Wild Souls Ranch

05/12/2026

We are pleased to announce that Wild Souls Ranch has purchased a second location in Arcata! That’s right- not only will we be keeping the original Fortuna location we all know and love, but we will also soon be offering both client services ✨️ and ✨️ full service horse boarding at our second location. Income generated through the boarding will directly help support our nonprofit, allowing us to continue offering trauma-informed equine services and accessible wellness opportunities to Humboldt residents.

This announcement is just the beginning.

It’s going to take a village, and we will need your support more than ever before. We want everyone to feel like this facility is for them- a place where everyone is welcome. A place where everyone is a wild soul.

Thank you to our staff, volunteers, board of directors, clients, donors, and all of our community supporters who have made this happen. All of us together is what makes Wild Souls Ranch the special place it is. With this second location we are so thrilled to be able to serve more clients, create more community connections, and share the incredible power of our beloved herd with the greater Arcata area.

We are now accepting waitlist applications for both our Arcata client sessions and Arcata horse boarding, with a tentative start date of mid to late July. Please bear with us as we adjust to this new influx of change. We will try to be as transparent as possible as we settle into a new routine. As a reminder, our Fortuna location remains open as per usual!

Our new location is located at what was previously Mad River Stables in Arcata- note that this location is a closed, private facility. For now please do not visit so as to not disturb current tenants. The community will have plenty of time to come visit once we are ready for an open house and volunteer days, so keep your eyes peeled for those announcements. Questions? Email [email protected] or call 707-617-0356.

Please submit client, boarding, and volunteer applications through our website wildsoulsranch.org.

Thank you, Humboldt!

05/08/2026

As we head into this weekend, all of us at Wild Souls Ranch wanted to say Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there. Everyone here knows that Goose welcomed a dashing c**t into the world last month (name announcement coming next week 👀), but what some may not know is that our very own Program Manager, Chessalynn Jones, also welcomed a beautiful baby boy last month. We can’t wait to meet him, and are so happy for her and her family!
 
This season has been full of new life, growth, and so much love. Today we are especially grateful for all of the mothers and mother figures in our lives: the ones who nurture, guide, support, and care for the next generation and beyond 🐴❤️

05/06/2026

We have noticed an uptick in scam comments. Please note that https://wildsoulsranch.org/shop is the only place to buy Wild Souls Ranch merch online. Thank you!

Hi Wild Souls Ranch community. Please know that the only place to buy our merch is from our official website- any comments such as the one below is a scam. We have no affiliation with links such as this one and see none of the proceeds. If you ever have questions about whether Wild Souls Ranch merchandise items are legitimate or not please feel free to reach out. Thank you!

04/29/2026

Wild Souls Ranch is collecting new and gently used art supplies for youth and adults participating in programs at Wild Souls Ranch. We are especially looking for paint, canvases, sketch paper, brushes, and other crafting supplies. Donations help ensure everyone has the tools they need to explore healing through creativity and connection.
 
Please contact us to organize pick up or drop off. Thank you!

04/24/2026

Wild Souls Ranch is seeking dedicated and values-driven individuals to join our Board of Directors during an exciting period of growth and expanded community impact. 
 
Wild Souls Ranch is a nonprofit organization based in Humboldt County providing equine-assisted growth & learning services for youth and adults. Grounded in the EAGALA model, our work centers on trauma-informed care, connection, and community wellness. Through partnerships with horses and other animals, we create meaningful opportunities for healing, growth, and resilience. We are currently looking to strengthen our board with individuals who bring expertise in the following areas:
 
Fundraising & Development
We are seeking people who can help guide and expand our fundraising strategy, including donor cultivation, grant development, events, and long-term sustainability planning. Experience with nonprofit development, donor relations, or grant writing is highly valued.
 
Human Resources
As our organization grows, we are looking for board members with HR experience to support best practices in staffing, policies, organizational structure, and compliance. This role will help ensure we are building a healthy, sustainable workplace aligned with our mission.
 
Leadership
Another important element is someone who has served on nonprofit boards before, or held significant organizational leadership roles. This individual will help strengthen governance practices, support strategic planning, and mentor emerging leadership within the organization.
 
Board members at Wild Souls Ranch play an active role in shaping the future of the organization, supporting our mission, and helping expand access to services for individuals and families in our community. If you are interested in using your skills to support meaningful, community-centered work, we would love to connect. Please email [email protected] for inquiries.

04/21/2026

When 6 year old Mateo first came to Wild Souls Ranch, he wouldn’t speak. He stayed close to his grandmother when she dropped him off, flinching at sudden movement, watching every adult around him with suspicion. He was the type of kid where trust came only with time, patience, and consistency. 

School was tough for him. Home had only recently become stable. Although he never voiced it, Mateo carried more than any child should have to hold. During his first session we introduced him to Merle, one of our mini donkeys. 

Merle didn’t move toward him right away. He just stood there: quiet, steady,ears tipped towards the boy. Mateo stepped towards Merle slowly, but hesitated to close the distance. When Merle finally stepped closer and touched his sleeve with his nose, Mateo froze. But he didn’t leave. And for a few minutes he stood there petting Merle.

That was the first moment we saw him relax a little bit. 
Mateo came back the next week. And the next. He didn’t say much, but he always went straight to Merle. Petting him. Sitting beside him. Learning, little by little, that he could rely on Merle to always treat him the same way every time.

“Come on Merle!” Mateo called out one day, as he pulled the patient donkey along behind him. Staff kept their excitement within, but inside they were thrilled. It was the first time Mateo talked at the ranch.

Over time, those moments began to add up. His grandmother tells us he is starting to speak more, his teachers are noticing his participation in school, and he even agreed to sign up for the soccer team! Nowadays he enjoys chatting with staff and has even taken to challenging us to a round of soccer. Trusting, in small but meaningful ways.

The past does not disappear. But when a child finally has a place where their guard can come down, it’s amazing what time and patience can do ❤️🫏

* The child in this photo is a model, and the names and details of this story have been changed for client privacy *

04/06/2026

Wild Souls Ranch is looking for weekday volunteers to join our team!

We especially need Side Walkers- volunteers who walk alongside the horses and riders to add safety & support for our equine-assisted riding sessions:
- Wednesdays: 12:30–2:15 (approx.)
- Fridays: 9:30–11:00 (approx.)

We also have weekday opportunities in our Ranch Volunteer Program, where volunteers help with daily ranch operations like mucking, weeding, and animal care as directed by staff. There may also be chances to jump into bigger hands-on projects such as fence building, property improvements, and other ranch projects that help us grow.

This is a great opportunity to:
- Work outdoors
- Spend time with animals
- Learn practical ranch skills
- Be part of a supportive, mission-driven team

Please note: we do not currently need weekend volunteers. If you’d like to be part of something meaningful, check out our website at wildsoulsranch.org/volunteer to learn more about joining the Wild Souls Ranch family or send us an email at [email protected]