Smiling Goat Ranch bringing recovery services closer to Aspen

Smiling Goat Ranch is moving closer to Aspen and bringing its fifth annual fundraising ball to Snowmass to promote animal recovery services to those on the autism spectrum or experiencing anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more.

Originally started in Carbondale a decade ago, Smiling Goat Ranch has been at Triangle T Arena in New Castle for the past year and a half until last week, when Founder and Executive Director Sheryl Barto moved the nonprofit to Hunt Ranch at 1105 CR 102 in Carbondale.

“Getting to move back to mid-valley has been a dream come true,” Barto said. “There are so many people we’re serving in the Snowmass, Aspen, Basalt area. (Hunt Ranch) has designed the most beautiful space for us.”

The property owners of the ranch’s new location will be honored this year at the Hay Bale Ball with the Smiling Goat Guardian Award, which is given out every year.

The Hay Bale Ball is taking place 4-6:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 7, at the Snowmass Rodeo Grounds. This is the fifth annual Hay Bale Ball and will be celebrating the organization’s 10-year anniversary. 

USA Today’s 2025 Women of the Year Dr. Temple Grandin, a famous advocate for the humane treatment of animals and who the Smiling Goat Ranch press release calls “the most accomplished and well-known adult with high functioning autism,” is the featured special guest.

“Temple really is the shining star,” Barto said. “She has been one of the most passionate and the most influential advocates for the humane treatment of animals. We are over the moon that she is coming to our 10-year anniversary and honoring us. It’s so exciting.”

Grandin is also a creator of what’s known as the “Horse Boy Method,” along with Rupert Isaacson. Smiling Goat Ranch utilizes this method to create connection and communication for its participants.

“It’s pretty remarkable,” Barto said. “There is neuroscience behind how the method works, and what we have seen anecdotally is nonverbal people communicating through sounds or body language while they’re on top of the horse.”

According to Barto, sensory work is a critical part of the Horse Boy Method, where participants lay on a horse in three different positions to help with co-regulation.

“It is so hard to put into words,” she said of the profound impact she’s seen this have on people. “Your body co-regulates with the horse, and your cortisol levels are neutralized. This is the antidote to cortisol.”

This type of treatment helps everyone from nonverbal youth to veterans with PTSD. The Hay Bale Ball will feature a sensory station with veterans who will share their experiences.

There will also be live music from the Elk Range duo, a rodeo announcer to MC the event, food from Hickory House, signature cocktails from Woody Creek Distillers, competitive barrel racer and flag bearer Maxine Harris and her horse Biscuit, and the Westernaires to perform trick riding and roping for the first time in Snowmass.

Mini donkeys that moonlight as “beverage burros,” mini horses named Tinkerbell and Wendy, and bunny rabbits will also be present, among other animals.

“If you’re an animal lover, this is your event,” Barto said.

Tickets are available at sgr.betterworld.org/events/hbb2025. All proceeds from ticket sales will help support the increased lease amount at the new location and add more team members to increase days of operation. While the ranch is currently open Wednesday through Saturday, she wants to add Monday and Tuesday to the schedule.

Although the ranch has always had the mission of providing therapeutic services for free to those in need, the model is shifting to suggested donations in order to support the demand for the its services. 

While the ranch originally opened to serve those on the autism spectrum, it “very quickly” moved to assisting veterans with PTSD, according to Barto. 

“We need more places like Smiling Goat Ranch where they apply out-of-the-box methods to help those suffering with mental health issues,” Lt. Col. Dick Merritt (Ret) said in a statement on the Smiling Goat Ranch’s website. “There is so much potential to help people where they integrate the outdoors and the healing qualities of animals.”

When COVID-19 hit, Barto said the nonprofit expanded rapidly to offer support to those with anxiety, depression, grief, traumatic brain injuries, and more.

“Anything that really has to do with the brain,” she said. “Just being in the presence of a horse is so powerful. You’d be shocked how many kids (here) are not outside in nature and do not have the chance to interact with livestock.”

All of Smiling Goat Ranch’s horses are specially trained in classical dressage. They’re in turnout, meaning outside, 24/7, and are taken on mountain trail rides.

“That’s what keeps our horses so fit and happy,” Barto said. “We keep them happy in mind, body, and spirit, so they love doing their jobs.”

In addition to purchasing tickets, those interested in offering support can “sponsor” animals, providing funding to care for a horse, a mini animal, a bunny, one of two therapy dogs, or a goat for a month or a year. For more information and donation opportunities, visit smilinggoatranch.com/donate.