done. However, seeing the progress Jess and these kiddos are making is totally worth it! There is something unexplainable about the power and love of horses. My continued hope is that Jess continues to make the kiddos at Turning Point feel as empowered, loved, and special as she has made me feel all these years.Everyone I've met from the Turning Point organization has treated me like family. I love seeing the huge smiles on the kiddos faces and knowing that I at least was able to play a small part.
My daughter, Nikki has been doing therapeutic horseback riding since she was 5 years old and is now 39. She has a rare neuromuscular condition and riding horses helps to strengthen her core. We got started with Turning Point 2 years ago and she absolutely loves it! They have gotten her involved in Special Olympics Equestrian each year and she has done tremendously well. The entire staff is incredibly kind, caring, and very horse savvy. Turning Point has been great and we would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fantastic horseback experience.
Our family has been part of Turning Point Therapeutic Riding for over 10 years, and the impact on our children has been truly transformative. Both of our children have developmental challenges—one is nonverbal, and the other had limited verbal ability when we began. Through the compassionate support and expertise of the Turning Point team, we have seen incredible growth in both of them.
Our daughter Emily now expresses independent thoughts and has significantly increased her speaking abilities. Our son Luke, who is nonverbal, now points out horses in books, movies, and real life with recognition and excitement. Both children have improved attention spans, stronger body and space awareness, better posture, and greater confidence.
What makes Turning Point so special is not just the therapeutic benefits, but the love and dignity with which each rider is treated. This is their activity—something they look forward to, take pride in, and truly own. The facilities are top-notch, safety is always prioritized, and the volunteers are caring and deeply dedicated.
We are forever grateful for the difference Turning Point has made in our lives.
Riding at Turning Point has been such a huge benefit to our daughter in so many ways. She gets to work on skills that compliment what she works on in speech therapy and occupational therapy while having so much fun and building confidence. She loves meeting volunteers and other riders...and of course the amazing horses! We appreciate Turning Point so much and are so grateful for them!
My story at Turning Point starts in the winter of 2019 when I was just going to "fill in" on the feed team for a couple of weeks. Well that was five and a half years ago and I am still there. I teach second grade in Stillwater and several of my special needs students have had the blessing of being riders at TPR over the years. While riding at TPR I have watched shy children become outgoing, disregulated children become calm, insecure children become independant, and angry children be at peace. My students have been able to not only strengthen their confidence but also strengthen their inner core all while riding at TPR. At Turning Point kids can become athletes, learn social skills, practice academic skills, and acquire a sense of belonging.
Turning Point also gives retired horses a place to belong and still be useful. The horses at TPR usually have had a physically demanding previous career and are not up to that level of physical work but still have many good years left. TPR gives them a less strenuous purpose and allows them to be therapy for the children who ride them and the adults who care for them. These horses are smart and can listen to and tune into the kids and know what they need. These horses are nothing short of majestic!
The care for the horses at TPR is top-notch. They have individualized care and diets, medicines and supplements if needed, and therapies of their own. They are a very well cared for herd and that costs money. But the care for the riders and the herd is of the highest importance. The staff is well trained and TPR is run like a well oiled machine.
Turning Point is a magical place!
Turning Point is a huge blessing to Stillwater and its surrounding communities! My journey with TPR began through my daughter who suffered from a chronic illness throughout her Junior High & High school years (which has now been over 16 years ago). At the time, due to her illness, she was unable to attend public schools. She was attending an online school which required a community service project. After coming home crying from volunteering at the local animal shelter multiple times, God brought TPR into our lives. She began volunteering at TPR as a horse leader (We always had a horse and from age of 5yrs until she became ill, she rode often). Since she was only 14 years old at this time, she needed an adult to volunteer with her, so I started volunteering as well. During this time, so many memories were made and miracles witnessed together while at TPR.
During her senior year of “online” high school the amazing leaders of TPR took my daughter under their wings, built up her confidence, believed in her and encouraged her to take the test to become a PATH Certified instructor. She became one of the youngest PATH certified instructors as she had just turned 18yrs old. For a young girl who had been dealing with a chronic illness for so long, this literally changed the trajectory of her life. She has continued to teach therapeutic riding throughout the last 13 years and the TPR leadership continues to mentor and support her on her journey. She knows that teaching therapeutic riding is her “calling” and TPR will always be her "home center”.
I have remained in the Stillwater area, so I have continued volunteering at TPR off and on over years. Each time I am at TPR, I witness a miracle and not only with riders/clients but with volunteers, staff, and horses as well. Turning Point Ranch is an extraordinary non-profit organization, and I know it would not be possible without TPR’s program director, board of directors, staff, volunteers, as well as the amazing herd of therapists in horseshoes! Turning Point Ranch has touched my life in many ways over the years, and I consider it a privilege to be a small part of supporting this organization and its mission.
Our daughter has been a client for several years now and loves Turning Point. She had done horseback therapy before and thought those programs were good, and they were good. But Turning Point is at a different level. It is amazing.
I have been volunteering at Turning Point Ranch since 2020, and I’ve chosen to stay for the past five years because of the remarkable way this organization prioritizes the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of every horse in its care. Each horse receives individualized attention that takes into account their unique needs, history, and abilities, and this thoughtful approach has had a lasting impact on me.
What stands out most to me is how the instructors and staff create an environment that is not only safe and enriching for the horses but also supportive and welcoming for volunteers. During lessons, instructors go out of their way to ensure that volunteers feel comfortable, informed, and prepared to assist with each rider’s specific needs. That level of communication and inclusion has made me feel like a truly valued part of the team.
Over the years, I’ve been deeply impressed with how the barn and its programs have grown and adapted, particularly in response to the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite difficult circumstances, the staff continued to uphold the same level of compassion and care for both animals and people. Volunteering at Turning Point Ranch has been one of the most meaningful and consistent parts of my life in Stillwater during college and veterinary school. I’m proud to support a mission so deeply rooted in empathy, patience, and excellence.
Turning Point Ranch has been an absolute gift to our community. Their monthly visits with the mini horses bring so much joy, especially to our memory care residents. The program is not only engaging but also deeply therapeutic, residents light up with smiles, reminisce, and connect in beautiful ways. It truly is the highlight of the month. We are so grateful for this incredible experience!
-Legacy Village of Stillwater.
When our son, Henry, was diagnosed with autism and ADHD at age 7, he was experiencing burnout and was completely overwhelmed with the demands of school and everyday life. We knew that we needed to find ways to help him stay regulated and recuperate after long days in the often overwhelming classroom setting. Turning Point Ranch has been an integral part of Henry’s success at school and home this past year. One of Henry’s most cherished special interests is animals, and the bond he has formed with his horse, Isaiah, has been truly magical to watch. We weren’t sure how the first lesson would go since he has never been around horses, but the confidence and bravery he showed walking up to Isaiah for the first time and riding him around the arena with ease completely blew us away! You could just see the stresses of the day melting off of him as he rode. He begins and ends every lesson with a big Isaiah hug and we talk about going back to see him all week long in between lessons. Not only has Isaiah helped Henry with emotional regulation, but he has helped him with his social skills as well. Henry can have a hard time communicating with people he doesn’t know very well and he was very shy with the Turning Point volunteers when he first met them. But once he was riding Isaiah and had the reassurance of his presence, he opened up to the volunteers and told them all about his day and his special interests, and was even joking with them. He was able to form a stronger bond with the volunteers because Isaiah was there to help him feel more comfortable. We are so thankful for this amazing program within our community. It has made such a huge difference in our son’s life!
This organization offers so much and is a well-respected and participatory member of Stillwater’s community. The horses are extremely well taken care of and loved. As a volunteer, I can attest to this non-profit’s commitment to safety, learning, and making all feel welcome.
Volunteering at Turning Point Ranch has been an incredible honor. It’s a place where lives are changed, both human and horse, and I feel lucky to be part of that mission.
Everything at the ranch is done with care, consistency, and intention. The processes are stable, reliable, and always focused on doing what’s best for the animals, the participants, and the volunteers.
Turning Point isn’t just a ranch. It’s a place of healing, hope, and heart.
I have been a volunteer at TPR helping children with disabilities to get the most out of therapeutic riding and now I serve on the Board at TPR. This organization is fantastic. From the training I received as a volunteer side walker to the ways in which Rachel-the Director is meticulous in her organization and leadership of all aspects of the daily running TPR, I could not be more proud to be part of this. The children who receive therapy truly do transform in their ability to caring out functions of daily life. The sorties and joy that the therapy brings to families has been wonderful to be part of.