Slice of Haven

You may see a horse, but Susan Nastasi sees a deeply intelligent being with the ability to share with us the healing power of unconditional love. It’s a difference you have to feel to believe.

by Mark McWaters / Photos by Fred Lopez

Susan Nastasi has loved, ridden, cared for, and shared her awe of horses from an early age. Even as she grew up and built a career, spending 25 years in finance as Regional Vice President for MetLife, she held onto horses as her escape from the rigors of that life.

Today, what started out as a young girl’s fascination has morphed into a healing sanctuary built on the strength of what scientists call the human-animal bond. She just calls it Soul Haven Ranch.

The Nature of Horses

An easy bike ride from downtown, Soul Haven Ranch is exactly what Nastasi hoped it would be when she acquired the first of her five miniature horses in October 2016: the hope of sharing the unconditional love of horses with her fellow humans. “The world is in such turmoil right now, and lots of people are hurting in ways they may not even realize. I want people to spend a little time with one of God’s most magnificent creatures and leave here changed, with peace in their hearts.”

It’s why the tagline of the ranch is Sharing Of Unconditional Love, or SOUL.

But Soul Haven is also a working ranch. Pound for pound, miniature horses are just as strong as their full-size counterparts. They were bred to work in mines, moving carts loaded with ore, and can easily pull five times their weight.

Translate that to a fullsize horse, and you’ll realize that, to him, drawing a carriage around the town is child’s play. He’d probably whistle if he could.

Soul Haven Ranch is the official carriage company for Winter Garden throughout the holiday season. You may have seen their two white horses pulling a gorgeous white “Princess Carriage” or a vis-à-vis carriage (the seats face one another) through the streets. A small carriage sized for minis is in the works, as is a hearse horse carriage.

The Gift of Horses

In other words, Soul Haven Ranch depends on nothing more or less than the spirit of horses. As Nastasi puts it, “The horses do all the work. They are able to connect with people and be with others unconditionally. They have an innate ability to connect on a level with people that people themselves have diffculty doing.”

I want people to spend a little time with one of God’s most magnificent creatures and leave here changed, with peace in their hearts.

—Susan Nastasi, Soul Haven Ranch

One of Nastasi’s favorite stories is of a visit from a 95-year-old woman who was deathly afraid of horses. Inside of 15 minutes, the woman had her arms flung around the neck of Trouble, the riding horse, for a photo. (The image is on their website.)

Not all encounters are so instantly magical, but they are all special. “The moment you step into an experience with my horses you’ll feel it. They take on the role of that work.”

Not content with waiting around for the world to discover the gift of horses, Nastasi reached out to a national organization that certifies therapy animals, Pet Partners. She and her first two minis became certified and joined the more than 10,000 registered Pet Partners teams that make more than 3 million visits every year.

Today all her minis are registered therapy horses, with seven certified handlers qualified on one or more of them. Nastasi and her ranch ambassadors visit nursing homes, hospice care facilities, schools, seniors’ organizations, and people who suffer from PTSD or have special needs.

Her animals also lend their talents to another worthy cause close to Nastasi’s heart, an anti-bullying initiative called We Help One Another (WHOA). According to the WHOA website, a child is bullied every seven minutes, and an estimated 160,000 children miss school each day for fear of attack or intimidation by other students. Combating all that might seem like a lot of weight to put on a mini horse’s shoulders, but apparently they can handle it. They’re adept at carrying more than you’d expect.

The Spirit of Horses

From carriage rides to therapy time, Soul Haven Ranch is about making connections, with ourselves and with another living being naturally attuned to letting us in.

The process is different for everyone, and the results can range from subtle to profound, but they are real. Blood pressures go down, stress levels melt, endorphins increase, leaving participants feeling serene.

If you have your doubts, all you really have to do is stand close beside one of these amazing animals, talk to them, and watch those ears flick back and forth. Rub that velvety muzzle and scratch between those big, brown eyes, and suddenly you’ll start to understand.

But what does Nastasi herself get out of Soul Haven Ranch? “We have to remember that horses don’t need us. We need them. They allow us to link up with them and be in their space. Soul Haven Ranch is a spiritual place. It’s also my home. We are here to promote the connection of people and animals, to provide a place of peace and wellbeing, and to create meaningful experiences for others. What do I get? I get to sit on the sidelines and watch it all happen.”

soulhavenranch.com

Giddyup!

Want to feed your soul a handful of hay? Of course you do. Here are three ways to get up close and share in Nastasi’s vision:

1. Rent a room in the Soul Haven Bed and Breakfast. Three rooms on the second floor of the Ranch main house, fittingly named Hope, Joy, and Peace, are listed with Airbnb. According to Nastasi, they’ve had visitors from all the continents as well as locals. Most wanted a glimpse of the real Florida without the crush of crowded attractions.

2. Book time with a miniature horse. Remember that human-animal bond? This special program is where it happens. Go one-on-one with one of these amazing little guys and change your life. You’ll start by picking your own miniature horse—Nastasi says people invariably pick a horse that mirrors their own personality. Then it’s one hour of you and the horse, no outside interference apart from a brush and a bag of goodies. Groom him, brush him, talk to him, hang with him, walk the West Orange Trail with him. It’s up to you. Time slots for these interactions fill up fast, so don’t wait.

3. Take a carriage ride! Nastasi says this is the best way to add magic to any milestone. Soul Haven Ranch is listed on the Winter Garden website for tours during the holidays. Lizzy and Libby would love to see you. (They’re the ones with the tails.)