About LMREC

Healing Hearts with Hands and Hooves since 2010

The Lee-Mar Ranch Equine Center has been healing hearts with hands and hooves since 2010. Every week, volunteers from the community give their time and ultimately make an impact on each individual that comes through the door. From the very beginning of the program to present, our vision for the program has grown into a reality with the support of generous donors and volunteers.

We offer Equine Therapy for a variety of capacities. With our facility and equine partners, we provide services for physical, emotional, and behavioral disabilities. There are also more opportunities for our individual riders to grown and compete through joining our Special Olympics Team. Today our main focus and passion is our therapeutic riding program. However, this passion and vision goes far beyond what you see in the present day, instead it began many years prior.

Lee-Mar Ranch has been a staple in the Granite Falls community for over 50 years. Starting in the late 1950’s by Lee and Martha Mooney, Lee-Mar was built to house the Mooney show horses and provide a state-of-the-art training and show facility. It was recognized as a local premier equestrian facility for many decades and today is still home to Granite Falls Western Fest PRCA Rodeo held each year in June.

In 2008 it became knowledge that the family would be interested in selling the Lee-Mar Ranch barn site. A small group of local citizens began exploring the possibility of restoring this beautiful community icon while developing a therapeutic riding program. After much research and deliberation, a Board of Directors was formed, State of Minnesota incorporation applications were filed and Lee-Mar Ranch Equine Center was granted a 501c3 non-profit status by the federal government. The group was then able to purchase the indoor arena and stables along with 9.23 acres of land.

Over the years, with the help and generosity of local businesses and individuals, Lee-Mar Ranch has begun the task of restoring and upgrading the facilities. Our volunteers have clocked thousands of hours of work while re-siding, painting, and re-roofing the arena. All of this hard work and support from so many people has allowed us to continue to help touch the lives of our therapeutic riding students. We plan to continue expanding and improving our therapeutic riding program each year with your support!

Meet Our Staff