I think it sounds like a good idea. I am glad that you are so excited about it. It is great to have a plan in life. Especially a plan that brings joy to others. Good luck and I hope you are able to make your dreams come true.

I think it is a great idea! Interaction with animals has been shown to work wonders. Riding and caring for horses is great therapy! You can make your dream a reality. Good luck!

Your gonna need a good mouser and some chickens for repoman to chase! Just let me know when my services are needed! But I'm staying away from the horses. One bit me one time.

Woooo Hoooooo chickens !!!!Maybe some bunnies for yougsters to pet

I think thats an awesome Idea. You could get funding for it and it would be really helpful I think to everyone who came. I'd love to come.

Great idea. It might qualify for a federal grant!! Do some research on the net about grants. (From what I understand, grants don't have to be paid back), but do the research to find out for sure. good luck.

Sounds like a great idea. In the meantime, if your have a dog that is very docile, you can check your local area hospitals to see if the have a visiting pets program. It is a wonderful way to help people through animals at hospitals. Many of those people will never leave the hospital and it is a great way to make them feel alive and a way for you to give back. Even if you don't have apet, you can always volunteer, it sounds like something you would be good at and it's extremely rewarding.

i'm glad so many people are interested in this! of course, like i said, i'm only 18, so it will still be a while before i open my ranch, but i hope to get alot of guests from DS.

and i'll definitly look into getting grants nadareal.

and actually, i have always wanted a chicken... :)

and awb711, i do have a dog, but he...um...likes to chew on fingers, toes, anything he can fit into his mouth... :) but i voulenteer at PAWS, and i think they have something like that. i'll definitly look into that.

keep the ideas coming guys! you're all such a huge help!

Wanting to be loved is the most hurtful thing that we can do to ourselves.

When you're ready to launch your plan, let me know. I may have some ideas on things that you can do.

thanx osteoron! i'll let you know! in fact, i figured once i opened my ranch, i'd see if Doug could send something out to everyone to let them know something like this was out there.

I wasn't clear why you would let your age be an obstacle. but there are so many things that you could do.

You could establish a non-profit and fundraise.

You could establish a non-profit and seeking funding from multiple levels of government.

You could operate "for profit" and donate to local charities.

You could operate "for profit" and give people with similar issues employment opportunities.

There are so many options.

It's a great Idea! I'm very impressed. I hope that you do pursue your dream and it all comes together for you.

There's only one thing I'm not so sure about. When I was in my teens I used to go horseback riding nearly every weekend. But that was somewhere in the area of about 100 years ago, as best I can remember. I didn't even know they still made horses!

i wasn't letting my age be a barrier osteoron, i was just saying how since i'm only 18, it's going to be a little while before i can open the ranch. i mean, i'm still in school, still live with my parents, it's going to be a few years before i can open it.

i don't want the ranch to be a non-profit organization, because that's just too much stress for me to handle very well, but i want it to be a (very) affordable place to go. and i want to be able to provide scolarships, (donations from people,) for those people who can't afford to come. and i never thought about employment opporotunities. although, since it would be a camp, i would like to end up with former campers becoming counselors. (a volunteer position on my staff.)

and i really like the idea of giving to local charities. all my horses will be adopted from rescues, and i would love to give back to the rescues, and other charities.

and they do still make horses johnnyboy, but i'm sure they aren't made as well as they were "back in the day!" ;)

cool:)