Victory Youth Ranch

Victory Youth Ranch is a no cost, tax exempt nonprofit 501(c)3 in La Plata County which was founded in August 2024 to provide a faith based equine ministry to help emotionally hurting kids, 6-18 years old, find healing. Our younger generation is suffering from unprecedented levels of stress and anxiety caused by social media, cell phones, single parent households, bullying, peer pressure, and drugs resulting in climbing rates of depression, isolation, withdrawal and suicide.   Through the unique power of horses and love working to build confidence, self-esteem, hope, and joy in a safe environment while learning horse skills and work ethic to forge a bond between horse and child. This can impact all other aspects of their lives resulting in improved communication and relationships with family, schools, and community. Victory Youth Ranch also works to re-purpose older horses that can no longer do their original activities, to a new purpose of helping kids.

 The founders of Victory Youth Ranch have many years of experience with both horses and kids. Dr. Joe Ball is a veterinarian and practiced equine medicine for over 20 years and still practices small animal medicine part time. His wife, Kelly Ball, has an associate degree in equine management and training and has owned her own horses for over 30 years. She currently works part time as office manager with another nonprofit. Both are grandparents and are very active in the Pine Valley Church After School Program and several other community outreach programs in Bayfield. With a passion for horses and kids, they are well positioned to guide and manage this ministry.

The goal at Victory Youth Ranch is to transform as many lives as possible through faith, love, and horses. To achieve this, we began our startup 501(c)3 in August 2024, to become the only no cost equine ministry for emotionally hurting kids in southwest Colorado. Through the generous support of church, community, friends, with 1327 volunteer hours, we have been able to improve facilities to provide a safe environment for horses and kids with a grand opening scheduled of January 1, 2025.

 Our short-term goals are to utilize volunteers to be mentors, building relationships with emotionally hurting kids. Utilizing love and horses to break through barriers while improving their horsemanship skills. Through a series of weekly sessions, mentors can build relationships and trust to restore faith and hope, at no cost to families.