SIOUX CITY | Situated on the edge of Sioux City, Sundance Ranch is home to several unique animals (including a miniature cow) and more common animals like horses and goats.
Worker Shelby Mosier helps owner Gary Turbes care for the ranch’s dwarf rabbits, pygmy goats, chickens, miniature horses, standard horses, miniature donkey, alpaca, sheep, the miniature cow, and pot-bellied pigs.
Clients of Mid-Step Services, of which Turbes is the director, go to Sundance Ranch in groups of 12 four times per week to pet, play and help take care of the animals.
“Our main focus is Mid-Step,” Mosier said, “although we welcome other people to come volunteer. Anyone over the age of 14 can come and help lead horses for the riders.”
She noted that college students will often volunteer at the ranch to fulfill community service requirements for graduation.
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"Students from (Western Iowa Tech Community College) will come out here a lot and help out," she said.
Mosier focuses mostly with the horses and helps the clients work with them in a safe manner.
“I see the impact that the animals have on the people who come out here,” she said. “I have people come out who are hearing impaired and the riding helps with their balance.”
She said the horses help visually impaired people become more aware of feeling movements.
“It’s so rewarding,” said Mosier. “I love the smiles that I get. Especially from the people who ride. Getting to use animals to make people smile is the best. I’m definitely an animal person.”
Riders are on the horses for 30 minutes at a time, unless they want to get down sooner.
“Sometimes they are so excited to see the other animals,” Mosier explained. “They might also be tired or sore and want to get down.”
Mosier has been with the ranch, which has been open since 1989, more than a year.
“I’m always trying to find a balance between what can be improved and what shouldn’t be messed with,” she said.
Mosier grew up around horses and felt the job was perfect for her.
“I never thought I would get to work with horses as an adult,” she said. "I moved here specifically for this job."
Although the animals have stayed consistent in her time at Sundance Ranch, Mosier said that Turbes used to raise ostriches on the property as well.
“I know people from Mid-Step weren’t allowed to be in with the ostriches, but they could look at them,” she said.
Flexibility and organization are keys to making her job work, Moser added.
“When you’re working with the disabled, things don’t always work smoothly,” she said. “And I have to stay organized. It just keeps things running smoothly.”
