Texas Girls and Boys Ranch Offers Equine Therapy
The Lubbock residential facility uses horse therapy to help foster children process past trauma.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Large Animals
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The Texas Girls and Boys Ranch in Lubbock provides housing and equine therapy to help foster children address and process emotional trauma. This residential program integrates counseling with daily life on the ranch property to support youth in their care.
Why it matters
Equine therapy serves as a vital tool for children who may struggle to verbalize or remember specific traumatic events. By working with horses, youth gain a non-verbal method for emotional processing and healing.
The Texas Girls and Boys Ranch has operated for over 50 years as a residential facility for foster children. The program relies on community donations to sustain both child care services and ongoing animal maintenance.
The players
Texas Girls and Boys Ranch
This Lubbock-based organization provides a residential facility for foster children and offers long-term support for individuals aging out of the system.
The details
Children at the ranch participate in therapy sessions where they walk horses through various obstacles to assist with emotional regulation. This model combines professional counseling with the daily experience of living on the ranch property.
Timeline
The Texas Girls and Boys Ranch began its operations in 1976 or earlier.
Culture Shift
The integration of animal-assisted therapy into trauma-informed foster care represents a broader movement toward holistic, non-verbal psychological interventions. This approach marks a departure from purely office-based talk therapy by utilizing the unique bond between humans and animals to facilitate recovery.
Residents in the Lubbock area can support the organization's mission to provide housing and therapy by donating to their residential programs. These contributions are essential for maintaining the property and the health of the horses used in therapy sessions.
The takeaway
Equine therapy offers a powerful alternative for those struggling with trauma when traditional communication methods fail. Engaging in regular, structured activity with animals can significantly aid in long-term emotional stability and development.
Further reading
Learn more about local programs providing care for animals and the community in the Lubbock Large Animals section.
More information
To support the facility's operations or learn more about the program, visit the Texas Girls and Boys Ranch donation portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fox34.
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