OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — In Osceola County, there is a very special ranch where horses are helping people heal and gain valuable leadership skills.

It’s a nonprofit called First Nature Foundation in St. Cloud, which relies on volunteers to help keep their programs running at their ranch.

Jennifer Sierra is one of those volunteers. She loves taking care of horses, especially Tuck.

“He’s very affectionate,” said Sierra.

Being in the barn taking care of him is where she feels most centered.

“When I am here, I am just at peace with the surroundings and it helps me to stay grounded and connected and it has become part of my self-care as a therapist,” she said.

Sierra has been a therapist for the last 20 years, which brought her to First Nature Ranch, as she was looking for more holistic programs in the area. The nonprofit uses the nature on its 26-acre ranch and herd of horses to help all kinds of people grow their emotional resilience, self-confidence, self-awareness and leadership skills. Once Sierra took a tour last October, she was hooked.

“I wanted to volunteer here because I just loved being around horses and I saw what the programs were doing for the community. They have a tremendous impact on people’s mental health and mental health is something that is near and dear to my heart, so that’s why I wanted to be a part of that,” said Sierra.

Since then, she’s gone from having no horse experience to grooming and feeding them, helping with the upkeep of the ranch and supporting participants during their programs, making sure they have a safe place to heal and grow.

“I mean, I have seen how impactful it is for the veterans, but really anyone that is needing help to be a little bit more comfortable in their own skin, or feel connected. Or have stress and they need stress relief, which I would say it’s pretty much everybody these days,” Sierra said.

As she continues to volunteer, she continues to learn from staff like Allyn Carnahan, Assistant Executive Director of the First Nature Foundation.

“Jennifer is one of our most prolific volunteers and she is amazing at not only working with the horses and understanding them and being gentle but also being empathetic to our clients and their needs and what they can do to better themselves with the horses,” said Carnahan.

Sierra explained that while the horses have helped her gain confidence, it’s the ability to help others that keeps her coming back.

“It is incredible rewarding working with the veterans and they are always incredibly grateful and thankful, and they let us know, thank you for just being here,” she said.

“This is something that is very special to me and I feel that it is a way to give back to the community and make sure difference and I plan to continue volunteering for as long as I can,” said Sierra.

Find more information on how to volunteer or participate in programs at the ranch.