Our Peaceful Home

We are so blessed to call Happy Dog Ranch Horse Sanctuary our home! This beautiful place is not only a sanctuary for the horses who live there, but for anyone who enters this tranquil 117-acre property. Nestled near the Rampart Range of the Rocky Mountains, 3.5 miles south of downtown Sedalia (on CO 67), Happy Dog Ranch is home to nearly 70 horses who are rescued and rehabilitated by a caring, professional staff. Also living on the ranch are a small herd of alpacas, a few small herds of goats, four barn cats, some mules, mini horses, a donkey and a pig named Charlotte!

This setting provides a perfect healing environment for the work we do with youth. There are special, unique spaces on this ranch where experiential learning can be transferred through observation, fun and reflection. Some of these include the gourmet horse feed shop, a shaded trail that runs along a small creek, a barn with a martial arts studio (called a dojo) built in the loft, the luxury “Catio” housing the barn cats, one of the largest indoor arenas in the area, and of course, the vast pastures where the majestic horses graze. The Aspen Effect’s “Hangout” is a heated 3-room apartment adjacent to the indoor arena where youth can literally hang out on a bean bag chair with their mentor, play games, work on crafts, play a guitar or electric keyboard, or even bake cookies! When you come to our home, we want you to feel grounded, connected, protected and nurtured. The Aspen Effect at Happy Dog Ranch is a gathering place of peace and resilience for youth, parents and mentors.