Equine Assisted and Learning


A Horse Facility Offering Education, Outdoor Recreation, and Assisted Emotional Counseling in Cottonwood.

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EATL Certification Class coming soon!

Hosted by DLB Ranch.



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EATL Certification Class coming soon!

A Healing Horse Ranch

DLB Ranch is a non-profit equine center dedicated to enriching the lives of both children and adults through therapeutic interaction using the healing power of horses. At DLB Ranch, we provide our clients with the opportunity to connect with horses, and others, to build relationships, grow, give and receive love, and heal.

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Our Mission Statement.


DLB Ranch, Inc is dedicated to creating social and economic development of harmonious communities utilizing the power of horses through Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning as well as other modalities that assist individuals and groups seeking spiritual, emotional, and physical health.

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Horse Therapy/Equine Therapy


Equine-assisted psychotherapy incorporates horses into the therapeutic process. People engage in activities such as grooming, feeding, and leading a horse while being supervised by a mental health professional.


Goals of this form of therapy including helping people develop skills such as emotional regulation, self-confidence, and responsibility. With mature horses weighing anywhere in the range of 900 to 2,000 pounds or more, it might feel a bit intimidating to have such a large, majestic creature participating in your therapy sessions.



However, equine-assisted therapy is growing in popularity due to its experiential approach and some burgeoning evidence of its effectiveness. There are a variety of terms used to describe or reference equine-assisted psychotherapy, including:

  • Equine-assisted mental health
  • Equine-assisted counseling
  • Equine-facilitated psychotherapy
  • Equine-assisted therapy


Animal Therapy


Animal therapy is the use of animals to help with physical, social, emotional, or cognitive functioning.1 This is sometimes also called pet therapy, animal-assisted therapy, or pet-assisted therapy. This article will explain animal therapy, the conditions that can be treated, processes, who facilitates it, types, and more.

What We Offer

Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning (EATL / EAP) offers many benefits to individuals, groups and families that specifically

address mental, emotional and behavioral issues. A session is designed to address mental health and human development issues quickly, directly and effectively coordinated with licensed therapists and a Certified Equine Specialist. Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) uses horses as tools to gain understanding and personal insights into human nature. This includes having fun with horses under the guidance of a Certified Equine Specialist. These fun activities are effective for establishing boundaries and improving problem-solving skills. EAL sessions encourage critical thinking about life in different ways to help expand our knowledge of what is possible. 


EATL can be scheduled for an individual or a group. DLB Ranch, Inc has multiple Certified Equine Specialists that have been trained and certified through Greg Kersten – OK Corral Series program.  Greg is the founder and developer of Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning.  Nightstar Ranch, which is the facility that is used - hosts clinics for training by Greg on an annual basis. Nightstar Ranch also has a covered arena which allows for year round training. HORSEMANSHIP IS "BE LIKE ME."  EAP IS "BE YOURSELF." GREG KERSTEN


Learn more about Greg Kersten here

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Learn More About What We Do


Our Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning Sessions offer many benefits to individuals, groups, and families that specifically address mental, emotional, and behavioral issues. One of our sessions is designed to address human development issues quickly, directly, and effectively.


We at DLB Ranch incorporate Equine Assisted Therapy Learning And Learning (EAT/ EAP), using horses as tools to gain understanding and personal insights into human nature. This includes having fun with horses under the guidance of a Certified Equine Specialist. These fun activities are effective for establishing boundaries and improving problem-solving skills. EAL sessions encourage critical thinking about life in different ways to help expand our knowledge of what is possible. EAL can be scheduled for an individual or a group.


Donations are always appreciated!


DLB Ranch is a 501 c3

EIN #530-360-0427


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Services for EATL Assistance

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Education

Equine Assisted Learning consists of activities done with horses that are geared toward experiential learning & can help individuals achieve goals.

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Equine Assisted Therapy & Learining

Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning have been proven to help individuals work through issues, such as anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, and more.

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Activities for Small Groups

Equine Assisted Learning activities are typically offered to groups. These activities have been found to assist in reengaging students in academic learning.

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... and Much More!

Our programs strive to help individuals meet specific goals and receive therapeutic benefits from spending time interacting with our horses.

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Our Horses. Our Heroes.

Horses do the work of teaching and healing through a variety of equine-assisted applications which include experiential education, for at-risk youth programs, alcohol & drug recovery assistance programs and learning life skills.


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Equine Assisted Learning and

Equine-Facilitated Experiential Learning

EAL/EFEL consists of a variety of activities, done with horses, that are geared toward experiential learning. Equine-assisted learning or equine-facilitated experiential learning activities are typically offered to groups, from smaller to larger.


Learning activities can be used to reengage students in academic learning, including high-risk adolescents in alternative school programs. Typically, the clients participate in an activity with the horses on the ground, and the trained facilitator guides the learning process. Rather than focusing on personal issues, the focus is on concepts and principles, such as character development and empathy.

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Learn More About Activities at DLB Ranch

DLB Ranch proudly provides a wide range of activities that help individuals in several ways. Besides being fun for spectators and participants alike, the time spent with our horses can help improve overall health. Our activities might be the surprising solution to improving your overall emotional well-being. To request more information, please reach out to our team today.

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Get in Touch with us Today!

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Frequently Asked Questions


Have questions about the services we provide? We hope you find the answer below.

  • Can you tell me more about DLB Ranch, Inc.?

    Located in Cottonwood, DLB Ranch is a non-profit equine center dedicated to enriching the lives of both children and adults through interaction with our loving horses.


    DLB Ranch allows our guests to connect with horses and with others to build relationships, grow, give and receive love, and heal. There’s no place quite like it! 


    Our ranch is a place of equality: every person can experience the sheer joy that comes through the triumph of the human spirit as they work alongside our beautiful horses. We cater to the mental and emotional needs of our riders, providing help for anxiety, depression, and more. 


    Through time with our horses, riders overcome barriers and obstacles that have been holding them back for years. What’s left behind is a stronger, more confident, more capable person. Seeing the transformations that take place at DLB Ranch can be overwhelming in the very best way. We invite you to be a part of this experience with us! 


    When you give us a call, you will be connected directly to our owner, so you can expect immediate attention to your inquiry. So don’t wait. Call now! 

  • Where are you located and what are your hours?

    The address of our ranch is: 17596 Southlake Rd, Cottonwood, CA 96022


    We are open every day, Monday through Sunday, from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm.

  • How can I get in touch with DLB Ranch, Inc.?

    Have a question and need to get in contact with someone at our horse ranch? No worries, we have you covered! Contact us using one of three contact methods: 


    Phone: 530-360-0427


    Email: nightstarranch@gmail.com


    You can also use the contact forms found on this website to get in touch. Once we receive your inquiry, a member of our team will be in touch with you as soon as possible. Thank you for reaching out!

  • What is Equine Assisted Therapy(EAT)?

    Equine-assisted therapy (EAT) encompasses a range of treatments that involve activities with horses and other equines to promote human physical and mental health. The use of EAT has roots in antiquity, and EAT applies to physical health issues in modern form dates to the 1960s. Modern use of horses for mental health treatment dates to the 1990s. Systematic review of studies of EAT as applied to physical health date only to about 2007, and a lack of common terminology and standardization has caused problems with meta-analysis. Due to a lack of high-quality studies assessing the efficacy of equine-assisted therapies for mental health treatment, concerns have been raised that these therapies should not replace or divert resources from other evidence-based mental health therapies.

  • What is Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)?

    Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) offers experiential psychotherapy sessions to diagnosed or diagnosable clients. Natural horse and herd behavior are observed and honored as a model for healthful human behavior. Equine-assisted exercises are designed to elicit metaphors and self-awareness. These exercises help clients recognize their own behaviors and patterns and create their own solutions.  The term Equine Assisted Psychotherapy was coined by Greg Kersten in the early 1990s to describe the exercises he created to work with at-risk and incarcerated youth.  The field of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy continues to grow and adapt to every type of psychotherapy client.

  • What is Equine Assisted Learning (EAL)?

    Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) offers experiential communication, teambuilding, and personal growth experiences to individuals, groups, families, and corporations. Equine nonverbal communication, herd behavior, and equine development demonstrate successful interaction as an example for human relations.  Equine Assisted Learning is a valuable component of corporate retreats, church group activities, and family growth seminars.  EAL is not psychotherapy and does not require facilitation by a licensed mental health professional.

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