New animal therapy training facility open at Barrington ranch

New animal therapy training facility open at Barrington ranch

If you’ve spent time at a Chicago-area hospital there’s a chance you’ve caught a glimpse of a miniature horse in the hallways provided by SOUL Harbour Ranch.

The nonprofit is the largest and most experienced Barrington-area animal therapy program and the only multispecies program. This year, it has added a new training facility.

Jodie Diegel, president and founder of SOUL Harbour Ranch, began enriching lives through the connection of animals and people in 2012.

“We started with three miniature horses, and we were the first to be visiting in the Chicagoland area … with miniature horses,” Diegel said.

 
Jodie Diegel greets a miniature horse named Turnabout at SOUL Harbour Ranch in Barrington. The Barrington Area Chamer of Commerce recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the ranch’s newly completed training center, donated by the Foglia Family Foundation.
Joe Lewnard/[email protected]

Diegel and her husband, Jerry, officially established SOUL in 2018. It’s located on the same property they live on, 22093 N. Countryside Lane, Barrington.

SOUL lives up to its name, an acronym for Sharing Of Unconditional Love, through its animal-centered therapy.

Diegel and her team bring their animals to local hospitals, nursing homes and schools to provide comfort to those in need. The ranch also welcomes attendees for events but does not allow private visits.

SOUL is run entirely by volunteers, and now has 88 adult volunteers and another 25 Barrington High School students. The students belong to the SOUL Buddies Animal Therapy Club the ranch has been mentoring for eight years.

Its survival also is reliant on donations, fundraising and grants.

“We don’t charge for visits, it’s all donation-based,” Diegel said.

 
The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for SOUL Harbour Ranch’s newly-completed 60-foot by 120-foot training center, donated by the Foglia Family Foundation.
Joe Lewnard/[email protected]

A donation by the Foglia Family Foundation helped establish SOUL’s new 60-foot by 120-foot training center. SOUL received the grant in 2023 and finished building with Morton Buildings this year. A ribbon cutting to introduce the center was held by the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce Oct. 3.

“ (The Foglia Family Foundation) are huge benefactors in the Chicagoland area. They donate to amazing nonprofits that help others,” Diegel said.

SOUL already is part of numerous programs and deeply involved in the community, but its new center is expected to grow its influence.

“That training center will help us to enrich the lives of more people. When they visit … we have a great place for training … it also allows for our new fundraiser, which is Hobby Horsing,” Diegel said.

The Hobby Horse Winter Showcase will be held Dec. 28 and allow anyone to compete on a hobby horse course.

Diegel’s business flourishes through its collaboration with Pet Partners, an animal training business dedicated to improving human health and well-being.

“I wanted to ensure professionalism … so I found out about Pet Partners, which is the gold standard for therapy,” Diegel said.

Garlands members became horse whisperers with mini ponies from SOUL Harbour Ranch Animal Therapy in Barrington.
Courtesy of SOUL Harbour Ranch

Throughout the years, SOUL Harbour Ranch has collected 56 registered Pet Partners handlers with 10 registered mini horses, three mini horses in training, 30 registered therapy dog teams, one registered therapy cat team and 27 registered animal-assisted crisis response teams. SOUL also is in the process of training miniature pigs, miniature donkeys and a rabbit.

“Ours have gone through extensive testing to become a nationally recognized therapy animal,” Diegel said.

 
Anne Arroyo works with Faith at SOUL Harbour Ranch in Barrington.
Joe Lewnard/[email protected]

SOUL has grown exponentially over its nearly seven years. In its first year, the ranch completed 91 animal visits and helped around 12,000 people. In 2023, it recorded 334 visits, affecting 400,000 people.

Diegel said the ranch has more requests than it can handle.

Diegel’s background as a nurse paired with her love of animals and giving back makes her the perfect leader.

“What better way to give back than through our animals,” Diegel said.

 
The Barrington Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for SOUL Harbour Ranch’s newly-completed 60-foot by 120-foot training center, donated by the Foglia Family Foundation.
Joe Lewnard/[email protected]
 
A stand holds hobby horses at SOUL Harbour Ranch in Barrington. The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for SOUL Harbour Ranch’s newly-completed training center, which was donated by the Foglia Family Foundation.
Joe Lewnard/[email protected]
 
The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for SOUL Harbour Ranch’s newly-completed training center, donated by the Foglia Family Foundation.
Joe Lewnard/[email protected]

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