At just 9 years old, this sweet young man has already walked through more than most. Because of the trauma he’s experienced, fear and anxiety have felt like constant companions—especially when it comes to something as big and unfamiliar as a horse. Even with the steady love and support of his …

What a beautiful Saturday at the ranch 🤍 We were so grateful to partner with @defendthefatherlessinc for a connection day at the ranch with the foster, adoptive, and kinship families they serve. It was a day full of laughter, sunshine, and meaningful moments. From giant Jenga and horse painting to …

I came across this verse in Psalms recently, and I was draw to the imagery, the beauty of being helped and able to sing beneath the shadow of the Lord’s wings. Sometimes, when a Bible verse lands strongly on my heart and mind, I look carefully at each word and dive into commentaries to try to …

For kids and teens who have experienced hurt, betrayal, neglect, or abandonment by an adult in their past, placing trust in another adult can be challenging. It can also feel like unconditional love isn’t possible for them. They can worry that the people who care for them now may eventually stop …

WFAE 90.7 is a local NPR radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina, doing a series on Mental Health in July 2022. Tia Tharp, Executive Director of Bright Side Youth Ranch, was invited to share about equine therapy for the focus on alternative forms of therapy for mental health.

Each child or teen that comes to the ranch has a story. A story of the heavy burdens that they carry. We may know pieces of it prior to their arrival, yet it is their story to tell as they feel comfortable. Our desire is that a child or teen feels safe and loved enough to trust us with their …

One of our recent participants deals with anxiety. She’s worked hard to process it on her own and with her family, but the events and isolation from the past year pushed that anxiety to a level where she recognized she needed help. At 14 years old, she understood that this was something that she …

As 2020 kicked off, I spent some time asking God what He wanted me to focus on for the year. Usually, it’s just one word that represents so much more than just a word. I’ve been given various words over the past few years, many of which were personal challenges, a family focus, or a reminder of …

Here are the remaining coloring pages for the horses who have already been featured on social media: Ali and Princess.

Here are the coloring pages for our cute little miniature horses named Maple and Mocha. Maple and Mocha went through an auction and were purchased in order to be sent to slaughter, however, with the help of a friend, we were able to step in and save them and provide them homes at Bright Side. We …