Merritt, BC · Equine & Animal Therapy
It all begins in Relationship
With yourself, others and the animals that walk alongside us
Who is this for?
However you're feeling right now is welcome here. There’s space to show up as you are, without pressure, and to begin exploring things in a way that feels steady and manageable.
This space is for you if.
You might be feeling lost, disconnected, or unsure of where you belong. You may be navigating anxiety, stress, or emotional heaviness, and finding that traditional approaches haven’t quite met you where you are.
There may be a part of you that wants to better understand yourself, your relationships, and what’s really going on beneath the surface.
-
You’ve tried traditional approaches but are looking for something different
-
You feel more comfortable in nature than in structured environments
-
You’re craving space to slow down and just be
You don’t have to have it all figured out to come here.
What it feels like to be here
However you arrive, this is a space where you can step out of the pressure to perform and into something more natural. Time here is unstructured in the best way — allowing you to settle, notice, and connect at your own pace.
A slower, grounded experience
This is not about fixing or performing — it’s about having the space to simply be and meet yourself where you are.
Connection through animals
Horses and animals are not tools — they are part of the space, offering presence, honesty, and connection without judgment.
Nature as part of the experience
Being outdoors, in open space, allows your body and mind to settle in a way that often feels more natural and at ease.
Safe, Relational Support
This work is rooted in safe, steady relationships — helping you build trust with yourself and others over time.
Our Herd
Each animal on the ranch brings their own personality, presence, and way of connecting. From horses to goats, dogs, and more, every interaction offers something a little different — a chance to walk alongside them, and in doing so, discover something new within yourself.
Ways We Can Work Together
However you arrive, there are different ways to spend time at the ranch. Each experience offers a supportive space to explore connection, build awareness, and reconnect with yourself in a way that feels steady and genuine.
Trauma Informed Equine Sessions
One-on-one experiences with horses focused on awareness, connection, and understanding how you relate to yourself and others.
Animal-Assisted Experiences
Time spent with a variety of animals on the ranch, offering grounding, reflection, and gentle connection.
Workshops & Group Experiences
Small, supportive group settings — especially for teens and young people — designed to explore connection, belonging, and personal growth.
Retreats & Immersive Experiences
Coming Soon! One-on-one experiences with horses focused on awareness, connection, and understanding how you relate to yourself and others.
"Healing doesnt happen in isolation-it happens in relationship" - Bonnie Badenock
Natalia Leigh - Founder of This Happy Little Ranch
I’ve always had a big laugh, a deep love for animals, and a strong connection to the people around me. I’m a wife and a mother to four incredible adult kids, and I feel most at home with my family, in nature, and around animals.
I’m grateful for my life now—but it wasn’t always this way.
Even with a loving upbringing, I carried a lot inside: fear, self-doubt, and shame. I didn’t feel at home in myself, and I didn’t always understand why.
Things began to shift when I slowed down—when I stepped out of my head and started to truly feel and be present.
That’s when the animals met me in a way nothing else had.
They don’t respond to who we’re trying to be—they respond to how we show up. That honesty invited me into a different kind of relationship, one rooted in connection instead of control.
Daisy, my paint mare, has been a big part of that journey. She came to me fearful and unsure, and over time, we learned to meet each other with patience and presence. Through her, I began learning to offer that same steadiness to myself.
That experience changed how I live—and how I now walk alongside others.
I’m not here to fix anyone. I’m here to offer a steady, relational space where you can slow down, feel, and be seen—just as you are.
