testimonials

"I appreciate you allowing me to be a part of such a spiritual place that has shown me just how amazing the world is. Horses are so magical and New Moon Ranch is my safe place and where I find peace when I can't anywhere else."

"You have been my biggest supporter out of all the barns I have been to. I can't thank you enough for how patient you've been with me over these past few months. It's hard to get people to understand how capable I can be with some extra instruction. Thank you for seeing that."

"I met Lotta at a nail salon, but her western hat got me into horse talk and the decision to fulfill my childhood dream of being a cowgirl. That was when I was 57. You are never too old to fulfill a long held desire. This is a barn family where horse and rider are treated with love, encouragement, and respect. Riding proved to be more than I could have imagined. I have learned so much about myself, gained confidence, being in the moment, working with the horse as a team, HAVING FUN!! It has kept me young at heart. Now I am70 with no end in sight for riding. Come join us at NMR!"

"I can't say enough good things about New Moon Ranch. Through Lotta's tutelage my daughter has come out of her shell. This has definitely helped her in her coursework at school. I have also witnessed transformations in other children through lessons at New Moon Ranch. Definitely one of a kind. I feel transformed just being at the ranch with Lotta and the horses."

"In the past 18 months, I have watched my youngest daughter evolve from a shy, rigid, often emotional dysregulated and at times obstinate, girl with poor communication skills and low self-confidence become much more positive, self-assured, communicative, outgoing, cooperative, empathetic, self-reliant and willing to take social risks. Riding therapeutically with Lotta has taught her to breathe, listen, be still, be present and trust in herself and her ability to communicate effectively with her equine which has translated to all of her relationships. It is so wonderful to see her personal growth and development, I am grateful for the opportunity to have her ride at New Moon Ranch afforded to us through her respite stipend and more so to Lotta for her commitment to share her passion and knowledge with those in need."

"I have several health challenges and never thought I would be able to ride again before finding Lotta. Lotta accepts me for who I am and works with me to make sure I spend as much time as I can with my horse while remaining safe. My horse, who has his own health challenges, also receives the best of care. Lotta has created a community at the barn where people come together and support each other through both riding and life’s challenges. I feel so lucky to be a part of New Moon Ranch!"

"I arrived at NMR 5 years ago, bringing my daughter for lessons, I hobbled from the car to the barn on my cane. I came across 4 women on horseback. Not one of them a virile, young, cowgirl, but all of them smiling ear to ear. They introduced themselves as the 'elders' of the barn- the women that enjoy chatting while taking a leisurely ride. They asked me to join them. No thanks, I haven't ridden for 20 years, and I have Fibromyalgia and arthritis- to which each of them offered their own ailments, including a few with mine, and worse. I don't know how long it was before I let them put me on a horse but it was the pinnacle of my middle-aged life. There have been some days when I have just needed to be at the barn, even if not riding. There have been times when my health refused to let me ride. I try not to miss an opportunity to be with my horse even if it means needing to ask for help tacking up, there is always someone there that's happy to give it. These people have become my life, my tribe, my family. Without them and NMR, I am afraid to think where I would have ended up, probably in a wheelchair. Whether for camaraderie, physical therapy, emotional therapy, or fur therapy, this is love for the joy of riding."

“I have been riding at new moon ranch for a year and I have learned so much I have been scared by a horse but Lotta helped me get over it!”

“I came to New Moon Ranch right before a time when I pulled the rug out from much of the rest of my life (read: ended a long-term relationship) and ended up in a season of whirlwind, which included moving five times within as many months. I continued to come to the ranch on weekends though, where I work caring for the horses and completing side projects in exchange for riding lessons. The ranch provided me a place where I could forget about external chaos and lose myself in meaningful work. I distinctly remember sitting in a window of the barn loft that summer, in the middle of painting its border a robust green, looking out at the horses and feeling complete peace in my soul. There's a wonderful and undeniable energy at the ranch, and it is a privilege to be a part of that. Now, as it turns out, ranch work isn't easy. Feeding horses sounds simple to the untrained ear, but it is in fact incredibly complicated and precise and I have messed it up more than once. I would say I have messed up some aspect of every job I have been given by Lotta at least once. And this has been very difficult for me, for I was always one of those perfectionists who hid her insecurity behind being successful at comfortable tasks, while avoiding difficult ones I struggled with for fear of feeling worthless. I more than once considered not continuing to work here, worried that I caused more trouble than I was worth and could never truly earn the lessons Lotta so graciously gave me. But something always pulled me back, and I continued until things began to feel easier. And one day I learned that Lotta did not find me a terrible worker; she in fact told me I was a quite effective worker and she loved having me there. And wouldn't you know, from that point on my confidence has swelled. I'm starting to become a real horseback rider, in tune with my body and mind as well as my horse's. I am able to think more calmly and critically about challenges ahead, rather than panicking. I am able to learn from mistakes but otherwise let them roll off my back, rather than agonizing over every little detail. As a soon-to-be teacher, one of the big tenets of my graduate program is to instill in students that success isn't about perfection, it's about learning, with mistakes and failures an integral part of true learning. It wasn't until my time at New Moon Ranch that I began to really believe that. I still find myself unnecessarily beating myself up, and I still hate to be the one in a group who made a mistake, but I'm learning, and I now understand the importance of that role. With this understanding, I will be a better teacher; I will be able to move away from the perfectionism of my childhood and revel in mistakes, both my own and those of my students. And I can without a doubt thank my time at the ranch for allowing me to learn that lesson in a safe and supportive way.”

"I love New Moon Ranch! Come join us, a wacky group of riders that make up the NMR family, where riding in the ring or along the numerous trails make each ride an adventure. Lotta offers expert guidance in an approach that fosters partnership between horse and rider. As such, I feel I have continued to grow as a rider and person by confronting my fears and frustrations that inevitably arise when trying to convince a 1200-lb. animal that yes – you do want to canter around that barrel! Not your typical barn, NMR offers an experience that’s healthy, fun and always learning. I can’t recommend it enough."

“I came to New Moon Ranch simply wanting to ride western horseback. What I experienced once I joined New Moon Ranch was nothing short of transformational. Lotta Rosen, has an impassioned ability to both challenge and nurture you at the same time. When you ride with Lotta, you learn how to both be in control and let everything go so that you can be present with your horse. If there is a zen of horseback riding, Lotta teaches it and helps you tap into it, all while you experience the fun of racing around barrels, weaving poles, and learning the most challenging and fun western riding games. And if that isn’t enough, the trail rides on the New Moon Ranch property are to die for! This ranch becomes a family if you let it and it’s one you’ll always feel proud to be part of.”

“Starting as an adult student later in life is challenging in any endeavor, and learning to ride horseback is certainly no exception. After a couple lessons, I was completely hooked! The approach Lotta takes teaches you not only how to ride, but you also learn how to care for your horse during your lesson, how horses perceive the world, and how to connect with them so horse and rider become one. The unexpected rewards came not only in learning how to be comfortable around horses, but also in gaining friends in the other riders as part of the extended NMR family. Lotta identifies what each individual needs to work on to be more proficient, and somehow acts as an instructor, mentor and coach for each of the students. Combined with a beautiful tract of land that includes a riding ring for technical instruction as well as hundreds of acres of woods, meadows and trails, I heartily recommend NMR for anyone considering horseback riding.”