Our Gallery
Get a glimpse of what we do at HOPEFUL ACRES. Located in the greater San Antonio, Texas area, our non-profit organization helps people in our community by providing recreational therapy through interacting with/caring for horses and other farm animals. Feel free to browse through our online gallery to see what you can expect when you visit us.
Programs/Services
Our organization strives to get people into the great outdoors whether it is to pet a farm animal, ride a horse, or simply enjoy the great outdoors. All of these activities can be therapeutic in nature, so we hope to see you out here!
Our Programs/Services:
Recreation Equine Therapy-Program (RET-P)
-Our 6-week program, generally consisting of the following:
-Feed and care for horses and other ranch animals
-Tack-up (saddle) horse
-Basic riding skills
-Round penning exercises (lunging, de-sensitizing, etc.)
-Ride horse in various controlled settings
-Sessions are easily tailorable to meet the individual clients' needs
2-hour session ($60)
Ranch Field Trips
-Pet and brush horses
-Round pen (horse training) deomonstration by staff
-Petting zoo (feed and hang out with our pygmy goats)
-Scenic hay ride with stop by stock pond (feed the fish)
-Hand-led horse rides optional (additional fee applies)
-Up to 2 hours and 10 clients ($200)
-Call for pricing if prefer longer than 2 hours and/or more than 10 clients
-Our 6-week program, generally consisting of the following:
-Feed and care for horses and other ranch animals
-Tack-up (saddle) horse
-Basic riding skills
-Round penning exercises (lunging, de-sensitizing, etc.)
-Ride horse in various controlled settings
-Sessions are easily tailorable to meet the individual clients' needs
2-hour session ($60)
Ranch Field Trips
-Pet and brush horses
-Round pen (horse training) deomonstration by staff
-Petting zoo (feed and hang out with our pygmy goats)
-Scenic hay ride with stop by stock pond (feed the fish)
-Hand-led horse rides optional (additional fee applies)
-Up to 2 hours and 10 clients ($200)
-Call for pricing if prefer longer than 2 hours and/or more than 10 clients
Testimonials
I have been working with Hopeful Acres and the founder, Rick Jansen for the last 3 years. I can attest that his program has been one of the most influential programs for our veteran population to date. I have witnessed numerous veterans go from extreme isolation to gaining a new sense of purpose and new social skills that allow them to transition from military to civilian life. In the past 3 years I have sent an excess of 30 veterans to this program.
Some of the benefits I have witnessed in our veterans are
|
I can honestly say it has been a privilege and an honor to work with this foundation and I look forward to sending more veterans to this program in the years to come.
Thank You, Troy Merritt Peer Support Specialist Department of Veterans Affairs U.S. Army Retired |
Name
Rasheidah Reid
Email
[email protected]
Comment
I am currently active duty military and stationed at Fort Hood which is my first duty station. Initially I had a hard time adjusting to the military and sought out a way to relieve stress as well as cope with the new change of scenery and being so far away from family. That’s when I found Hopeful Acres. It’s been great. The owner, Rick, was very welcoming from day one and open about his mission for Hopeful Acres. He showed me around, let me meet all his animals. And from then I’ve gone to Hopeful Acres every week. Rick has taught me how to not only ride horses but how to deal with them as well, how not to be afraid of them, he’s shown me how to feed them, and what to feed them as well. On multiple occasions he’s shown me how to tack up the horses as well, even though I’ve been coming to hopeful acres for months and should already know lol. If I didn’t mention he’s also very patient. Not only have I interacted with the horses but his other animals as well, and that was also a positive experience. Coming to hopeful acres has given me a reason to look forward to the weekdays, and not just the weekends and I’m grateful for what Rick is doing.
Rasheidah Reid
[email protected]
Comment
I am currently active duty military and stationed at Fort Hood which is my first duty station. Initially I had a hard time adjusting to the military and sought out a way to relieve stress as well as cope with the new change of scenery and being so far away from family. That’s when I found Hopeful Acres. It’s been great. The owner, Rick, was very welcoming from day one and open about his mission for Hopeful Acres. He showed me around, let me meet all his animals. And from then I’ve gone to Hopeful Acres every week. Rick has taught me how to not only ride horses but how to deal with them as well, how not to be afraid of them, he’s shown me how to feed them, and what to feed them as well. On multiple occasions he’s shown me how to tack up the horses as well, even though I’ve been coming to hopeful acres for months and should already know lol. If I didn’t mention he’s also very patient. Not only have I interacted with the horses but his other animals as well, and that was also a positive experience. Coming to hopeful acres has given me a reason to look forward to the weekdays, and not just the weekends and I’m grateful for what Rick is doing.
Name
Shari Pacha
Email
[email protected]
Comment
I am a disabled veteran of the Air Force. I served almost 10 years before I could not run anymore so I had to get out. While in the military I missed the farm I would spend time at every year at my grandparents. When I joined the military I was not able to visit the farm when I took leave. In the spring of 2000 my grandfather passed away so I was never able to go back to visit like I used to. Even though my grandmother was still alive she did not live on the farm anymore. I missed the cows and horses that were around. When I got out of the military after about 10 years I moved to the Killeen area to go to school. I started to see cows but no horses until I joined Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC) after I was diagnosed with PTSD. I started to take classes on socializing though the PRRC and was introduced to the Hopeful Acres and Equine therapy that was offered there. My first time out to Hopeful Acres I got back on a horse after over 20 years of not being around or riding a horse. I was happy to be able to remember my life on my grandparents farm. I went to Hopeful Acres for about 6 months before I had to move onto other classes offered by PRRC to be able to function as a whole. I can tell you going to Hopeful Acres has led me to be comfortable enough to start to feel almost like I am back to a functioning human being again. I have even wanted to socialize with strangers again. I was in PRRC for 7 years and had not moved as far as I have since I did Equine therapy with Rick Jansen in the Fall of 2019 until the Spring 2020. I am now able to do things almost like a normal person again. My family has even noticed the change in me since I did Equine therapy. Hopeful Acres helped me overcome some of the hurdles I had since 2008 when my depression started being diagnosed with PTSD. While under these problems I started to isolate from family, friends, and society as a whole. But having to get up and go help with the horses brought me back to a time in my life that was good and I want that in my life again. So Hopeful Acres Equine therapy started me back down the road to recovery. I am grateful to have had the experience that Hopeful Acres provided. I hope they can continue to provide this experience to other veterans and their families.
Shari D Pacha
US Air Force Vetera
Shari Pacha
[email protected]
Comment
I am a disabled veteran of the Air Force. I served almost 10 years before I could not run anymore so I had to get out. While in the military I missed the farm I would spend time at every year at my grandparents. When I joined the military I was not able to visit the farm when I took leave. In the spring of 2000 my grandfather passed away so I was never able to go back to visit like I used to. Even though my grandmother was still alive she did not live on the farm anymore. I missed the cows and horses that were around. When I got out of the military after about 10 years I moved to the Killeen area to go to school. I started to see cows but no horses until I joined Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC) after I was diagnosed with PTSD. I started to take classes on socializing though the PRRC and was introduced to the Hopeful Acres and Equine therapy that was offered there. My first time out to Hopeful Acres I got back on a horse after over 20 years of not being around or riding a horse. I was happy to be able to remember my life on my grandparents farm. I went to Hopeful Acres for about 6 months before I had to move onto other classes offered by PRRC to be able to function as a whole. I can tell you going to Hopeful Acres has led me to be comfortable enough to start to feel almost like I am back to a functioning human being again. I have even wanted to socialize with strangers again. I was in PRRC for 7 years and had not moved as far as I have since I did Equine therapy with Rick Jansen in the Fall of 2019 until the Spring 2020. I am now able to do things almost like a normal person again. My family has even noticed the change in me since I did Equine therapy. Hopeful Acres helped me overcome some of the hurdles I had since 2008 when my depression started being diagnosed with PTSD. While under these problems I started to isolate from family, friends, and society as a whole. But having to get up and go help with the horses brought me back to a time in my life that was good and I want that in my life again. So Hopeful Acres Equine therapy started me back down the road to recovery. I am grateful to have had the experience that Hopeful Acres provided. I hope they can continue to provide this experience to other veterans and their families.
Shari D Pacha
US Air Force Vetera
Name
Raeven Fielder
Email
[email protected]
Comment
I started coming out to Hopeful Acres back in June 2021 as part of an equine therapy group. It had been a long time since I had gotten to work with horses and having Rick help me pick back up where I had left off working with his horses was great. I enjoyed coming out to help Rick with Red and Cinnamon. Rick was great to work with and helped me get back to myself. Working with Red and Cinnamon was a joy. I enjoyed and was always looking forward to coming to Hopeful Acres to work with Rick and his horses
Raeven Fielder
[email protected]
Comment
I started coming out to Hopeful Acres back in June 2021 as part of an equine therapy group. It had been a long time since I had gotten to work with horses and having Rick help me pick back up where I had left off working with his horses was great. I enjoyed coming out to help Rick with Red and Cinnamon. Rick was great to work with and helped me get back to myself. Working with Red and Cinnamon was a joy. I enjoyed and was always looking forward to coming to Hopeful Acres to work with Rick and his horses
Name
Gavin Fillington
Email
[email protected]
Comment
I started going to hopeful acres last year (2020) with a friend of mine, most Thursdays after work and some weekends. I am currently serving in the US Army and at times it can be a little rough being away from family, but going to hopeful acres after work always made me feel better. The owner (Rick Jansen) always treated me like family. The animals are really wonderful, the horses (Cinnamon & Red) are very smart, and well trained. I would encourage everyone to take part in the various activities that Hopeful Acres has to offer.
Gavin Fillington
U.S. Army Active
Gavin Fillington
[email protected]
Comment
I started going to hopeful acres last year (2020) with a friend of mine, most Thursdays after work and some weekends. I am currently serving in the US Army and at times it can be a little rough being away from family, but going to hopeful acres after work always made me feel better. The owner (Rick Jansen) always treated me like family. The animals are really wonderful, the horses (Cinnamon & Red) are very smart, and well trained. I would encourage everyone to take part in the various activities that Hopeful Acres has to offer.
Gavin Fillington
U.S. Army Active
Name
Courtney Magaoay
Email
[email protected]
Comment
One of my good friends who I serve with in the Army invited me to Hopeful Acres. I am so grateful to meet Rick Jansen! Very professional and kind hearted. Instantly felt welcomed and learned a lot about how to saddle a horse. He explained the process thoroughly and patiently. Amazing opportunity learning how to steer and stop the horse. Thank you for treating my friends and I like family! It was very fulfilling to get away and take care of the animals.
Courtney Magaoay
[email protected]
Comment
One of my good friends who I serve with in the Army invited me to Hopeful Acres. I am so grateful to meet Rick Jansen! Very professional and kind hearted. Instantly felt welcomed and learned a lot about how to saddle a horse. He explained the process thoroughly and patiently. Amazing opportunity learning how to steer and stop the horse. Thank you for treating my friends and I like family! It was very fulfilling to get away and take care of the animals.
Name
Tanya Hernandez
Email
[email protected]
Comment
My family and I started going to Hopeful Acres in January of 2021. When we would go each time, we were greeted with such kindness! Rick Jansen and his son are such good teachers. We learned so much about horses, we loved going to see Cinnamon and Red, Rick’s horses. My family and I learned how to saddle up the horses and ride on them. We helped feed goats and help fix areas on the ranch. Everything was always so professional, and Rick is very patient and kind. My family felt so welcome every time we went. My children would always ask when we were going back to feed the goats or to see the horses. It was always such a great time to go and learn on the ranch. I recommend everyone to go and take part in the different things Hopeful Acres does. It was such an amazing opportunity to learn so much and make these connections while on the ranch. Thank you for treating us like family every time we came to visit!
Tanya Hernandez
[email protected]
Comment
My family and I started going to Hopeful Acres in January of 2021. When we would go each time, we were greeted with such kindness! Rick Jansen and his son are such good teachers. We learned so much about horses, we loved going to see Cinnamon and Red, Rick’s horses. My family and I learned how to saddle up the horses and ride on them. We helped feed goats and help fix areas on the ranch. Everything was always so professional, and Rick is very patient and kind. My family felt so welcome every time we went. My children would always ask when we were going back to feed the goats or to see the horses. It was always such a great time to go and learn on the ranch. I recommend everyone to go and take part in the different things Hopeful Acres does. It was such an amazing opportunity to learn so much and make these connections while on the ranch. Thank you for treating us like family every time we came to visit!