Living With Purpose

Serving Our Heroes

Where Hearts Find Healing

LOVE HOPE RANCH

At LOVE HOPE RANCH, our unwavering commitment is to the brave veterans, first responders, and their families who bear the invisible scars of Post Traumatic Stress (PTS). Our mission is to provide the tools and support needed to mend the wounded soul, reunite fractured families, and safeguard the innocence of youth.

We deeply understand that trauma casts its long shadow over the entire family. Our journey toward healing, resilience, and a life filled with boundless joy begins within the depths of the mind. Through a tapestry of Equine Therapy techniques, we guide our courageous men and women on a path to rediscover purpose, kindle fellowship, and unearth inner strength, enabling them to reclaim the reins of life.

LOVE HOPE RANCH is also deeply rooted in faith, and we extend our hand to all those who bear the weight of trauma. Our program offers a sanctuary for both individual and group discussions, where individuals can share their hearts without fear of judgment or coercion. We foster peer-to-peer connections, provide spiritual guidance, and offer the gentle wisdom of equine therapy. In this haven of healing, those who carry the burden of unrest can find solace, attain closure for their pain, and rebuild the solid foundation of a newly restored life."

“Never deprive someone of hope – it might be all they have.”  ~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

WE BELIEVE, IN UNION, THERE IS STRENGTH

Some of the most agonizing wounds are those hidden from view. Whether it's Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), combat stress, or any other mental health battle, we stand beside you in your journey to recovery. Each veteran and first responder grappling with PTS carries a distinct set of challenges and aspirations. Our program is tailored to meet the physical and mental well-being requirements of every individual, providing the means for healing and renewal, not just for the individual but for the whole family.

Equine Services is offered at no cost for Vets and First Responders.

Healing Our Heroes & Reuniting Families

LHR Equine Services

  • Horses have been used as healing therapy since ancient times. The beauty and spirit of these animals is very much like our own: rough, strong, ready to run great lengths for freedom, however calm and peaceful inside. Through this therapy we will find a sense of peace, love, friendship, trust, and unity with our animal companion.

    We offer Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP). This will be done in individual and group sessions working with horses in the arena doing ground work activities. Sessions will include grooming, feeding, group circle time in arena with horse interaction throughout, obstacle courses, herd study, one-on-one time with a mental health professional, and a certified Eagala equine specialist.

  • Individual therapy addresses personal struggles and we work to identify PTS and other disorders. Our therapists use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which challenges the distorted thoughts and work to replace them with healthy thoughts.

    Group therapy is most common and allows our clients to bond, reconnect, find comaraderie, and manage emotions. In group, most clients come to work thru PTS, combat trauma stress, addiction, suicide idealization and sexual trauma.We will participate in activities such as interacting with horses, nature walking, fishing, camp fire sessions, outdoor cooking, art, and herd study.

    As you walk this journey with PTS trained professionals and fellow warriors you will find yourself building strong relationships, healing and restoring your sense of self, finding purpose and shaping to become the best version of yourself.

  • Trauma affects everyone in its path. It is vital that we understand that this state of mind is only temporary. By learning to embrace each other’s needs thru grace, patience and forgiveness, we can bring back the peace, love and spark that you once had within your relationship.

    Sessions can be booked for couple time in the arena with the horses to do team building activities. Some may opt to work in private in the arena with horses and some may choose to work with a mental health specialist to mediate and talk thru what’s present, creating struggle. I like to call it “root cause analysis & risk mitigation”. We find many times things can be worked thru if two people are willing to put in the effort. Activities are created to work together to fulfill a task with the horses, overcome obstacles, work thru past hurts, find forgiveness, own and carry your cross/actions, with the ability in the end to reconnect, laugh and find the bond that brought you together in the beginning.

  • Our Youth Program incorporates fun filled options for your child to make memories that will last for a lifetime. We make time for outdoor fun, painting with the horses, art creation, healing moments with Jesus’ teaching, self-development modalities, horsemanship skills, athletic obstacles for team building engagement, and more.

  • We refer to “POP” as “the Power of the Pause”. We allow you space and time to reflect, be still and just breathe. Become present and connect with our Equines and release the heaviness you carry each day.

    Our minds and bodies tend to get away from us at times. In order to regain control and find inner peace, we must enter a state of relaxation. The quiet and stillness is critical for our mind, body and soul to align. Are we really out of control, or do we just FEEL like it?

    Whether its with the horses, art, herd study, or laying in a hammock just swinging while overlooking the stock tanks and watching the horses graze, this form of peace and stillness is imbedded to allow you the opportunity to step back from daily life and take a breathe. We are the only one in control of our thoughts and feelings. It is up to us to maintain a healthy body and sound mind. Happiness is a choice, it’s not something that just happens by chance. With a little restoration and polish, you can feel brand new if you’re willing to put in the work. Take the step to chance vulnerability and transparency.

    It will allow you to sit down the grief and shame so you can disassemble it and leave it behind once and for all. Where there is hurt and pain, Joy cannot reside. Yet, without struggle there’s no growth, so to become the best version of yourself you must go under the fire and the water to sharpen, bend, hammer and mold you into the person you were created to be. Think about it this way, you’ve come thru the fire and you’re still standing. You’re half way there! It’s too late to quit now. And quitting is not an option for you anyhow. So let’s get to work because life is too short, and the finish line is just up ahead.

Board of Directors

  • Founder & CEO of LHR, Clinical Pastoral Counselor and Equine Specialist

    Melissa Craft, more known to her peers as “Missy” has worked in the petroleum industry as a mentor, leader, and instructor for 12+ years. She has held various roles of responsibility within leadership as a successful entrepreneur and a servant of her peers in the workplace. Melissa is a plane crash survivor, an overcomer of an incredibly abusive past marriage and one who has fully recovered from trauma. Along this journey of healing, she was led to move into ministry & helping others to heal. Melissa’s trauma and fight for her life is the cause for this burning passion she has for those that are hurting.

    In May of 2019, Melissa launched a 501(c)3 non-profit known as “LHR” (aka Love Hope Ranch) in the Houston area, serving Veterans and First Responders impacted by Post Traumatic Stress (PTS). LHR does Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) & Experiential Learning (EAL) which incorporates the healing power of horses for our hero’s. LHR currently has 6 horses in their therapy program and runs operations with a very committed volunteer staff, working after hours and on weekends to operate the program. Melissa is working diligently to gain grants and additional funding to hire her staff full-time to offer her Equine Therapy and self-development programs within her Counseling/Ministry program.

    During her youth, Melissa actively pursued the scriptural commandment to “love thy neighbor as thyself” by modeling the life of Jesus to many of the hurting people she encountered everywhere she went. She has committed hundreds of hours to serving Christ by her Leadership and attendance of Bible Studies, Volunteering for Non-Profit organizations, instructing online teachings and doing independent crusade evangelism by praying and mentoring those less fortunate in need of hope.

    Melissa currently holds a Bachelor of Science with a focus in Marketing and Minor in Psychology from The University of Mary-Hardin Baylor. She has a Master’s degree in Clinical Pastoral Counseling and is a Certified Temperament Specialist through Colorado Theological Seminary and plans to start her Doctorate program in 2024. Melissa is certified to offer counseling services backed by the National Christian Counseling Association (NCCA) and she uses the Arno Profiling System (A.P.S) to define each person’s Inborn Temperament, focusing on Family, Youth, Addiction / Eating Disorders, Abuse, & Trauma/PTS.

    Melissa is a loving friend and mother raising two amazing children who are the center of her world. Aubrey and Asher are blessed to have this rare opportunity to experience Equine Therapy from the forefront and see the impacts of mental health from the front row. Melissa says that growing up with horses changed her life and she feels so blessed to allow her children this same experience of healing power, friendship, responsibility, self-awareness, connection, and joy that only horses bring.

  • LHR Board Chairman

    Co Owner/Vice President Fantail Services, LLC.

    With almost four decades of executive leadership and team building experience, John will provide your teams the clear direction they need, to achieve their goals and objectives for your company. I guarantee my company is unwavering in our commitment to give you, and your teams the purpose and direction it needs to be successful.

    John served over 29 years in the United States Navy, as the 15th Fleet Master Chief. He was the Senior Enlisted Advisor for the Commander US Pacific Fleet, the largest fleet command in the world. He led over 140,000 Sailors, Marines and Civilians before retiring with honorable and faithful service in 2013. For the last nine years, John has worked as a Project Manager, Executive Coach and Team building Coach for a consulting company, leading projects throughout North America for world-wide oil and gas operations.

    He was recognized as “Coach of the year” among his peers due to his leadership and coaching skills. He is known for his guidance to get inside organizations and improve their leadership development. He incorporates how to fine-tune operational methods. This saves millions of dollars in valuable equipment, property but most importantly saving lives. John is a graduate and was a four-year veteran Instructor at the US Navy Fighter Weapons School “TOPGUN,” As an alum of the US Senior Enlisted Academy and the National Defense University’s Keystone Course, his passion is aiding individuals and teams achieve their goals to become successful in business and life. He currently lives in San Marcos, TX with his wife Michele, of 37 years.

  • LHR Board Member

    Josh is a Business Owner and Serial Entrepreneur in the FoodTech, Defense and AgTech niches. As a former Marine Corps Aircraft Rescue Firefighter, he served for eight years conducting Bilateral training in six different countries including Japan, Thailand, Philippines, South Korea, Spain, and Italy. He also served as a Federal Firefighter for Naval Air Station Kingsville.

    Josh is Co-Founder of Maxene’s Microgreens a Food-Tech company that leverages the power of mechanical engineering and automation to create top shelf, nutrient rich, plant-based supplement powders that enrich foods and lifestyles.

    He is also the Co-Founder of LFTD Supply Co. an athletic supplement supply company dedicated to motivating people to become the best versions of themselves and combating mental health issues in veteran and first responder communities by donating to reputable charities.

    Josh’s passion is to help people and teach them about the importance of eating for longevity and living a healthy lifestyle. Those passions lead him to pursue these businesses because they allow him to affect change on a mass scale.

  • LHR Board Member

    30 Year Navy Master Chief

    Jim is a Chief Petty Officer and Leadership Training Team Lead. He has developed and facilitated leadership/team development thru Training Seminars offered to 17,000 Chief Petty Officers across the Pacific Fleet. Jim was a Senior Enlisted Advisor/Command on the Leadership Team. He did 4 deployments to South China Sea as an Aviation Maintenance Master Chief. He oversaw 14 aircraft and 200 maintenance technicians. He served as a maintenance tech on Navy aircraft on board Carriers for 22 years and 10 Western Pacific deployments. He has a substantial background with Oil and Gas as a CVX MCBU with Check 6. He was part of the Exxon Mobile CAVU team working as a Project Manager/Field Coach. And most recently he has spent the last 2 Years in Maintenance Management, Daifuku/ELS in Arizona for Amazon. Jim was born and raised in California but currently resides in Las Vegas, NV.

Board of Advisors

  • Andy’s prior work with Charles Schwab supported over $2 billion client interactions across Schwab’s digital channels.

    He has saved more than 1 1/2 million minutes from advisor services, digital activities and onboarding and we’ve reduced in digital 400,000 calls into CSMS.

    Responsible for digital advice offerings, SIP and SIP Premium, which have over $58 Billion of assets.

    Saved more than $100 Million switching from paper activity to digital by digitizing SLOA process within the Online Transfers page in Schwab.com.

    Lead operational improvements to help the company go from a $150,000 burn rate to profitability in 6 months and grow revenue to $1.2MM ARR.

    Led TEAM's OTT strategy within Pro Services that generated $1MM+ in bookings.

    Led the development and Integration of ACH from Schwab into TDA Think or Swim trading platform as part of TDA gap during acquisition.

    Directed the migration of $58 Billion of assets from legacy CMS to Drupal for DAT (Data Asset Transfer) cross-functional teams.

    Led the product management of a digital advertising automation software that generating over $750,000 ARR.

    Handled frequent iterations to customer needs and managed three successful marketing campaigns with ROI of 120%

    Areas of Expertise:

    LMS Content Management | Social Media Marketing | OTT and VOD | Mobile App Creation | iOS | Android | Digital Product Development

    Cross-functional Team Leadership | Budget Administration and Cost Control | Analytical and Market Research

    Sales Support | Program Management | Creative Development and Strategic planning

  • Combat Veteran/Tactical Medic/Retired LEO

    Michael is an accomplished law enforcement officer, a battle-tested combat and tactical medic with over thirty years of experience. Michael started his medicine career in the field of pre hospital emergency medicine as a Hospital Corpsman in the US Navy in the early 1980’s. He served on various levels, both during peacetime and combat operations. He served in the Persian Gulf War as a front line combat medic with a combat Marine Corps Vehicle Reconnaissance unit.

    After his distinguished military service, he received his Vocational Nursing license and continued to use his valuable medical expertise and skills working as a pediatric nurse at a Southern California Children's Hospital. Later still, he worked as an instructor for a government contractor, where he trained civilian and military units combat trauma medicine on the battlefield. He has first hand knowledge of the Trauma Combat Casualty Course and OEMS curriculum, teaching live tissue instruction since 2005. He is a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician, CPR/First Aid Instructor and a Licensed Vocational Nurse and has been certified and licensed for over 25 years.

    Michael made a career change in the early 1990’s and began his career in law enforcement, both as a reserve and full time police officer. As a police officer with both the cities of Anaheim and Garden Grove, Michael worked uniformed and undercover assignments. In addition to his regular duties, he served as the Tactical SWAT team medic, the Terrorism Liaison Officer, CPR/First Aid instructor the departments, Helicopter Operations Observer, Crime Impact and Narcotics Investigator, a mental health response team member as well as a member of the Crisis and Trauma Response team. With Michael’s extensive medical training and law enforcement experience, this gave him a very unique skill set to work with.

    Michael retired from law enforcement after almost twenty years of service in 2012. Michael began working in the private sector using his unique background and skill set in various areas of the corporate and government contractor world. Michael has worked with some of the biggest names in the corporate world, and in the professional sports and entertainment industries. His ability to adapt to high-stress environments, be it on the battlefield or on the red carpet, has made Michael a valuable addition to any team. He is friendly and outgoing, a real people person, yet he is focused, he is determined, and ready to spring into action should the need arise. Any particular assignment and/or clientele where Michael is assigned to, can feel very safe knowing Michael is watching over him utilizing the caliber of his skill set and training.

  • Nicole is a Tax Accountant for Price Waterhouse Cooper (PWC) and resides in Anna, Tx in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. She is the mother of 3 wonderful boys and spends much of her time enjoying watching her boys play ball. Nicole is part of her worship team at church and one that loves to give back. She overcame a life long journey fighting for sobriety and is now a life coach helping those that are walking their journey for sobriety and she is excited to help support our Veterans working thru the 12 step A.A. program to live the life they long for.