White Rider Healing Ranch is a new initiative inspired by the life and legacy of Wyatt Mad Plume. Wyatt was passionate, accomplished, and deeply connected to horses—not just as animals, but as loyal companions and teachers. In his honor, the White Rider Healing Ranch will serve as a place of renewal and healing, combining the power of horses with Blackfeet cultural traditions to support youth and adults facing mental health challenges, trauma, and substance use.

The Ranch provides programs that reconnect youth to Blackfeet heritage through Traditional Horse Culture. Wyatt’s love for horses exemplified the profound bond between our people and these animals. By teaching youth horsemanship, responsibility, and the sacred role of horses in our culture, the Ranch preserves an essential tradition while fostering leadership, confidence, and belonging. These programs nurture emotional resilience and provide a foundation for mental wellness.

In addition to equine therapy and mental health services, the Ranch is home to the Holding Hope Search and Rescue (SAR) Team, the first Indigenous mounted SAR team in the nation to train equines in air scent detection. This groundbreaking program equips our community to respond to emergencies and support missing and murdered Indigenous people (MMIP) efforts. By blending traditional knowledge, modern techniques, and the unique abilities of our horses, we create a model of Indigenous-led resilience, safety, and care.

The Ranch employs Blackfeet people as riding instructors, therapeutic professionals, and cultural mentors, ensuring that all programs are grounded in our traditions and values. This holistic approach combines modern therapeutic methods and ancestral teachings to promote wellness, recovery, and strength.

We are raising funds to build an indoor equine therapy facility—a space where all our initiatives can thrive year-round, regardless of weather. This facility will house equine therapy sessions, youth programs, and SAR training, ensuring that healing, growth, and cultural pride flourish in every season.

Your support helps honor Wyatt’s memory, strengthen our community, and create a lasting legacy of hope, resilience, and cultural renewal for generations to come.