Countless trauma victims have come to Bertha for help and healing. Perhaps her success rate is related to her large, motherly presence — showing those who feel unsafe what it means to be protected. Or it may be her own traumatic past that helps her to relate. It might also be that she is a horse.
Bertha lives at Zuma’s Rescue Ranch, a horse-centered rescue ranch just south of Sterling Ranch in Douglas County. She was part of a 23-horse rescue several years ago. She now resides on the gorgeous ranch and helps kids, veterans, first responders, and many others deal with and heal from their own trauma.
Zuma’s Ranch is named after the first horse that Paul and Jodi Messenach rescued over 20 years ago. They were involved in the hunter/jumper show circuit with their daughter and were deeply disturbed by what they saw at shows, both in how the horses were treated and then discarded when they could no longer perform perfectly. Jodi’s own traumatic past sparked a connection with these mistreated horses, and she decided to do something about it. With her first batch of seven horses to rescue, her organization was birthed.
The first mission of this safe haven is to rescue horses from traumatic situations, rehabilitate them, and support them for the remainder of their lives. The second is to create a place for those horses to aid humans who are healing.
Jodi describes this symbiotic relationship. “We are equine-centered. We do not just use the horse, as many other horse therapy organizations do. It’s relationship-based: we heal the mind, body, and spirit of the horses and then allow them to aid in the healing of those who come for therapy. It’s a continual cycle of healing. The horse heals the human and the human heals the horse.”
The ranch offers a myriad of transformative therapy programs, each designed to bring about positive change. These programs are a perfect fit for anyone with a negative connotation toward traditional therapy. The clients, able to relate to themselves better, find solace in the fact that animals don’t come with the same baggage that humans often do. The therapy programs, known for their effectiveness and affordability, are a beacon of hope for those seeking a new path. And the close-by location is a huge bonus, making the journey to healing even more accessible.
This incredible organization is a testament to the power of collective effort and relies heavily on the invaluable contributions of donors and volunteers. Even the volunteers, who are Zuma’s lifeblood, experience it as a safe haven.
“Horses without a purpose, like people, get into trouble,” she says. Thankfully, the Messenachs, through Zuma’s, are giving daily hope to horses and humans, who all need a purpose.