10040 Highland Avenue, Lucerne Valley, California 92356, United States
Ranch 760-248-7224 Cell 805-338-0134
Transforming Lives Through Equine-Assisted Learning and Psychotherapy
Through the “magic” of horses one hoof-step at a time
Help Our Cause
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve conditions. Your generous donation will fund our mission.
Team Building
Here’s how Can You Dig It Ranch can help enhance communication, collaboration, and morale within your team through our Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) Team Building Programs:
Horses are highly intuitive animals that respond to non-verbal cues. During our sessions, participants learn to communicate effectively without words, which enhances their ability to convey messages clearly in the workplace.
Example: Teams may engage in activities where they must guide a horse through an obstacle course using only body language and gestures. This fosters understanding and sharpens their ability to interpret non-verbal signals.
Collaboration and Teamwork
Working with horses requires teamwork. Participants must collaborate to achieve a common goal, fostering a sense of unity.
Example: In one of our exercises, teams must work together to lead a horse through a series of challenges, requiring them to strategize and support each other to succeed.
Enhanced Morale and Engagement
Interaction with horses provides powerful learning experiences because the interactive experience changes and evolves — just like the workplace it is a changing environment.
Example: After interactive activities, teams often reflect on their experiences, sharing insights that enhance cohesion and foster a positive atmosphere back at the workplace.
Engaging with horses in a natural, stress-free environment boosts morale.
The unique experience breaks the monotony of traditional team-building activities and re-energize participants. And, have we mentioned how being in a beautiful, quiet ranch in a high desert setting with colleagues for a day can literally change team dynamics?
Customizable Team Building Sessions
At Can You Dig It Ranch; we understand that each organization has unique needs. Therefore, we offer customizable programs that can accommodate:
Group Size: Whether you have a small team or a large corporation, we can tailor activities that ensure everyone participates. All team building sessions are up to 10 people at a time.
Outcomes and results of Equine Assisted Learning: •
Stronger Leadership & Improved Teamwork •
Amplified Productivity •
Increased Emotional Intelligence •
Effective Communication & Listening •
Boost Trust & Commitment •
Enhanced Relational Skills & Ability to Positively Influence Others •
Greater Creativity in Problem Solving
Sample Program
Structure Icebreaker Activities
Start with low pressure activities that allow team members to relax and get to know each other.
Equine Interaction
Move into structured activities with horses where teams must work together to communicate and collaborate effectively.
Reflection and Discussion
After activities, teams engage in reflection sessions to discuss what they learned, how it applies to their work, and strategies to implement these lessons.
Discovery
$50 per person, up to 10 people.
*Equine Assisted Learning Session
*Certified Equine Assisted Learning Instructors
*Two exercises; approximately 2.5 hours
*Use of Horses, all equipment and materials
*Light morning refreshments and water
Quantum Leap
$75 per person up to 10 people.
*Equine Assisted Learning Session
*Certified Equine Assisted Learning Instructors
*Three exercises; approximately 4 hours
*Use of Horses, all equipment and materials
*Light morning refreshments and water
*Catered Lunch
*Use of tables and chairs for breakout
Please contact us to schedule your session. Thank you and see you soon!
Sandra Mahoney canyoudigitranch@gmail.com 760-248-7224 www.canyoudigitranch.org EIN 93-4543955
About Can You Dig It Ranch
Our Story
Meet the Crew
Meet the Crew
The Founder/CEO, Sandra Mahoney
Horses have been part of her life since she was 8 years old, with learning to train horses, shows, parades, barrel racing and just enjoying life with horse as a child. She understood how her horses centered her as a young lady and wanted to bring this “magic” to other people.
Fast forward a few years--- She received a degree in Psychology, became certified in PATH Intl as a Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Equine Specialist in Mental Health. Certified in OK Corral Series with Greg Kerstin.
Founder of BJP Youth Ranch Therapeutic riding program.
Equine Director for The Painted Turtle camp, a Paul Newman camp.
Program Director of Spirit Ridge Equine Center, where she worked with Beck Pride Center assisting Veterans using EAP and the founder of the Special Olympics Equestrian of Tehachapi.
She has now moved to Lucerne Valley, CA and wanted to provide the “magic” of horses to her new community.
My husband, Kevin is the Co- Founder of the ranch. Without his tireless and devoted work on building the stalls and the other many projects on the ranch to better the lives of our rescue horses. We would not be in place today to offer our services starting in May 2024 without Kevin!
We also will have a Licensed therapist. Ashley working with our Psychotherapy participants in the near future. More about Ashley soon.
Ashley's rates will be added soon.
We would appreciate your help with feeding and medical supplies, etc. It is all possible because of your help, Thank you!
We are a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible.
Meet the Crew
Meet the Crew
Meet the Crew
Meet Our Horses
At Can You Dig It Ranch, each of our horses has a story of resilience and hope. These incredible animals are not just companions—they are partners in healing, growth, and learning for the people we serve.
🌟 Spirit
- Breed: Arabian gelding
- Age: ~8 years old
- Story: Rescued from Arizona, Spirit arrived underweight and without much training. With patience and love, he is now learning how to be a riding horse and is thriving as part of our herd.
🌟 Onyx
- Breed: Andalusian gelding
- Age: 20 years old
- Story: Also a rescue, Onyx is blind in one eye, has melanomas, and an old knee injury. Despite his challenges, he surprises us every day—he even knows the Spanish Walk! He is currently training to pull a cart and eventually a carriage.
🌟 Lily
- Breed: Azteca mare
- Age: 15 years old
- Story: Lily came to us in December 2023 after spending most of her life as a brood mare. She has trust issues, but with time, patience, carrots, and scratches, she is learning that people can be kind. Lily is blossoming into a loving, trusting partner—it’s a true labor of love.
🌟 Mistee
- Breed: Miniature horse mare
- Story: Rescued from Texas, Mistee quickly became part of the family, forming a special bond with Spirit. She loves carrots and has brought joy to everyone she meets.
- Special Care: In March 2025, Mistee was diagnosed with Cushing’s disease. She now requires daily medication, costing about $100 per month. Sponsorships and donations toward her care would mean the world and help her live a happy, healthy life.
🐎 Sponsor a Horse – Support Our Mission
Your support directly impacts the health and happiness of our horses, and in turn, the people they help.
Monthly Horse Care Costs:
- Bermuda Hay: $240/month
- Rice Bran: $80/month
- Beet Pulp: $80/month
- Multi-Fly (feed-through): 4 bags per year
Any donation—large or small—goes directly to the care of our herd.
🏗️ Wish List
We are growing and need help making the ranch an even better healing space. Our current goals include:
- Indoor arena (60’ x 80’ minimum)
- Office building or materials
- Solar lights for arena and round pen
- Concrete benches for participants
- Wind screens for arena
- Replacing our back fence with solid fencing (to reduce wind and improve comfort)
❤️ Join Us in Making a Difference
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, all donations are tax-deductible. We gratefully accept:
- Monetary donations
- Feed and supplies
- Equipment or building materials
🙏 Thank you for supporting our horses, our programs, and the people we serve. May a higher power bless you and yours.
What we do
Meet the Crew
What is Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and Equine Assisted Learning (EAL)?
Equine Therapy is a powerful and effective approach that impacts individuals, families, and groups in meaningful ways.
Today, more than ever, people face conflict, uncertainty, and personal challenges in their day-to-day lives. At Can You Dig It Ranch, we use the human–equine connection to promote:
- Self-awareness
- Positive choices
- Accepting consequences
- Behavior modification
All of these lead to healthier relationships and living to one’s full potential.
Why Horses?
Many people—especially children—struggle to recognize or express their emotions. Our horses act as non-threatening partners in communication, allowing clients to explore feelings and behaviors in a safe and supportive environment.
Because horses are sensitive, intuitive, and live in the moment, they respond honestly to human energy and intention. Their reactions provide instant feedback that helps participants recognize patterns, explore challenges, and develop new ways of responding.
How It Works
In Equine Assisted Activities (EAA), participants engage in hands-on experiences with horses, then process and discuss their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with a trained facilitator or therapist.
Some key principles of experiential education at our ranch include:
- Learning through carefully chosen experiences, supported by reflection and critical analysis
- Taking initiative, making decisions, and being accountable for results
- Learning from natural consequences, mistakes, and successes
- Engaging the whole self—intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically
- Developing problem-solving, responsibility, creativity, and curiosity
Every session is unique, depending on where participants are in their emotional development. Sometimes they gain one piece of the puzzle, and sometimes they put the entire picture together.
The Beauty of the Horse–Human Connection
Horses are living, breathing, sentient beings. With their grace and presence, they:
- Reflect our energy, intention, and movement
- Provide honest, non-judgmental feedback
- Enhance self-discovery and personal growth
- Empower us to create lasting change
At Can You Dig It Ranch, we are honored to partner with horses in this life-changing work and look forward to walking alongside you on your journey of growth, healing, and self-discovery.
Sandra Mahoney, Founder, ESMH, TRI
📍 Can You Dig It Ranch
Can You Dig It Jewelry
Kevin is very excited about offering rock cutting and polishing classes for the non- participants or general public in the near future.
Custom made jewelry, He is willing to teach jewelry making classes from silver work, rock carving to casting.
We have machines to polish rocks, faceting machine to learn how to cut the little facets, like in a diamond. Large rock cutting saws to smaller rock cutting saws.
All classes or any rock cutting is by appointment only. Class prices vary on what is being taught.
Rock cutting prices vary on what is to be worked on.
We also have finished unique jewelry -pieces available, ready to pick up and enjoy.
Please e-mail canyoudigitjewelry@gmail.com or call 951-314-2092 or 760-248-7224
What's Happening
What we offer:
Team building programs EAL for businesses or groups, maximum of 10 people a session.
EAL (Equine Assisted Learning) & EAP (Equine Assisted Psychotherapy) for adults, families, children and Veterans.
Please contact us to make your appointment.
If you are interested in a demonstration, please contact Sandra and she will be happy to set one up for your group.
Groups:
Up to 10 people for team building session
Please call to schedule
Discovery
$50 per person, up to 10 people.
*Equine Assisted Learning Session
*Certified Equine Assisted Learning Instructors
*Two exercises; approximately 2.5 hours
*Use of Horses, all equipment and materials
*Light morning refreshments and water
Individuals/Families:
Please call to schedule
Now offering Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts Horsemanship Badges class.
Class will be held on Saturdays by appointment, the cost is $50 per person for a day long class. Limited to 10 scouts a day.
Troop leaders please call to schedule.
Donations: If you would be interested in donating for a person or family for a single session or multiple session's we would appreciate it.
We are a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible.
EIN # 93-4543955
New Additions
We have our miniature horse now, a little Bay mare named Mistee. She was a rescue from Texas.
Mistee is starting to settle down and become part of our family here. With love and patience, she has realized that carrots are the best treats and her new "family" is not so bad. She and Spirit have become buddies. Mistee in a short amount of time is a very vital part of our crew.
Mistee is doing well, she was in our 4th of July parade and the Apple Valley parade sporting her harness. She is in the process in learning how to pull a cart
However, as of March 2025, Mistee has been diagnosed with Cushing’s disease. While there’s no cure, she is starting a new medication that costs $100 per month to help her feel better and manage the disease. If anyone is interested in sponsoring Mistee and supporting her ongoing care, it would be greatly appreciated! Your generosity would help ensure that Mistee continues to live a happy and healthy life.