It All Started With a Girl and Her Horse...
Gully’s Learning Ranch - working on the ground, at eye level, with horses as the teachers (no riding), and named after Michelle’s greatest horse teacher himself. We run a unique Equine Assisted Learning program. Through experiential learning, we focus on Life Skills Development with both youth and adults. We all have different learning styles, but we all learn from our experiences. There is no riding during our program as we communicate through body language with our horses. Life skills, at their most basic level, are interpersonal communication skills - skills we may think we are proficient in, but until a horse tells us so, there is always room for development. Horses have so much to teach us about effective communication, creative problem solving, true integrity, clear intent, fair leadership, productive teamwork, trust and respect, self-confidence, perseverance, negotiation, and so much more! What will your horse teach you?
GLR focuses on helping women develop the skills to feel empowered in life, by offering workshops, retreats, and curriculum programs. We also offer corporate team building and leadership workshops and events that are tailored to your business’ needs. These full-day workshops get your team out of the office and participating in experiential learning programs that will make a difference in the board room. GLR is also proud to offer Youth and Family programs to round out our amazing learning ranch. Whether the goal is to build confidence for taking the next step in life, or to get more involved in social actives, GLR's Life Skills Development Curriculum Program offers youths an experiential learning program that will stick for life. Youth day camp and school field trip days also available. We also offers a Couples’ Program for those looking to get out in the community and enjoy a unique date night experience. Also offered are family curriculum and day programs for the family looking to connect and have some family fun! Couple and Family programs can be run as private (just couple or family) or semi-private (one other couple or family). Additional adult programs are also available, such as Seniors’ Programs and a Reclaim Your Life program.
Michelle was in a horse barn within the first 5 years of her life. Her mother, who became an avid rider and therapeutic riding instructor, introduced her to the love of horses. Soon life got busy and Michelle found she had grown apart from the horse world. When at 16, she had a near death experience, she had spent a few years seeking what she felt was missing from her life. She found her missing piece when she met Gully. After close to a year working with horses again, Michelle decided to take the plunge and purchase a horse of her own. Gully, a 17-year-old Appaloosa, was Michelle’s “heart” horse. They worked at a therapeutic riding school together for almost 4 years. When the therapeutic riding school started an Equine Assisted Learning program, Michelle knew that horses had so much more to give than just riding lessons and was incredibly intrigued. However, Gully was ready to retire and Michelle knew it was time to put him to pasture and discover what else the horse world had to offer. Michelle went on to work at show barns, active racing Standardbred barns, and eventually began her own boarding stable (Willow Lane Stables) with her now husband, Wayne Mulholland. January 2017 hit hard. Gully colicked and had to be put to sleep. Michelle was lost. She had lost her best friend and greatest teacher. Her world had crumbled. She did what she knew Gully would expect of her, and brushed herself off to continue on working with horses. When in 2018, Michelle had an opportunity to get a certification as an equine facilitator, she jumped at the chance. She had experienced first hand, how the nature of the horse brings out the best in people - and she had a strong desire to help others. Gully, himself, had saved Michelle, both mentally and physically, and he had taught her just as much about herself as about horses. Michelle knew she would enjoy being a facilitator, but found she absolutely fell in love with it. Willow Lane Stables decided to switch gears and become Gully’s Learning Ranch.
Gully’s Learning Ranch - Your Path to Self Discovery
